Head of Talent and Corporate Relations supporting University of Leeds

Position: Head of Talent and Corporate Relations supporting the University of Leeds
What are we seeking?
Are you an exceptional business developer with a strong understanding of the Indian labour market and employer landscape? We are seeking a driven professional to shape partnerships that enhance career outcomes for students and graduates at one of the UK’s largest Russell Group universities, ranked in the global top 100 (QS World University Rankings 2027), a client of Acumen.
Supporting the Student Opportunity service within the Directorate of Student Success & Educational Engagement, working closely with the client’s International Office and Acumen India in-Country representatives, you will help build strategic partnerships in India that enhance student and graduate employability.

Supporting Acumen in‑country representation mandate, you will act as a dedicated resource for employability and business development activities in India, helping build strategic partnerships with employers, industry bodies, higher and professional education partners, and India’s start‑up ecosystem. Alumni will be central to this work, acting as ambassadors, connectors, mentors, employers, and advocates. Operating at the intersection of higher education and labour markets, you will help convert employer insight and market intelligence into high‑impact opportunities.

You will help champion a distinctive talent proposition, helping position the client’s graduates as globally experienced professionals.

A key priority of the role will be to explore and assess the potential phased development of client’s India Talent Hub, a flagship employability and talent partnership initiative in India. Bringing together employers, start‑ups, alumni, investors, industry, and the client, the postholder will investigate how the Hub could create exclusive internships, experiential learning, and graduate career and entrepreneurship opportunities through the client’s India Graduate Careers Advancement Programme.

We are looking for an experienced business development professional with a strong understanding of the Indian market. You will be commercially astute, highly collaborative, and confident operating independently and across organisational boundaries. With a proven ability to identify opportunities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment, you will bring energy, insight, and strategic focus to this role. You will be based in India, or willing and able to relocate, with the appropriate right to work.

The role requires regular travel across India and internationally, along with occasional evening and weekend working.

Responsibilities

India Talent Hub
Support the phased development of the client's India Talent Hub, as part of service delivery, aligned to demand, partnerships and institutional priorities - strengthening employer engagement, alumni connectivity, graduate employability and the client’s profile in India.

Client profile building and stakeholder engagement
Support the client’s profile-building in India through strategic employability related activities, events and partnerships, acting in a liaison and coordination capacity as part of Acumen's in-country representation services.
Engage with agents and prospective students to share information regarding the client’s employability support value proposition in India and outcomes.

Business Development
Support the building of strategic employer partnerships across priority sectors in India, including Multinational Corporations (MNCs) ,  Global Capability Centres (GCCs),   Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),   and the Indian start-up ecosystem, facilitating introductions and liaison to assist the client in positioning itself as a trusted international talent partner.
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