Head of Admissions

IMPORTANT!
The minimum English level required is B2 (Upper Intermediate).
Please submit your CV in English — applications in other languages will not be reviewed!

About Us: 

Coventry University, founded in 1843, is a forward-looking, modern institution with a proud tradition of providing high-quality education. Students benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and facilities across various academic disciplines, including business, computing, health, design, engineering, and performing arts. Coventry University has been described by Times Higher Education as “one of the most innovative modern universities, bold in its vision of the 21st-century student experience”.

Job Purpose

Head of Admissions lead and manage the Admissions function, ensuring an efficient, compliant and customer-focused admissions process from application to enrolment, while supporting continuous improvement and strong collaboration across the university.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and supervise the Admissions Team, ensuring effective workload prioritisation, clear delegation of responsibilities, and timely resolution of all enquiries in line with internal service level agreements (SLAs). This includes setting task priorities based on urgency and operational importance.

• Perform all aspects of first-line people management, including staff induction, probation reviews, one-to-one meetings, performance reviews, and ongoing coaching and development of Admissions staff.

• Manage all communication with applicants and newly enrolled students, ensuring that all local and group-wide messages are delivered clearly, accurately, and in a timely manner across multiple communication channels.

• Oversee the full admissions lifecycle, ensuring efficient, compliant, and timely processing from application submission through enrolment. This includes responsibility for the admissions of international students and ensuring full compliance with immigration and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure the accurate preparation and timely provision of university-issued documentation required for the registration and onboarding of international students, in compliance with local regulations.

• Provide expert advice to staff on admissions-related policies, regulations, processes, and procedures, ensuring all regulatory and institutional requirements are fully met.

• Collaborate closely with academic staff and professional service departments to ensure alignment of admissions processes, clarity of expectations, and efficient cross-departmental workflows. Act as the department’s representative in all institutional meetings, working groups, and governance discussions.

• Develop and deliver training programmes for staff on admissions systems and processes, ensuring consistent and high-quality operational practice.

• Use appropriate reporting tools to produce admissions-related management information, perform data analysis, and highlight key trends or issues requiring action.

• Ensure applicants and new students receive a high-quality customer care experience, providing accurate information, guidance, and support through multiple communication methods.

• Adhere to and promote compliance with all relevant legislation and guidance, including Data Protection, Disabilities Discrimination, Equal Opportunities, Prevent, immigration rules, and other applicable frameworks.

• Lead and coordinate all admissions-related student placement activities, working with students, academic teams, and external partners such as nurseries and schools, including the organisation of partnership-related events.

• Take responsibility for the development, review, and maintenance of all third-party agreements, ensuring their accuracy, compliance, and alignment with institutional requirements.

• Act as the key point of contact for senior leadership and external stakeholders on all admissions-related matters, ensuring clear communication and timely escalation where required.

• Coordinate departmental interaction with other units, representing the Admissions Department and ensuring effective cross-functional collaboration.

• Oversee and manage the Admissions mailbox, ensuring efficient task distribution, timely responses, and high service standards across all communication channels.

• Lead the University’s state scholarship processes in collaboration with university leadership and academic staff, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, accurate administration, and effective communication with all applicants and their legal representatives.

• Participate in the state scholarship WhatsApp group, coordinating communication with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and other authorised bodies, and preparing, reviewing, and submitting all required scholarship-related documentation in a timely and accurate manner.

• Act as secretary of the both Scholarship Committee and State Scholarship committee, coordinating committees’ activities, preparing documentation and agendas, maintaining official records and minutes, and ensuring the effective administration of scholarship-related decisions and processes.

• Work closely with the Admissions specialist to review, develop, and continuously improve admissions processes and administrative procedures, ensuring operational efficiency, service quality, and compliance with institutional requirements.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience in higher education admissions processes.

• Strong leadership and team management skills.

• Good understanding of admissions policies, compliance and relevant legislation.

• Excellent communication and customer service skills.

• Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.

• Ability to analyse data and produce clear reports.

• Effective collaboration with academic and professional teams.

• Commitment to continuous improvement and high service standards.