UPP, the leading partner to UK universities for on-campus accommodation infrastructure, is seeking to recruit a Director of Sector Engagement to lead our external engagement with the UK higher education sector and our charitable Foundation.

UPP is the UK’s leading provider of on-campus residential accommodation infrastructure, operating over 35,000 rooms in partnership with 15 world-leading universities across the UK. At UPP we have a proud history of leading innovation in campus accommodation, having invested over £3.5bn over the last three decades, working with world-leading architects to build or redevelop highly sustainable student accommodation that meets Passivhaus, BREEAM and WELL standards.

The Director of Sector Engagement role is pivotal in strengthening UPP’s reputation, building strategic relationships, and identifying partnership opportunities. The role leads UPP’s engagement strategy, developing and maintaining high-level relationships with UK universities, sector bodies, and thought leaders, translating sector trends and stakeholder priorities into actionable insights for the business. Aligned with this, the Director of Sector Engagement will lead the UPP Foundation, ensuring it delivers meaningful impact aligned with sector needs and UPP’s values. This includes commissioning and leading research and sector-wide initiatives to support thought leadership and ongoing sector success.

A key aspect of the role is to support UPP’s strategy, collaborating with internal teams to integrate sector insights into strategic decision-making, bids, and long-term planning, ensuring that UPP responds to the needs of the sector and its students.

The ideal candidate will have considerable experience in stakeholder engagement, external affairs, and/or university strategy development, with strong knowledge of the UK higher education sector and experience leading charitable, policy, or public engagement initiatives. You will have the confidence to effectively build high-level relationships and represent organisations publicly, with the acumen to ensure sector insight positively informs business strategy, business development and product innovation. Alongside this, you will be highly motivated, a strategic thinker, and an effective collaborator, together with a genuine passion for the higher education sector.

The role attracts a competitive salary commensurate with a role at this level, together with a generous performance bonus. UPP is an inclusive and flexible employer and offers comprehensive benefits package including 29 days holiday plus bank holidays, private healthcare, pension, enhanced family leave policy, life assurance, training, two paid volunteering or personal development days and cycle to work scheme. Check out their website for more information about UPP, their culture and benefits. Based in their award-winning offices in London, with a hybrid working policy that supports working from home around 2 days a week. Due to the nature of the role you can expect regular travel across the UK to university locations.

The candidate brochure can be viewed at: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/478775012/

For a confidential discussion please contact our retained advisors James Gregory (james.gregory@mrgglobal.com) and Ben Duffill (ben.duffill@mrgglobal.com) at MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and should be sent to james.gregory@mrgglobal.com and ben.duffill@mrgglobal.com

UPP welcomes all applications and recognises the value of having a diverse and inclusive culture, which reflects the communities they work with and has a positive impact on their people, the student residents, and university partners.

They understand all disabilities, impairments and conditions are unique, so please advise us of any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process and also help you to thrive at work.