Head of Student Acquisition

About ECA and UniSC Partnership

Education Centre of Australia (ECA) is a prominent education group leading Australia's higher education sector with campuses in major cities and international operations. It partners strategically with respected universities such as Victoria University and University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) to deliver quality education for international and domestic students. UniSC, recognized for outstanding student experience and graduate outcomes, has expanded nationally in partnership with ECA, including its Adelaide campus offering programs in ICT, Cyber Security, and Forensics.

Role Overview

The Head of Student Acquisition for ECA-UniSC will spearhead enrolment growth and market expansion efforts across multiple campuses including Adelaide. This senior leadership role is critical in steering student recruitment, marketing, admissions, and agent management to achieve sustainable growth aligned with strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement student acquisition strategies for all ECA-UniSC campuses and future locations.
• Lead the formulation of annual recruitment and marketing plans aligned with enrolment goals and financial targets.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to identify new opportunities and student demand trends.
• Advise on new program development, portfolio diversification, and campus expansion possibilities.
• Manage enrolment forecasting, pipeline strategies, and efforts to broaden market diversity.
• Oversee offshore office operations to enhance recruitment outcomes and manage acquisition budgets ensuring cost-effectiveness.
• Monitor recruitment risks such as visa approvals, market concentration, student quality, and compliance with education regulations.
• Ensure adherence to ESOS, National Code, CRICOS, TEQSA, and partner university compliance standards.
• Prepare detailed strategic reports and present findings to governance committees and leadership teams.
• Lead the student acquisition function including marketing, recruitment, admissions, and conversion activities ensuring process efficiency and innovation integration like AI tools.
• Drive performance measurement of agents and develop strategies to improve agent outcomes, student quality, and overall recruitment effectiveness.
• Build and maintain robust relationships with educational agents, pathway providers, schools, and strategic recruitment partners globally.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team across multiple locations fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Represent ECA-UniSC in governance forums and industry events, supporting strategic growth initiatives including new campus and program launches.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Education, Management or related field is required; postgraduate qualifications are highly valued.
• At least 7 years of leadership experience in international or higher education, especially in student acquisition, recruitment, or university partnerships.
• Proven success in driving growth through strategic recruitment, admissions, marketing, and agent network management.
• Strong knowledge of Australian education regulations, visa requirements, and recruitment channels for domestic and international students.
• Exceptional skills in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, financial management, negotiation, and team leadership.
• Ability to effectively use CRM platforms, data analytics, and AI-assisted recruitment technologies.

Benefits

• Company-sponsored parental leave options offering 14 weeks full pay or 28 weeks at 50% pay.
• Access to Employee Assistance Program catering to staff and immediate family wellbeing.
• Staff education support including fee discounts on ECA courses and professional development programs.
• Free access to extensive online learning resources and wellbeing discounts.
• Opportunities to influence the growth trajectory of a significant university partnership in Australia.

Diversity and Inclusion

ECA warmly welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds including Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQIA+, and culturally diverse communities. The role is open to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and those holding full Australian working rights.

Additional Information

The position is based in Adelaide with relocation support potentially available to candidates from other regions in Australia. Applicants must possess unrestricted working rights in Australia at time of application. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.