About this role
Role: Senior US Study Abroad Advisor
Location: Shenzhen, China
Job type: Fixed Term Contract for 3 years – Full time
Why QS?
At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That’s why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst flourishing personally and professionally. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.
It’s our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives.
Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.
At QS, you’ll be responsible for implementing real change in the international higher education landscape. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that see a positive impact across the business and the wider sector.
We’re confident you’ll feel right at home here. QS was named as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023), recognising the respect, trust and appreciation that drive our culture every day. And as a gold-accredited Investors in People organisation – putting us among the top 28% of workplaces globally – it’s official: QS is a place where everyone can thrive.
The Role
We are looking for a seasoned U.S. Study Abroad Advisor who is commercially strong, service-oriented and highly collaborative. The Advisor will lead consultation and client relationship coordination for U.S. study abroad cases in Chengdu, with a particular focus on competitive undergraduate admissions.
This is not a siloed role. The Advisor is expected to keep the client journey joined up, maintain clear communication with students and families, and work closely with Academic Planning, Application colleagues, managers and approved specialists. Successful outcomes should be delivered by a shared case team, not by one person working alone.
Role responsibilities
1. Client Consultation and Responsible Conversion
• Develop a deep, current understanding of U.S. admissions policies for undergraduate and graduate pathways, with particular strength in competitive undergraduate admissions.
• Follow up company-assigned leads, manage incoming enquiries and deliver high-quality onsite or online consultations.
• Communicate QS value clearly and responsibly, recommending supplementary services only where they are appropriate to the student’s needs.
• Set realistic expectations with students and parents, avoiding over-promising or commitments that have not been agreed by the wider team.
2. Shared Case Coordination
• Act as the lead client coordinator within the shared case team after signing, ensuring the student and family experience feels joined up.
• Maintain current student records, progress notes, risks, milestones and next steps in agreed systems or shared formats.
• Ensure colleagues have enough context to support or step into the case during absence, workload peaks, escalation or reassignment.
• Coordinate closely with Academic Planning and Application colleagues without taking over responsibilities that sit clearly with those teams.
3. Risk Management and Escalation
• Identify and raise risks early, including deadlines, materials, client expectations, service quality, internal coordination or capacity concerns.
• Do not wait until a problem becomes urgent before involving colleagues or managers. Timely escalation is expected.
• Use case reviews, team discussions and handover notes to keep decisions visible and prevent dependency on one individual.
4. Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing and Market Support
• Contribute to team learning through case debriefs, process improvement discussions and examples of good practice.
• Support Business Development and marketing activity as a U.S. admissions subject-matter expert where workload and priorities allow.
• Share relevant policy updates and admissions insight with colleagues so knowledge is distributed across the team.
5. External Specialist Coordination
• Where approved external Essay Specialists or other support resources are involved, work only within agreed RACI, confidentiality, quality review and communication rules.
• Coordinate client-facing expectations, but do not become the sole controller of specialist delivery or hold specialist work outside agreed processes.
Key skills and experience
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above from a recognised university. U.S. study experience is highly preferred.
• Experience: Proven experience in a high performance international education advisory role, with strong U.S. admissions expertise and evidence of successful competitive undergraduate cases.
• Communication: Able to build trust with students and parents, explain complex choices clearly and maintain calm, professional communication under pressure.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work in a shared service model through clear documentation, proactive information sharing, constructive escalation and collaboration across functions.
• Ownership mentality: Takes responsibility for client experience and case visibility while respecting role boundaries and shared accountability.
• Resilience and adaptability: Strong stress management and quick learning ability to adapt to changing admissions policies and high pressure application seasons.
• Technical skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and disciplined use of agreed case management systems or shared records.
Team Culture Expectations
• Work openly and constructively with colleagues across roles and departments.
• Share information early so teammates are not surprised by issues late in the process.
• Offer help where collaboration improves student outcomes, while respecting role boundaries and workload.
• Avoid working in isolation when shared discussion would lead to a better decision.
• Help create a positive, respectful and practical team environment where people feel able to raise risks and solve problems together.
So, who are we and what do we do?
QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. From consultancy to student mobility, academic partnerships to branding solutions, our services power both institutional and individual success.
We’re behind the world’s most widely read university rankings (Meltwater 2023). Our QS World University Rankings® reach hundreds of millions, shaping decisions and guiding futures.
Since launching in 1990, our impact and influence have only grown. Today, we work with more than 2,000 of the world’s leading higher education institutions, over 12,000 employers, and governments seeking change and socioeconomic development through higher education.
Join QS and you’ll join an 800-strong community of problem-solvers, creators, collaborators and change-makers based in 40+ countries and 11 international offices, including Australia, Malaysia, India, Romania, Singapore, France, Germany, the USA and our headquarters in London.
With every talented new hire, business acquisition and bold initiative, we’re strengthening our reach and delivering even greater value to institutions and learners worldwide. Are you ready to shape the future of higher education?
We take investing in our people very seriously.
• Free subscription to the Calm App – the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
• A focus on welfare which is led by our global wellness team, with mental health first aiders globally
• Access to a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives and groups
• Strong recognition and reward programs – including a peer-to-peer recognition platform, quarterly and annual QS Applaud Awards, Connect with your Career annual personal development event
• Support for volunteering and study leave
• Free subscription to LinkedIn learning – with over 5,000 courses and programmes at your fingertips
• Options to join our outstanding global Mentorship programme
Like what you’ve heard? Great, apply now!
As a candidate, we know the application and interview process can be daunting and so it’s important that you have a great experience with us. Our dedicated Talent Team will work hard to ensure you are fully informed at all stages and you are really excited by this opportunity to do meaningful work in the education space.
Equal opportunities
QS Quacquarelli Symonds is proud to be a fair and equal organisation where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background or personal attributes. We celebrate our diversity and believe through sharing our experiences we can learn from one another, be stronger together, and enable our business to thrive.
Please keep an eye on your spam / junk email folder for correspondence from BambooHR