Vanja Grdinic
Dubai,UAE
Summary
Dedicated professional with a strong foundation in critical-thinking and conflict resolution, adept at employing student engagement techniques to foster a positive learning environment. Demonstrates exceptional skills in confidentiality maintenance and enrolment procedures, ensuring seamless document preparation and negotiation proficiency. Possesses analytical-thinking and cultural awareness, complemented by a deep understanding of financial aid processes. Committed to cultural sensitivity and decision making, with a proven track record of self-motivation and customer service excellence. Aspires to leverage these competencies in roles that enhance educational experiences and support diverse student populations.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
International Admissions Manager
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
01.2022 - 01.2025
- Company Overview: MIU Malaysia,GNU Global Next
- Achieved 55% Growth in Student Recruitment from Africa: Successfully increased student enrollment numbers from Africa during my tenure at Manipal, making the 2024-2025 intake the highest ever.
- Brand Expansion in East Africa: Led initiatives to enhance Manipal’s brand visibility in East Africa, establishing a strong market presence.
- Built a Network of 37+ Partners Across Africa: Developed strategic partnerships with over 37 education agents and institutions, strengthening Manipal’s recruitment channels.
- Implemented Growth Strategies: Designed and executed innovative strategies to boost African student enrollment, ensuring sustainable long-term growth.
- Manages, develops and implements a comprehensive recruitment plan that involves effective prospective student management, targeted recruitment efforts including web-based application and delivery, effectively enrolling prospective students, and initiates strategies for student success and retention: educates students and parents regarding various pathways to higher education
- Supervises assigned staff, including hiring, work assignments, performance management and evolutions, and makes recommendations regarding department organization and process workflows, training, and problem resolutions
- Provides leadership to the recruitment team, develops, and oversees recruitment strategies, annual recruitment goals and objectives, and outreach events to support the college's strategic plan recruitment messaging
- Tracks and reports recruitment information and monitors enrollment progress
- Collaborates with high school leadership and serves as the enrollment liaison between high school and college
- Creating and leading recruitment activity to generate business and identify new recruitment markets and channels, ensuring the continual development of new business and sustainability of existing channels
- Recruitment, coordination and monitoring of a network of agents appointed by the University to support international recruitment activity
- Coordinate recruitment activities, including attendance at fairs and events, through the development and execution of an integrated plan with associated targets
- Lead, motivate, develop and inspire International Recruitment and Development team, structure their activity and performance to deliver results in line with operational and project budgets, providing clear objectives and managing performance against these.
International Recruitment and Marketing Specialist
Middlesex University
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Company Overview: Dubai
- Delivery of student recruitment targets
- Overachieved numbers from Africa
- Growth by 120%
- Travelling to countries for educational fairs as well as agent offices for student recruitment
- Building network with Agents and Educational consultants across the world
- Manage the entire recruitment journey from initial inquiry to conversion and until graduation
- To liaise with academic and professional staff regarding the delivery of recruitment and conversion activities both on and off campus and through online activity
- Engage with inquiries in the recruitment process, providing excellent customer service
- Develop links and relationships with schools, colleges, alumni, institutions
- Develop and Implement marketing strategies to recruit students globally and especially in MENA
- Communicated marketing strategy and campaign performance to verify alignment with corporate sales objectives
- Completed and submitted reports to support executive decision making
- Traveled to promote current programs and drive marketing through education shows and industry conferences
- Maintained complete database of all files, contacts, and project materials
- Liaised and established active relations with 40+ agent connections in the Africa region as point of contact in Africa
- Supervised interns in lead generation, follow up and conversion operations
- Strategized and developed video content for website and social media publications
- Partnered with graphic designers to create content and promote ad campaigns
- Reporting directly to the Director on International recruitment
- Launching targeted marketing campaigns in key international markets to achieve recruitment goals
- Dubai
Marketing Executive
Middlesex University
01.2014 - 01.2022
- Company Overview: Dubai
- Maximizing efficiency of the inventory control system
- Ensuring stocks are accounted for on weekly basis and report to Mar
- Manager
- Enhancing the merchandising order process
- Ensuring purchases are made are with suppliers offering the most cost-effective products of good quality
- Website management
- Organizing open days, open evenings & induction days
- Organizing Events & Exhibitions (GETEX, Graduation, corporate meetings ...)
- Liaising and communicating with all necessary staff members
- Managing the paperwork of quotations, invoices, and liaison with suppliers
- Recruiting Students and attending school visits
- Dubai
Assistant Manager
Eurosalon
01.2014 - 12.2014
- Company Overview: Belgrade
- Worked closely with Growth Strategy Manager to develop the customer engagement strategy
- Engaged and inspired the team by ensuring they actively strive to achieve key performance indicators to increase store performance and reach individual and store targets
- Ensuring all Human Resources issues are dealt with in a timely and effective manner in line with the guidance provided by HR
- Assisting the Store Manager in providing training to the team, including product
- Construction, materials, care and design, customer service, Retail Excellence and any other topics as communicated
- Supporting Stock Control and ensuring deliveries are processed swiftly and that the store's entire product offer is made immediately available and easily accessible to customers on a consistent basis
- Supporting with stock takes as and when required
- Ensuring that effective stock controls are maintained to ensure continued stock supply and ensure stock record accuracy
- Actively monitoring the team, ensuring that merchandise presentation reflects VM standards and general tidiness, and ensuring the cleanliness of the boutique is maintained at all times
- Ensure that the store is fully compliant with financial, HR, legal and retail operation rules and procedures with a view to ensuring operational excellence
- Belgrade
Senior Sales Executive
Bayley & Sage
01.2010 - 12.2013
- Company Overview: London
- Dealing with customer inquiries face-to-face or over the phone
- Contacting prospective customers and discussing their requirements
- Working closely with the marketing team to produce any sales collateral required for the target market
- Reporting business trends and area performance to the National Sales Manager
- Planning and organizing the day to ensure all opportunities are maximized
- Developing a full understanding of the business marketplace
- London
Education
International Marketing -
Megatrend
Belgrade 01.2003 - 01.2005
Business English - undefined
London Meridian College
01.2010 - 01.2013
Civil Engineering Diploma - undefined
Civil Engineering College
01.1999 - 01.2003
Skills
- Critical-thinking
- Conflict Resolution
- Student engagement techniques
- Confidentiality maintenance
- Enrolment procedures
- Document preparation
- Negotiation proficiency
- Analytical-thinking
- Cultural awareness
- Financial aid understanding
- Cultural sensitivity
- Decision making
- Self-motivation
- Customer service excellence
Languages
English
Serbian
Personal Information
- Date of birth: 02/05/84
- Nationality: Serbian
Timeline
International Admissions Manager
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
01.2022 - 01.2025
International Recruitment and Marketing Specialist
Middlesex University
01.2017 - 01.2022
Marketing Executive
Middlesex University
01.2014 - 01.2022
Assistant Manager
Eurosalon
01.2014 - 12.2014
Senior Sales Executive
Bayley & Sage
01.2010 - 12.2013
Business English - undefined
London Meridian College
01.2010 - 01.2013
International Marketing -
Megatrend
01.2003 - 01.2005
Civil Engineering Diploma - undefined
Civil Engineering College
01.1999 - 01.2003
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