Admissions Manager

St Helen’s is an academically selective independent girls’ day school of more than 1200 students aged 3-18, set in beautiful green space in Northwood, Middlesex.

It draws pupils from a wide area of north-west London, Buckinghamshire, and Hertfordshire with easy access by Underground from central London.  

THE POST

The Admissions Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day operational delivery of the school’s student recruitment strategy, maximising new student conversions from initial enquiry to acceptance of a place and increasing existing student retention at all entry levels from Nursery to Sixth Form.

Reporting to: Head of Marketing and Admissions 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

·      Day-to-day operational management of the admissions department and team, ensuring robust and efficient admissions procedures and systems are in place to deliver the student recruitment strategy and meet recruitment and retention targets.

·      Ensure that all in-person, online and off-line communication with families via the admission team is accurate, timely and consistent with the school’s brand values and admissions best practice, ensuring an optimum customer experience at all times from the point of initial enquiry to taking up a place.

·      Collaborate with marketing, operational and academic teams to deliver successful recruitment and retention events and activities that drive increased conversions to acceptance of offers.

·      Support the Business Director and academic leads with the smooth implementation of the student bursary and scholarship selection and award processes by providing relevant admissions data and communication with parents.

·      Ensure the smooth transition from prospective to current student status, including the management of the entrance assessment processes and results, welcome and induction processes and events

·      Support the Head of Marketing and Admissions and academic leads in fostering relationships with feeder schools, ensuring that the admissions team is represented at all visits and events.

·      Ensure the accurate, effective, and efficient implementation and administration of the admissions management systems, including ISAMS.

·      Ensure academic and pastoral leads are provided with admissions information at the point of student entry to ensure a smooth transition into and through the school.

Data management: 

·      Ensure all enquiry and admissions data is captured and recorded accurately on the relevant information systems by the admissions team.

·      Evaluate all enquiry and admissions data and provide reports on agreed metrics to the Headmistress, Head of Marketing and Admissions and the senior leadership team as required.

·      Utilise performance and forecasting data to inform evidence-based decision-making and shape financial planning to deliver effective translation into student numbers.

Financial: 

·      Manage department resources so that they are scalable and able to respond to the cyclical nature of the recruitment cycle.

Team Management: 

·      Lead, motivate and develop the Admissions team, ensuring that they always deliver excellent service levels to colleagues, students and their parents

·      Set departmental and individual objectives, action plans and success criteria, ensuring all team members are fully conversant with how these contribute to the School’s wider strategic objectives through regular review meetings and appraisals

·      Work closely with the Human Resources Manager on recruitment, training and development, welfare, and performance management matters.

HOURS

Monday to Friday 8.30am- 5.00pm, based on site, with some flexibility available during school holidays and in line with the department and business needs.

THE PERSON

It is essential that the successful candidates possess the following qualifications, skills and experience:

• Minimum Level 4 qualification or significant relevant experience
• Evidence of ongoing relevant professional development and experience
• Proven experience of managing, motivating, and developing staff
• Managing the operational delivery of customer recruitment and retention activities that achieve growth targets.
• Solid experience of using analytics tools and interpreting, reporting and acting on the complex metrics derived from them, including KPIs
• Working effectively within a complex multi-professional environment
• Building relationships with and influencing key stakeholders
• Proven experience of reviewing processes, workflows and service delivery and introducing new systems and processes.
• Managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, delivering to a high standard, within tight timescales/budget
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Numerically literate
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
• Ability to turn creative ideas into effective workstreams
• Self-motivated, flexible and adaptable
• Calm under pressure
• Team leader and player
• Articulate and confident communicator
• Customer focused
• Diplomatic approach and ability to exercise good judgement.

APPLICATION/SELECTION PROCESS

Please apply as soon as possible as shortlisting/interviews will progress up until the closing date. Should a suitable candidate be appointed, we reserve the right to close the advert early. 

Due to the high volume of applicants, we receive, if you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume we will not be progressing your application further on this occasion.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30-minute first stage Microsoft Teams call with our Assistant Business Director and Head of Marketing and Admissions.

Second stage interview, skills test and tour will take place on site.

St Helen’s school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as detailed in Part 3 (Safer Recruitment) of the KCSIE 2022 guidance document. Applicants will be asked for proof of right to work in the UK and undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the disclosure and barring service.

If you have any queries about this position, please contact the school at recruitment@sthelens.london