Admissions Manager

About the School - Akeley Wood School

Akeley Wood School is a dynamic and friendly place to work with opportunities for professional development. We educate around 700 children across three campuses and have a progressive approach to teaching and learning. We strive for a holistic education at Akeley Wood and achieve this through the supportive environment and diverse breadth of learning and development within our School.

We look to recruit high calibre staff committed to achieving the highest standards and to actively take part in the school life. We now have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Admissions Manager to join our fantastic team.

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘Thrive in a rapidly evolving world’.

About the role

The Admissions Manager, in collaboration with the Executive Head Teacher, plays a vital role of increasing student numbers at our schools. This objective will be achieved by providing a unique and exceptional customer experience that stands out in the market. The role involves fostering a sales-oriented culture within the school, beginning with the leadership and admissions teams, to ensure everyone is aligned with the school's growth strategy through effective communication and strong interpersonal relationships. The focus is not only on attracting new enrolments but also on retaining current students.

As the overseer of the admissions process, the Admissions Manager is responsible for managing the admissions pipeline to maximize conversion rates at each stage while supporting school teams to maintain high retention levels. This includes ensuring a robust retention strategy at key transition points, conducting regular data analysis and forecasting, and enhancing the digital admissions journey with outstanding follow-up service. Leading conversion events, upholding global admissions standards, and serving as a prominent brand ambassador are also key responsibilities. The Admissions Manager will work closely with the Head of Marketing & Admissions and the school's Head to set ambitious enrolment goals and will continuously seek feedback from various channels to refine the admissions experience based on customer insights.

Who we are looking for:

The ideal candidate will have a charming personality, instantly connecting and building rapport with diverse individuals, fuelled by a genuine enjoyment from social interactions. They will demonstrate a strong sense of independence and authority. Their interpersonal and communication skills will be exceptional, enabling them to engage sensitively and diplomatically across all levels. A high degree of numeracy and analytical skills is essential, allowing for the extraction of meaningful insights from complex data sets. They will adeptly manage multiple stakeholder relationships and thrive within a team. Organisational and administrative competencies must be top-notch, coupled with the ability to maintain composure and deliver under tight deadlines. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and various database systems is expected, along with a strong attention to detail in all tasks.

Experience-wise, a track record of both successes and learning experiences is crucial, as is experience in managing direct customer interactions, preferably in sales and customer service. The candidate should be accustomed to the demands of a fast-paced, service-oriented environment and proficient in utilising customer databases, CRM tools, and digital platforms. Knowledge of the schools market would be beneficial.

For the full Job Description and Person Specification, please Click Here

Benefits at Cognita

•Competitive salary depending upon qualifications and experience

•Aviva Pension

•Free lunch provided during Term Time

•Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Adoption leave

•Holiday Allowance

•School fee discount for children at Akeley Wood

•Exclusive third-party discounts

•Professional Development

How to Apply

Complete this application before the closing date. The Closing Date for Applications is: Monday 5th August, with interviews to take place 12th & 13th August.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

EARLY APPLICATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVIEW AND APPOINT PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE FOR THE RIGHT APPLICANT.