Admissions Lead

NCG; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Sick policy

Maternity/Paternity pay

Training and development

Job summary

NCG Higher Education Centre, based in London, seeks an Admissions Lead to drive recruitment performance, applicant conversion, admissions compliance and data quality. You will oversee the recruitment pipeline, monitor targets and support interventions to improve applications, conversion and enrolment.

The role requires a strong understanding of UK Higher Education recruitment, data-driven decision making and the ability to manage external recruiters and partnerships for programme growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in student recruitment and admissions processes.
• Strong data literacy and ability to interpret performance metrics.
• Knowledge of UK Higher Education environment.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate and onboard recruiters and recruitment partners per NCG standards.
• Oversee onboarding and secure transfer of applicant data into admissions systems.
• Audit recruiters and activity for conversion, quality, compliance and ethics.
• Monitor recruitment channel performance and identify risks and opportunities.
• Ensure admissions tests and assessments are fair, secure and compliant.

Job description

The NCG Higher Education Centre is part of NCG, one of the UK’s largest and most inclusive education groups. Based in London, the Centre delivers a range of higher education programmes designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in their chosen careers. Our mission is to make higher education accessible, flexible and relevant, while fostering academic excellence and professional growth within a supportive, diverse learning community.

Role Purpose

The Admissions Lead will work closely with the Admissions Manager to support the effective delivery and continued development of student recruitment and admissions activity for the NCG Higher Education Centre.

The postholder will have a particular focus on recruitment performance, applicant conversion, admissions compliance, data quality and recruitment capacity. They will maintain oversight of the recruitment pipeline, monitor performance against agreed targets, identify risks and opportunities, and support interventions to improve applications, conversion and enrolment.

The role requires a strong understanding of student recruitment and conversion, confidence in using data and performance information, excellent attention to detail, and a good understanding of the UK Higher Education environment.

Key Responsibilities

Recruiter Management, Auditing, and Data Transfer

• Proactively identify, evaluate, and onboard high-quality recruiters and recruitment partners in line with NCG procurement and compliance standards.
• Manage the secure, compliant transfer of applicant data from external recruiters into internal admissions systems.
• Conduct regular audits of recruiters and their activity to evaluate conversion rates, applicant quality, compliance standards, and ethical conduct.
• Monitor student academic performance and progression by recruitment channel to assess recruiter effectiveness and identify operational risks.
• Identify performance issues or compliance concerns among recruiters, escalating them promptly to the Admissions Manager and the Dean.

Admissions Operations, Testing, and Compliance

• Oversee the administration and security of admissions tests and candidate assessment recordings, ensuring fair and consistent evaluation.
• Ensure all recruitment and admissions activity complies with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) guidelines.
• Verify applications and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy, addressing missing, inconsistent, or non-compliant records.
• Maintain complete and up-to-date applicant data across student record systems, performing regular data-quality checks.
• Support internal audits, reviews, and the preparation of recruitment management information.

Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with key external stakeholders to expand the Centre’s recruitment reach, including:
• Secondary schools
• Sixth-form colleges
• Careers advisers
• Education agents
• Education consultants
• Student associations
• Government and education stakeholders

Student Recruitment and Conversion

• Support recruitment activity to meet application, conversion, and enrolment targets across all programmes.
• Maintain oversight of the applicant pipeline from enquiry through offer, acceptance, and enrolment, coordinating proactive follow-ups to resolve disengagement.
• Support open days, applicant events, and enrolment activities, working alongside curriculum teams to communicate entry requirements and progression paths.
• Identify recurring applicant queries and barriers to improve recruitment communications and application journeys.

Recruitment Performance and Planning

• Analyse conversion rates and recruitment trends by programme and source to support forecasting and resource allocation.
• Recommend targeted interventions to the Dean and Admissions Manager for programmes performing above or below expectations.
• Ensure recruitment data is recorded accurately to provide reliable performance intelligence for executive decision-making.

Collaborative Working and Continuous Improvement

• Build strong working relationships with internal teams—including curriculum, finance, safeguarding, and procurement—referring specialist matters appropriately.
• Share recruiter, applicant, and market insights to refine future recruitment strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement across admissions workflows, systems, and operational processes.
• Undertake other reasonable duties aligned with the scope and purpose of the role.

General Requirements

• Carry out all duties in accordance with NCG policies regarding data protection, confidentiality, safeguarding, equality and diversity, health and safety, and professional conduct.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK Higher Education admissions practices and participate in relevant professional development.
• Adapt to evolving recruitment models and support the integration of new systems, partners, and operational workflows.

General Requirements

The postholder must carry out their duties in accordance with NCG policies relating to data protection, confidentiality, safeguarding, equality and diversity, health and safety, and professional conduct.

The postholder will maintain up-to-date knowledge relevant to Higher Education student recruitment and admissions and undertake appropriate training and professional development.

As the NCG Higher Education Centre develops its recruitment model, the responsibilities of the role may evolve. The postholder will be expected to support new ways of working and the effective identification, integration, coordination and performance monitoring of additional recruitment resource.

Why Join Us

Joining NCG Higher Education Centre means becoming part of a forward-thinking institution where innovation, inclusion, and impact drive everything we do. You’ll work alongside a passionate team of academics and professionals who are committed to empowering students and transforming lives through education.

• Generous Annual Leave (5.6 weeks) + Bank holidays
• Company Sick Policy
• Statutory Maternity/Paternity Pays
• Training and Self-development Opportunities