headofinternational

							UCAS ROLE PROFILE

Role title:        Head of International                       Grade:        7                                     Reports to:     Director of Customer Strategy

Business Unit:     Customer Strategy Unit                      Section:      International                         Date revised:   April 2011


OUTLINE OF ROLE              Key Purpose of role:
                             Take the key strategic role in developing UCAS international presence.
                             To develop UCAS’ international products and services portfolio. To review the current approach and develop a
                             strategic plan for the next ten years and support with a clear operational delivery plan. To critically assess UCAS
                             current international approach and determine potential growth areas. To build a strong network both nationally and
                             internationally at a senior level with both customers and policy makers. To be the voice of UCAS on international
                             admissions. To attend conferences and events and promote UCAS’ international offering and management
                             information. To play a key role as part of the senior management team with Customer Strategy and Marketing.


PRINCIPAL                    List of main responsibilities:
RESPONSIBILITIES
                                        Developing and implementing UCAS’ international strategy
                                        Key member of the Customer Strategy senior management team
                                        Line management of one colleague
                                        Attendance and representing UCAS at international conferences and training events
                                        Building effective relationships at the highest levels within HE Government and International HE organisations to
                                         encourage entrants to UK HE
                                        Developing and implementing KPIs to assess the effectiveness of UCAS’ international strategy
                                        Capitalise on market information to make the most of international opportunities as and when they are presented
                                        Identify new international opportunities for growth


MAIN CONTACTS                The internal and external contacts which directly affect the activities of this role holder:
                             Internal:
                                        Executive Board, UCAS International Team, Professional Development, Account Management and Strategic Account
                                         Management, Policy and Research, UCAS Media, UCAS International Board
                             External:
                                        HEIs, Government Departments, international HE organisations in various countries
ROLE DIMENSIONS &     Captures the size/scope and authorities of role:
AUTHORITIES
                      Financial:
                      Budget manager
                      Non-financial:
                               Team Management and leadership


SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE &   Role requirements for operational effectiveness:
EXPERIENCE
                               Significant knowledge and experience of international HE
                               Demonstrable knowledge of the issues affecting international HE and how they affect UCAS
                               Demonstrable experience in developing international strategies
                               Experience in developing international relationships with international senior stakeholders
                               Experience of developing relationships with senior government officials and departments
                               Experience of managing a remote team


BEHAVIOURAL           Business awareness              Is proactively involved in the production of new strategies
COMPETENCIES                                          Provides evidence of interdepartmental collaboration in areas of work
                      Level:4
                                                      Encourages staff in all departments to develop a corporate view in all that they do
                                                      Actively seeks to drive change in the business to meet business needs
                                                      Ensures there is a link between departmental and corporate objectives. Evaluates the
                                                       UCAS position and identifies strategies for change
                                                      Researches and proposes standards that are beneficial to driving business progress
                                                      Seeks to inform staff by presenting ideas to forums
                                                      Takes/generates opportunities to interact with business partners outside UCAS
                                                      Takes a long term strategic approach to the needs of the business, anticipating and
                                                       monitoring developments in customer and technological environments to ensure that
                                                       UCAS is consistent with them
                                                      Benchmarks performance against other relevant organisations Provides evidence of
                                                       deeper thinking behind ideas with appropriate consultation
                                                      Ensures follow up on own and staff training to ensure transfer of skills learned back to
                                                       the business
                                                      Project Executive roles are fulfilled effectively with well considered, appropriately
                                                       resourced, well managed (including financial control) benefits oriented projects/Capex
                                                      Implements appropriate sector innovations
                                                      Thinks ahead and takes a long-term view of the business and innovates to provide new
                                                       solutions
Communication                Chairs meetings of senior personnel – both internal and external
                             Presents information to large audiences of external stakeholders (e.g. speaks at
Level:4                       conferences) Broad understanding of key issues in higher education and the ability to
                              disseminate to others
                             Demonstrates the ability to use communication as a tool for negotiation and influencing
                              views
                             Encourages communication across the business and the sharing of ideas and feedback.
                              Able to give constructive criticism
                             Is sensitive to politics within the organisation/external clients but achieves objectives
                             Ability to digest large quantities of complex information and produce reports at Board
                              level

Customer Focus               Responds immediately to customer queries – or ensures that response is delegated
                              quickly and effectively
Level: 4                     Sets and drives forward KPIs and Unit Objectives and determines how they should be
                              measured to ensure accountability to meet customers’ needs
                             Intuitive understanding of the importance of customer views
                             Puts measures in place to ensure that the company/department offers the highest level
                              of customer service and where viable seeks to gain awards to recognise this
                             Gains an understanding of and reviews the customer market and environment and
                              responds rapidly to market conditions.
                             Benchmarks against best industry practise
                             Ensures timescales are monitored in order to maintain effective cost control
                             Influences the customer market and environment. Reviews and challenges ‘stretch’
                              element oEvaluates the UCAS position and identifies strategies for changes to customer
                              services and products, producing documents and reports on recommendations including
                              benefits realisation
                             Influences customer use of services/products to the benefit of UCAS, e.g. Copy Forms
                             Monitors customer trends and makes recommendations for UCAS KPIs


Planning & organisation      Ability to coordinate activity in areas outside their direct experience
                             Understands external demands and has an ability to communicate priorities to other
Level:4                       departments
                             Is able to analyse risks by probability/proximity/impact
                             Acts on risks to prevent them happening – approves contingency plans
                             Rehearses/plans for risks becoming active
                             Actively plans for the long-term and puts in place succession plans, risk registers and
                              business continuity plans to ensure that team is not compromised
                     Managing self & others        Considers impact on long-term objectives when making decisions
                                                   Is able to cope well with all own and department workload pressure, taking the lead for
                     Level:4                        others and ‘getting hands dirty’ if required
                                                   Recognises own limitations and surrounds with appropriate people to compensate.
                                                   Command respect from staff, lead by example and set high standards
                                                   Leads, supports and motivates colleagues across the business to deliver day-to-day as
                                                    well as unplanned objectives
                                                   Takes ownership of eg Capex/Programme initiatives, drives these to time and budget.
                                                   Proactively engages with colleagues across the business to share and communicate
                                                    impact of changes/developments
                                                   Creates and secures commitment to achieve Company, departmental and individual
                                                    objectives
                                                   Takes a critical view of measuring current and longer-term performance across the team
                                                    and continually seeks improvements
                                                   Sets challenging performance targets which demonstrate genuine stretch
                                                   Motivates staff to give their best and realise their full potential
                                                   Manages poor performance effectively

                     Results & quality focus       Monitors defined quality levels to ensure appropriate stretch and takes corrective action
                                                    as appropriate
                     Level:4                       Ensures KPIs and Unit objectives are demonstrably stretching and intended to improve
                                                    performance
                                                   Drives departmental performance through high performing unit performance
                                                   Ensures department KPIs are appropriate and achieved
                                                   Highly enquiring mind and passion for learning with a view to passing knowledge on to
                                                    direct reports and others
                                                   Builds processes with awareness of external changes/potential for change.
                                                   Fosters and facilitates a culture where quantifiable improvements are actively
                                                    encouraged and seen through
                                                   Recognition of where current practice is holding the business back
                                                   Reviews/Audits processes and procedures to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
                                                   Ensures work undertaken contributes to achievement of Corporate Business Plan and
                                                    Financial Strategy with commitment to return on investment

WORKING CONDITIONS   • Office based
                     • International travel representing UCAS at international conferences etc
                     • Travel in the UK
Note: This document summarises the contents of the evaluated Role Profile which has been developed and approved by UCAS and evaluated using the Hay Evaluation tool in order to
determine the grade and associated pay range for the position.

This Role Profile sets out the main duties of the post at the date when it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the
level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post. All UCAS employees are
expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their role and may be asked to perform other duties, which reasonably correspond to the general
character of their role and their level of responsibility.