Senior Admissions Manager, SEA

The Senior Admissions Manager is a strategic, data-driven leader responsible for championing an exceptional customer experience journeyacross all schools in the Group’s SEA and UAE portfolios, in strengthening admissions capabilities, improving conversion performance, and optimising end-to-end processes - all while leading and mentoring a team of school Admissions Managers to ensure consistent, high-quality execution. As a senior leader, this role carries dual accountability - setting regional enrolment strategy; driving operational excellence at the school level in delivering exceptional customer experience. It is especially impactful in competitive and developing markets, where targeted interventions, capability building and rigorous follow-through are critical to success. The Senior Admissions Manager works hand-in-hand with each school’s Admissions team to elevate quality, embed best-in-class practices and deliver a seamless, family-centric admissions journey. By setting clear examples of what excellent customer experience looks like, this role ensures that every interaction reflects the Group’s commitment to service excellence - building trust, enhancing brand reputation, and accelerating enrolment growth across the region. The Role Strategic Enrolment & Market Leadership: • Develop and execute the regional enrolment strategy to meet and exceed student recruitment targets across all schools and grade levels • Conduct in-depth market analysis to monitor competitor activity, identify demographic trends, and anticipate economic factors influencing international school choices • Proactively build and manage a strategic network of regional partners to establish sustainable enrolment pipelines DataAnalysis, Reporting & Forecasting: • Implement a rigorous data-driven approach to enrollment management. Oversee regular, comprehensive reports on all key admissions metrics (e.g., inquiry-to-application conversion, yield rates, attrition) • Develop accurate, data-informed enrolment projections and forecasts to guide strategic planning, budget allocation, and school capacity management. Working with IT to automate where possible • Translate complex data sets into clear, actionable insights and present findings and recommendations to the senior leadership team to support informed decision-making Team Leadership & Development: • Build, align and support School Admissions Managers on strategy development and operational best practice, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and data literacy • Support school Directors to conduct regular performance reviews based on KPIs and create personalized professional development plans for their admissions teams • Facilitate regional training and communities of practice to share best practices and ensure consistency in data entry, analysis, and customer service standards Process Optimization & Technology: • Standardize and optimize the end-to-end admissions and enrollment process across all schools, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for families • Oversee the admissions CRM and related technologies, leveraging their full potential for pipeline management, automated communications, and advanced data analytics • Continuously review and improve processes to reduce friction, shorten the inquiry-to-enrolment cycle, and improve conversion rates Customer Experience & Cross-Functional Collaboration: • Champion an exceptional customer experience for all prospective families, from first inquiry through to enrollment • Work closely with the Regional Marketing team to align admissions data with marketing strategies, developing targeted campaigns based on market insights • Partner with the Academic and Leadership teams to ensure alignment on school capacity, class placements, and entry requirements • Collaborate with the Finance Department on fee structures, scholarships, and payment plans The Person Essential: • Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field • Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in admissions, sales and marketing, ideally within the education sector • Admissions experiences in Southeast Asia, Middle East etc is essential, with extensive experience with Admissions CRMs (e.g., OpenApply, Finalsite, Salesforce) and data analysis • Proven track record of developing and implementing successful enrollment strategies that meet ambitious targets • Demonstrated experience in managing budgets, forecasting, and reporting on key metrics • Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to manage, motivate, and develop high-performing teams • Working English mandatory, Mandarin a benefit Desirable: • Master’s degree in a relevant field. • Experience in international education and an understanding of the unique needs of expatriate and local communities • Experience in a fast-paced, target-driven commercial environment Person Specifications & Competencies: • Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Ability to think strategically, analyze data, and make decisions that drive growth and operational efficiency. • Exceptional Communicator: Influential and articulate communicator, adept at engaging with diverse stakeholders including prospective parents, school leaders, and corporate executives. Able to work in a matrix organization • High Empathy & Intercultural Sensitivity: Naturally understands the anxieties and needs of families relocating internationally. Builds rapport easily with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. • Results-Oriented: Driven to achieve and exceed targets, with a persistent and proactive approach. • Collaborative Influencer: Builds strong, trusting relationships across departments (Marketing, Finance, Academics) to drive a unified enrollment strategy. • Process-Optimizer: A keen eye for detail and a passion for creating streamlined, user-friendly processes. • Resilient & Adaptable: Thrives in a dynamic environment and remains calm and solution-focu…