Senior Conversion Manager - Applicant Experience

Coventry University; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days

50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants

CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/Online Retailers

Cycle To Work scheme

Job summary

A leading UK educational institution is looking for a Senior Conversion Manager - Applicant Experience in Coventry. The role involves leading conversion strategies to enhance the applicant journey while managing a team focused on customer service. The successful candidate should possess significant experience in student recruitment, strong leadership qualities, and the ability to utilize strategic insights for successful outcomes. This is a full-time hybrid position offering various staff benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in UK student recruitment or conversion.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to use data and insights for strategic decisions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Comprehensive understanding of UK higher education landscape.
• Creativity and customer-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of conversion strategies.
• Manage and motivate a team of Conversion Specialists.
• Oversee UK conversion campaigns and events.
• Ensure high-quality, customer-focused activities.
• Deliver an outstanding applicant experience.

Skills

Student recruitment experience

Leadership skills

Strategic and analytical capability

Excellent communication

Understanding of UK higher education

Customer-focused mindset

Job description

Senior Conversion Manager - Applicant Experience

Join to apply for the Senior Conversion Manager - Applicant Experience role at Coventry University.

Base pay range

Competitive; final pay will be based on your skills and experience.

The Role

The Senior Conversion Manager – Applicant Experience (UK) will lead the development and implementation of effective conversion strategies that guide UK applicants seamlessly from initial enquiry through to enrolment. This role is central to enhancing the UK applicant journey through a ‘sales through service’ approach, providing personalised, data‑informed touchpoints and initiatives that build confidence, strengthen engagement and drive enrolment outcomes. The postholder manages and motivates a team of Conversion Specialists, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, customer‑focused activities that support ambitious UK recruitment targets.

Working collaboratively with course teams, marketing, recruitment, admissions, and student ambassadors, the Senior Conversion Manager oversees UK conversion campaigns and events, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and delivering an outstanding applicant experience that reflects the needs and expectations of the UK market.

The UK Conversion function plays a central role in supporting applicants from initial enquiry through to enrolment, using a ‘sales through service’ approach to deliver tailored, student‑focused interactions that build trust and drive outcomes across the applicant journey.

The function comprises two key areas:

1. Customer Onboarding – operating as a contact centre, responsible for high‑quality, responsive applicant communications.
2. Applicant Experience – delivering strategic, targeted campaigns and initiatives aligned with the offer‑making and decision‑making process.

This role oversees the Applicant Experience side of UK Conversion.

This is a hybrid role based in our Coventry Campus.

Our Successful Candidate

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in UK student recruitment or conversion, achieving strong results in a competitive, target‑driven environment.
• Leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire, develop and lead high‑performing teams.
• Strategic and analytical capability, using data and market insights to inform decisions and optimise conversion outcomes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management, with the confidence to influence and collaborate effectively across academic and professional teams.
• Comprehensive understanding of the UK higher education landscape and applicant decision‑making behaviours.
• Adaptability, creativity and a customer‑focused mindset, ensuring a high‑quality, engaging applicant experience.

The Benefits

As a staff member of CU Recruitment and Admissions Limited, you will have access to a wide range of industry‑leading rewards and benefits:

• New Holiday Purchase Scheme up to 5 additional days
• 50% off Tuition Fees for staff dependants
• CU Reward Scheme – Discounts across a range of High Street/Online Retailers
• Cycle To Work scheme

Key Details

• Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Education and Management
• Industries: Higher Education and Staffing and Recruiting

Full Job Description & Person Specification

Click here to view the full job description and person specification.

We look forward to hearing from you!