Senior Officer Domestic Partnerships

About Birmingham City University

At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.

Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers (Financial Times & Statista), we pride ourselves on being a place where colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to grow their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.

Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential.

By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Senior Domestic Partnerships Officer to join our Marketing, Recruitment & Communications Department, supporting the delivery of high-quality services across the University.

In this role, you will support the Domestic Partnerships Manager with the development, coordination and account management of the university's partnerships with FE institutions. The postholder will explore opportunities for deeper and formalised collaboration with FE partners, including but not limited to articulation and progression arrangements and development of franchise and validated pathways. Working within the specific remit of FE partnerships, the postholder will work in line with the university's strategic ambitions and seek to increase student recruitment pipelines outside of the traditional routes into higher education.

The postholder will represent the university at partnership meetings, ensuring smooth communication between BCU School staff and counterparts in FE institutions. The role will involve maintaining accurate records of partnership activity and following up efficiently on leadsand actions. The postholder will act as the primary operational contact for designated partner institutions, providing effective account management and proactively identifying, developing and advancing new collaborative opportunities.

Essential Requirements

• Honours Degree or equivalent
• Experience in partnership coordination, stakeholder engagement, account management, or business development within higher education or a related sector.
• Understanding of the UK FE/HE environment, including student progression pathways and collaborative provision.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships internally and externally.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment while managing own workload effectively.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of working with data and performance metrics to support reporting and informed decision-making.
• Experience of partnership working and networking

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tim Bayliss, Domestic Partnerships Manager at timothy.bayliss@bcu.ac.uk