Head of Admissions

Fairfield School of Business (FSB) is an ambitious, community-focused higher education provider committed to making high-quality higher education accessible to people from all backgrounds. Working with UK university partners, FSB delivers industry-relevant programmes to a diverse student community.

Widening participation and equality of opportunity are central to our mission. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Admissions to lead this critical area, combining strong leadership, regulatory awareness, analytical capability and excellent applicant service.

The Head of Admissions will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Admissions function, ensuring a high-quality, efficient, fair and compliant service. The postholder will lead the Admissions Team, develop strategy, monitor performance, maintain effective university and academic partnerships, support widening participation and Access and Participation objectives, and ensure compliance with FSB policies, partner requirements and relevant OfS requirements.

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• Develop and implement the admissions strategy in alignment with institutional objectives, recruitment plans and academic priorities.
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• Develop annual and intake-specific plans, KPIs, targets and forecasts.
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• Provide Senior Management with evidence-based advice on performance, risks, opportunities and priorities.
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• Lead innovation, efficiency and continuous improvement.
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• Lead Admissions and oversee the applicant journey from application through to enrolment.
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• Ensure applications are assessed fairly, consistently and efficiently against approved entry requirements.
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• Maintain oversight of admissions decisions, documentation, interviews and assessments.
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• Ensure commercial or recruitment considerations do not compromise academic standards or admissions integrity.
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• Review admissions policies, processes, procedures and systems.
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• Lead an excellent, professional and applicant-focused service.
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• Establish and monitor customer service standards, response times and application turnaround times.
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• Ensure applicants receive accurate, clear and timely information.
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• Use feedback, complaints, withdrawals and performance data to identify improvements.
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• Produce regular reports, dashboards and management information for Senior Management and relevant committees.
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• Analyse applications, offers, conversion, enrolment, rejection and withdrawal trends by programme, campus, intake and recruitment channel.
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• Produce enrolment forecasts and provide early warning of performance issues.
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• Conduct post-intake reviews and drive improvement.
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• Lead, manage, motivate and develop the Admissions Team, setting clear objectives and expectations.
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• Lead admissions induction and staff training.
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• Ensure staff are trained in admissions requirements, systems, interviews, customer service, regulatory requirements and partner procedures.
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• Identify training needs through performance monitoring and quality assurance.
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• Promote accountability, accuracy, excellent service and continuous learning.
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• Act as the senior Admissions contact for university, validating, awarding and other academic partners.
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• Maintain effective relationships with partner admissions and partnership teams and ensure compliance with agreed requirements.
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• Attend partnership meetings, reviews and audits and provide information.
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• Coordinate responses to admissions-related actions and recommendations.
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• Maintain current knowledge of UK higher education regulation, including OfS requirements relevant to Admissions.
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• Support responses to OfS enquiries and information requests.
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• Lead Admissions preparation for internal, partner and external audits and maintain audit readiness.
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• Undertake file sampling, compliance checks and quality assurance reviews.
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• Escalate significant compliance, quality or admissions integrity risks promptly.
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• Support FSB’s widening participation and equality of opportunity objectives and promote fair access.
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• Contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FSB’s Access and Participation Plan, particularly regarding admissions and access.
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• Analyse admissions data to identify barriers, inequalities and differences in applicant outcomes.
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• Work with relevant teams to implement appropriate interventions while maintaining standards and integrity.
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• Maintain knowledge of admissions developments, emerging trends and UK higher education best practice.
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• Benchmark FSB’s admissions practices and performance against relevant sector standards.
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• Engage with professional networks and sector bodies.
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• Identify approaches and technologies that improve efficiency, compliance and applicant experience.
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• Significant admissions experience, preferably within UK higher education or a regulated education environment.
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• Demonstrable experience leading and managing an admissions function or team.
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• Experience of strategy, operational planning, reporting, analysis and continuous improvement.
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• Experience of staff training, development and performance management.
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• Strong understanding of customer service, applicant experience and fair admissions.
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• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
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• Ability to identify and manage operational and compliance risks.
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Desirable: Experience with university validation/awarding partners, OfS requirements, Access and Participation Plans, audits/reviews, admissions systems and management information.

The position is based in London, with frequent travel to other campus locations required when needed.