The University of Sheffield
Senior Global Opportunities Manager
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The University of Sheffield
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities, and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.
We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.
Overview
This is a key role, tasked with leading the University’s Global Opportunities team which delivers a wide range of exciting global exchanges and experiences for students.
The team forms part of the Careers & Employability Service which sits within the Student & Academic Services (S&AS) directorate, contributing directly to the delivery of the University of Sheffield’s strategy and institutional priorities for student employability and graduate outcomes. This role interacts closely with various teams within and beyond S&AS including global engagement, student services, and alumni relations, to develop, promote, and facilitate global student opportunities.
Supporting the high level of student interest in international experiences, this role leads and coordinates the delivery of highly effective relationship and contract management tasks, partnering with universities across the world, and overseeing student engagement and support to ensure consistently high quality student experiences for both outgoing and incoming students.
As we constantly seek to extend the range of experiences available to students, the role includes building on the range of existing activities, scoping and researching new partner institutions, and shaping the strategic direction for the Global Opportunities programme. The team also contributes widely to the highly rated student and academic experience here at Sheffield, working in close collaboration with colleagues across the directorate.
This role reports to the Head of Careers & Employability.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- Provide leadership of Global Opportunities operations and service provision, including outgoing and incoming international student exchanges, external grant funding schemes such as Turing and Erasmus, and short term programmes, ensuring the achievement of institution-wide objectives
- Contribute to and shape the strategic direction of the Global Opportunities area.
- Provide leadership and effective management of the Global Opportunities team, ensuring effective performance and achievement of objectives.
- Oversee a large portfolio of study abroad partnerships and work with colleagues across the institution to identify new international partnership opportunities.
- Lead the management, maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation of all student exchange agreements and their delivery.
- Manage large budgets and lead on applications for external grant funding including the Erasmus Scheme.
- Influence across academic faculties, schools, and professional services to ensure global opportunities are promoted, aligned, and effectively managed.
- Manage global opportunities marketing and communications to staff, students, and external audiences including international partner institutions. Work in close liaison with global partnerships and central marketing and communications teams.
- Oversee the provision of advice on international educational opportunities to academic and professional services staff, to optimise understanding and student uptake.
- Oversee delivery of advice and guidance for current and prospective students, including University open days, involving limited weekend working.
- Liaise with colleagues from across the University to ensure a holistic approach to support provision for outbound and inbound exchange students, including enabling access to global opportunities for students from underrepresented groups.
- Represent the university at external meetings, conferences, and conventions, in the UK and abroad.
- Liaise with relevant external contacts, funders, and organisations.
- As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities wherever possible.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post
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Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognizes the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential
- An honours degree (or equivalent experience).
- Detailed knowledge and demonstrable experience of global student exchanges and other international mobility activities in a university context.
- Proven skills and experience in team leadership, motivation, and management, fostering effective collaboration.
- Able to define and deliver strategic objectives, considering any wider implications, and to prioritise a complex and demanding workload in order to deliver expected outcomes.
- Evidence of the development of effective working relationships, internally and externally, employing diplomacy and contributing positively in a range of settings.
- Experience of developing, embedding, and reviewing processes that deliver efficiencies and improvements.
- Strong project and finance management skills with the ability to deliver high quality services to budget and deadlines.
- Excellent cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Excellent data analysis, report writing, and presentation skills, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.
- Willingness and ability to undertake occasional overseas trips.
Desirable
- None specified
Stage(s) assessed at
- Application / interview
Further Information
- Grade: 8
- Salary: £48,822 - 58,225 (Potential to progress to £65,509 through sustained exceptional contribution).
- Work arrangement: Full-time, hybrid (minimum 60% on campus)
- Line manager: Head of Careers & Employability
- Direct reports:
- Global Opportunities Coordinator (Grants & agreements)
- Global Opportunities & Exchanges Coordinator
- Global Opportunities Coordinator
- Right to work in the UK: If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
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For informal enquiries about this job
Contact Kerry Hyde, Head of Careers & Employability at kerry.hyde@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 25th September 2026. This will consist of a presentation and interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 14th September 2026. If you need any support, equipment, or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process, you can contact Ann Yeomans at a.yeomans@sheffield.ac.uk.
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
What We Offer
- A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out, and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support, and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s, and Parent’s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development with access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies:
- Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- Access to menopause support in the workplace
- Paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- And more
More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job, you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Closing Date: 13/09/2026
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches, and insights, it can lead to richer, more creative, and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, and ways of living for everyone.
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