Company description:

A business with a 50-year heritage with a global office network spanning over 100 offices, our websites attract a combined 100 million visits a year. Our team of experienced and dedicated counsellors are experts at providing trusted advice to students and their families at every step of the international education journey, and almost 8 in 10 students placed by IDP recommend our services to their family and friends.

IDP's ongoing success comes from our highly committed and professional employees around the globe. Our diverse talent, expertise and passion of our people that makes IDP unique. We strive to provide a working environment where our people are encouraged to excel, be agile and creative, seek new ways to solve problems, take initiative, and generate new opportunities. We respect diversity in our people: their ideas, work styles and perspectives.

Job description:

Head of Stakeholder Engagement - APAC Partnerships

Location: Australia (Melbourne preferred, flexible for the right candidate)

Type: Full-time, Permanent

Reports to: Director, Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement, APAC Role purpose

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for international education and a talent for building influential relationships? IDP is seeking a visionary Head of Stakeholder Engagement to lead our external relations strategy across Australia and New Zealand, driving impactful partnerships that shape the future of education and language testing.

Your Impact

As a senior leader in our APAC Partnerships team, you will:

• Lead strategic engagement with government bodies, NGOs, education providers, and sector groups to position IDP and IELTS as trusted leaders.
• Drive advocacy and inform policy, leveraging data and insights to inform sector-wide decisions.
• Coordinate advisory panels and strategic boards, bringing together thought leaders to co-create innovative solutions.
• Shape messaging and outreach, working closely with marketing, communications, and global strategy teams.
• Represent IDP in high-level forums, consultations, and media engagements, amplifying our voice and vision.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for someone who combines strategic acumen with a collaborative spirit:

• Proven leadership in stakeholder engagement, government relations, and advocacy.
• Deep understanding of the international education landscape and policy environment.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with a flair for storytelling through data.
• Experience in commercial environments, including contract management and strategic partnerships.
• Ability to convene senior networks, influence decision-makers, and drive cross-sector collaboration.

About IDP

IDP is the global leader in international education services, delivering global success to students, test takers and our partners, through trusted human relationships, digital technology and customer research. An Australian-listed company, we operate in more than 50 countries around the world.

Our team is comprised of over 7,000 people of various nationalities, ages and cultural backgrounds. Proudly customer-first, our expert people are powered by global technology. Together, we offer unmatched services, helping local dreams become realities, all over the world.

Learn more at www.careers.idp.com

Why IDP?

Join a global leader in international education and language testing, where your work will directly impact students, institutions, and policy. You'll collaborate with senior leaders across APAC and globally, contribute to shaping the future of education, and be part of a purpose-driven, innovative team.

Ready to lead the conversation and make a difference?

Apply now and help us build a sustainable, student-focused future.

Profile description:

Inviting applications from leaders to drive strategic stakeholder engagement across Australia and New Zealand as Head of Stakeholder Engagement. The role plays a pivotal part in shaping our partnerships strategy, informing policy, and positioning IDP and IELTS as sector leaders.

As part of the APAC partnerships team, you will coordinate IDP's strategic advisory board and client advisory panels to inform product strategy, enhance cross-sector collaboration, and transcend stakeholder strategies and partnerships. You will have a deep understanding of government processes, legislative environments, and the broader political and sector landscape, alongside excellent relationship-building, communication, presentation and negotiation skills.

We offer:

We are evolving rapidly. This is an exciting time to join us as we transform the way people access global education and opportunities, through leveraging innovative technology and a creating a connected world.

As a Great place to work certified organisation, our people are always at the forefront of what we do. We strive to provide workplaces that are truly diverse and representative of the communities that we work in, so our people feel empowered to bring their best and authentic selves to work. We are focused on continuing to build a culture of inclusion and belonging by providing a safe work environment where all our people are encouraged to excel, be agile and creative, and seek new ways to solve meaningful problems.