Global Partnerships Manager

Brief Job Description

The University of Birmingham is seeking a Global Partnerships Manager to join our International Team within External Relations. This is a permanent role with a primary but not exclusive focus on the Americas. Working within the International Team, you will help deliver the University’s International Strategy by building trust and deep professional relationships with partner institutions for genuine mutual benefit, developing and strengthening global research and education partnerships.

You will work closely with academic and professional services colleagues to identify opportunities, progress collaborative initiatives, and act as a trusted partner to the Colleges in all partnership engagement. The role involves planning and delivering high-profile international events — including symposia, round tables and receptions — managing incoming delegations and visits, and occasionally travelling overseas. You will provide market insight and policy and regional briefings to inform strategic decision-making, and offer operational support to advance the University’s global reputation and engagement.

Person Specification

• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
• Knowledge of the international higher education landscape.
• Experience in partnership development and delivering strategic initiatives.
• Excellent interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build trust and deep professional relationships with a wide range of partners for genuine mutual benefit.
• Excellent organisational, project‑management and problem‑solving abilities.
• Confident working with data, budgets and IT systems (e.g., MS Office, web tools).
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience planning and delivering high-quality international partnership events, including symposia, round tables, receptions and institutional visits, with the ability to manage complex logistics in support of strategic objectives.
• Ability to research and produce clear policy and regional briefings, synthesising political, economic and higher education landscape information to inform strategic decisions.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.