Strategic International Growth Manager

Christchurch, City Campus Full Time, Fixed Term (until December 2027) Translate Ara’s Internationalisation strategy into practical action that drives growth Shape international growth through insight, influence and action Lead improvements that strengthen conversion and enrolment outcomes Mō Tēnei Tūranga Mahi – About the Role As Ara continues to grow its international presence, we have set a goal of increasing international enrolments to 800 Equivalent Full Time Students (EFTS). This role is central to achieving that goal, helping turn Ara's internationalisation strategy into practical action through data-driven insights, process improvement and strong collaboration across the student recruitment journey. As Strategic International Growth Manager, you will work across marketing and recruitment, business insights, admissions, and academic teams to understand what's happening in the recruitment pipeline, identify opportunities for growth, and help turn interest into enrolments. You'll be the person who can see the bigger picture while also keeping a close eye on the detail. From analysing market and agent performance to identifying recruitment bottlenecks and leading process improvements, you'll provide the insights and coordination needed to support Ara's international growth ambitions. Success in this role comes from building strong relationships, asking the right questions, and using data to help people make informed decisions. While you won't have direct reports, you'll influence outcomes by bringing people together, creating visibility of priorities, and helping teams stay focused on what will make the biggest difference. Ngā Pūkenga Me Ngā Wheako – Skills and Experience This role would suit someone who brings a blend of commercial thinking, analytical capability and relationship management skills. You'll be comfortable working with data, but equally confident influencing others and leading action through collaboration. Ideally, you'll have: A qualification in Business, Marketing, Management, Analytics or a related field, or equivalent experience. Experience in international education, student recruitment, business development, sales operations or a similar growth-focused environment. An understanding of international student recruitment and agent-based recruitment channels. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and turn insights into practical recommendations. Experience monitoring performance, measuring outcomes and using data to improve business results. Business process analysis skills, including identifying inefficiencies, risks and bottlenecks and implementing improvements. Experience contributing to planning processes involving enrolment, revenue, growth or performance targets. Strong stakeholder relationship skills, with the ability to influence, build credibility and achieve outcomes through others. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly to different audiences. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Confidence working across multiple teams and bringing people together to achieve shared objectives. Experience working in the New Zealand tertiary education sector, international student recruitment, admissions, enrolment management, CRM systems or recruitment pipeline reporting will be highly valued. Mō Mātou – About us Ara Institute of Canterbury is the South Island's largest provider of tertiary vocational education, helping people build better futures - and that starts with our people. Every day, our kaimahi help students gain real skills for real careers through hands-on learning and strong industry connections. The Madras Street (City) campus brings engineering, architecture, music, trades, health and creative arts together in the heart of Christchurch, right next door to One New Zealand Stadium. We offer tangible benefits: fee discounts on Ara courses for staff, professional development leave and funding, two on-site early childhood centres, generous leave provisions, and an annual Christmas closedown to enjoy time with whanau and friends. A gym, library and cafés complete the picture. Guided by our values Hono | Connect, Hihiri | Inspire and Aroha | Respect, we're committed to equity, inclusion and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. If you're looking for work that matters, Ara could be your next chapter. Ara Institute of Canterbury 2.05K subscribers Expertise Marketing, International Engagement / International Business Development #J-18808-Ljbffr