Assistant Director, Office of Admissions

Role Overview

This contract position supports the Director of Admissions in crafting and implementing the university's admissions strategy, ensuring the admissions process is efficient, equitable, and centered on prospective students. The Assistant Director oversees admissions processing, outreach programs, scholarship management, system upgrades, and stakeholder relations to meet enrolment goals. Leadership and development of the admissions team with a focus on operational excellence and continuous enhancement are also key responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in devising and executing strategic admissions plans aligned with university goals and enrolment targets.
• Analyze market trends and admissions data to recommend policy and process improvements.
• Enhance admissions procedures and services through data-driven methods.
• Lead recruitment outreach initiatives, establishing partnerships with schools, government bodies, and other stakeholders locally and abroad.
• Represent the university at educational events, webinars, and recruitment fairs.
• Oversee the entire admissions workflow ensuring accuracy, fairness, and policy compliance; act as Secretariat to admissions committees.
• Manage scholarship evaluation, allocation, and budget oversight for university, donor, and ministry awards.
• Lead staff coaching, development, performance management, and succession planning within the admissions team.
• Maintain strong collaborations with academic and administrative units to support recruitment and enrolment efforts.
• Drive the adoption of AI and digital tools to optimize admissions systems and enhance operational efficiency.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in student admissions, enrolment management, higher education administration, or related business development roles.
• Proven leadership capabilities managing complex operations and teams.
• Experience in process improvement, project management, and system implementation is preferred.
• Deep knowledge of admissions governance and operational frameworks.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and organisational skills with multi-tasking abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis and Microsoft Office; experience with admissions systems or CRM desirable.
• High standards of professionalism, integrity, and judgement.

Success Indicators

• Meeting university enrolment objectives effectively.
• Maintaining efficient admissions processes with strong compliance and governance.
• Successful execution of recruitment and outreach efforts.
• Implementing continual improvements leveraging AI and digital technology.
• Positive feedback and collaboration from internal and external stakeholders.
• Building and sustaining a high-performing admissions team.