Head of Admissions in High Wycombe

The Head of Admissions leads strategic and operational management of all aspects of home undergraduate and postgraduate admissions, from initial enquiry through to enrolment.

Responsibilities include:

• Owning BNU's admissions policy, protocols and compliance obligations.
• Managing the Home Admissions team, aligning workflows, and using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Leading digital development, stakeholder collaboration and representing BNU with UCAS and other bodies.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Take ownership of full applicant journey, ensuring a seamless experience from enquiry to enrolment and handoff to Registry.
• Lead admissions policy and protocols to meet regulatory obligations.
• Deliver a fair, transparent and inclusive admissions service in line with OfS conditions, QAA Code and the University's Access and Participation Plan.
• Respond to changes in regulations and external bodies, working with international and partner admissions.
• Line-manage the Home Admissions Team, including recruitment, performance management, development and wellbeing.
• Develop and maintain core admissions processes, standards and operations, using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead implementation of systems and solutions, working with IT to ensure fit-for-purpose and continuous improvement.
• Develop and use admissions management information, including yield modelling, offer rate analysis, conversion tracking and pipeline reporting.
• Plan and deliver Confirmation and Clearing activities, ensuring staffing, systems and marketing coordination.
• Partner with Student Recruitment, Outreach, International Conversion and Marketing to develop recruitment and conversion campaigns.
• Maintain GDPR-compliant data management for applicants and provide accurate, timely information.
• Promote best practice across the admissions community, providing guidance to support recruitment.
• Ensure compliance with UKVI requirements for immigration processes.
• Respond and resolve applicant complaints, working with marketing and digital teams to remove unnecessary queries.
• Oversee the formal appeals process, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, consistently applied and documented.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders to understand and deliver requirements.
• Foster cooperation with other university departments such as Academic Colleges and Registry.
• Act as the lead expert on national qualifications frameworks and entry requirements, ensuring compliance with policy and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the key contact with UCAS and other agencies, anticipating implications of external changes.
• Represent BNU externally through engagement with HEIs, sector bodies and networks.
• Coordinate admissions training and operational guidance for all committee members involved in admissions decisions.
• Comply with relevant legislative requirements—including GDPR, Health and Safety, UKVI, OfS and equality and diversity principles—in all working practices.
• Perform other duties as may reasonably be required.

Person Specification – Essential Criteria:

• Degree level education.
• In-depth knowledge of home undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research admissions processes in the UK.
• Experience planning and organising large-scale, high-volume customer-facing operations and delivering continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of legislative and policy framework for HE admissions, including fair admissions policy, QAA quality assurance and consumer protection legislation.
• Experience interpreting regulations and guiding implementation of policy and process changes to secure compliance.
• Provision of regular analysis and updates of key application, offer and conversion data.
• Experience of process review and project management as tools for business change.
• Track record in managing and developing teams, including motivation and performance management.
• Service-oriented approach and ability to inspire high standards in challenging operational situations.

Skills:

• Leadership and motivation of a team of staff, recognising diversity and providing effective support.
• Excellent organisational skills, able to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy.
• Highly motivated, proactive commitment to continuous improvement and efficient service delivery.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to provide written and oral guidance on regulatory, compliance and policy matters.
• Strong data handling and statistical analysis skills, capable of producing reports and presentations.

Special Requirements:

• Willingness to work extended hours during peak business demand, particularly in August and September, with annual leave taken outside this period.

What We Offer:

• Generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays and closure days).
• Hybrid working (dependent on business needs).
• Training and development support opportunities.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Discounted gym membership for the on-site gym.
• Staff discounts with major retailers.

BNU is proud to have a diverse community and a strong track record of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace and aim to continue building an environment where everyone thrives and can be themselves. We particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in BNU’s workforce, including people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities and LGBTQI+ people, particularly in more senior roles. We provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or support, please contact Libby Homer at Libby.Homer@bnu.ac.uk.

Closing date: 12 July 2026

Interviews: 29 July 2026