At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead admissions and support for nurseries while managing a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Ark Start, a growing organisation with multiple nurseries in London.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on families while thriving in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Looking for organised individuals with strong communication and management skills.
- Other info: Some travel required to various nursery sites across South & West London.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 48000 £ per year.
We are looking to recruit an Admissions and Parent Support Manager to join the Ark Start Team. The successful candidate will excel in a range of different duties including team management, communicating with external and internal stakeholders, driving admissions for the nurseries and ensuring consistent processes across the team, while demonstrating high levels of attention to detail in their work.
Ark Start have 5 nurseries in South & West London and are planning to add more settings over the next year. This role will lead a team of 2 admissions and customer services officers and will also take responsibility for supporting individual nurseries with admissions. The role would suit a highly organised and numerate manager who would thrive working with a range of different people in a dynamic and fast-growing organisation.
Key responsibilities- Management of the Admissions & Customer Services Team
- Take responsibility for admissions systems, ensuring they are up-to-date and support efficiency across the team
- Take responsibility for communications templates, process plans and keeping the admissions handbook updated
- Manage weekly occupancy meetings to ensure appropriate approval and communication of all bookings
- Calculate occupancy and spaces across the nurseries, ensuring the team are clear on what offers can be made
- Work with the finance team to ensure write-off procedures and approvals are followed and minimised
- Support the team to manage workload and priorities, including support and cover across all Ark Start nurseries, as required
- Manage systems and processes set-up for new nursery openings
- Implement local marketing initiatives (eg. attending school fairs, distributing leaflets, liaising with local organisations for promotion) and work with the Ark Digital Marketing team (for website and social media activity) in order to fill nurseries to target capacity
- Take the lead on delivering admissions and customer service for up to 3 nurseries, while managing oversight and cover for all nurseries.
- Communicate with parents by phone and email
- Take responsibility for ArkStart general communications, ensuring queries are answered, or directed to the appropriate member of staff for follow up
- Liaise with nursery Area Leads and the Director of Early years to ensure information is correct and customer requirements are met
- Keep the management information system up to date
- Review and send monthly invoices, generated by the system, and answer any queries from parents about charging
- Oversee weekly catering orders, ensuring parent requirements are reflected and match parent invoices
- Resolve initial complaints and queries, escalating when necessary
- Manage communications with parents to ensure outstanding payments are followed up and processes amended, where applicable, to minimise debt levels
- Collate benchmarking information, and report, on local fees to support the pricing strategies across the nurseries
- Review weekly debt reports, to support communications with parents, and produce summary reports to feed into monthly management accounts
- Analyse catering requirements, orders and actual distribution to minimise waste and improve ordering efficiency
- Report regularly to nursery managers and SLT on enquiry status, occupancy and forecasts to support decision making
- Prepare monthly reports on enquiries to share, and review, with the digital marketing team, proposing marketing targets and strategies (eg. through website, social media, local events) to increase occupancy
- Prepare monthly occupancy reports, including forecasting, to include in SLT reporting and support budget preparation
Admissions and Parent Support Manager employer: ARK START
Contact Detail:
ARK START Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Admissions and Parent Support Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the local nursery landscape in South and West London. Understanding the specific needs and demographics of the area will help you tailor your approach to admissions and parent support, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the education sector, especially those involved in admissions and customer service. Attend local events or join relevant online forums to build connections that could provide insights or even referrals for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your organisational skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've implemented to improve efficiency or communication within a team.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical abilities by being prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform decision-making in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with reporting or data analysis, as this is crucial for the Admissions and Parent Support Manager position.
We think you need these skills to ace Admissions and Parent Support Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in admissions, customer service, and team management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to handle the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that addresses why you are a great fit for the Admissions and Parent Support Manager role. Mention your organisational skills, experience with stakeholder communication, and any relevant achievements in previous roles.
Showcase Your Attention to Detail: In your application, provide examples of how you've successfully managed processes or systems in past roles. Highlight any experience with data analysis or reporting, as this is crucial for the position.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Think about questions you might be asked during an interview, such as how you would handle a complaint from a parent or how you would drive admissions for the nurseries. Prepare thoughtful responses that reflect your experience and problem-solving skills.
How to prepare for a job interview at ARK START
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
As an Admissions and Parent Support Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully organised a team or project, highlighting your attention to detail and ability to prioritise effectively.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
This role involves a lot of communication with parents and stakeholders. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Consider preparing answers to common questions about how you would handle parent inquiries or complaints, ensuring you convey empathy and professionalism.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Organisation
Research Ark Start and its nurseries thoroughly. Understand their mission, values, and any recent news or initiatives. This knowledge will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
✨Prepare for Data-Driven Questions
Given the emphasis on reporting and data analysis in this role, be ready to discuss your experience with data management and analysis. Think of specific examples where you've used data to inform decisions or improve processes, and be prepared to explain your thought process.