Senior Admissions Officer (Maternity Cover) in Edinburgh

Grade and Salary: Grade 6 - £31,236 - £36,636 per annum

FTE and working pattern: 1.0 FTE, 35 hours per week (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) 9 months maternity cover

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

About our Team

The Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions and Communications group is at the heart of attracting, engaging, and delivering exceptional student and stakeholder experiences. The Admissions Office handles over 20,000 applications to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at our Scottish campuses each year as well as offering support and advice to admissions colleagues at our Dubai and Malaysia campuses. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants receive a high-quality service that is timely and fair, and we strive to put the applicant at the heart of everything we do.

Detailed Description

Reporting to the Admissions Manager you will be one of a team of Senior Admissions Officers tasked with supporting the effective delivery of admissions and playing a key part in ensuring the University meets its targets for entry each year. With specific responsibility for UK admissions you will be the key contact and source of information for questions on postgraduate processes, entry requirements and qualification and liaise closely with partner academic Schools. Supported by Admissions Assistants you will work closely with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure that every applicant is dealt with appropriately and efficiently.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will have specific responsibility for UK related postgraduate admissions and ensuring the success of the partnership between the Admissions Office and their respective Schools, ensuring that key performance indicators are met.
• This will involve extensive communication, provision of regular reports and a detailed understanding of the portfolio of programmes and entry requirements for the schools.
• Provide an exceptional applicant experience.
• Monitor and review key performance indicators ensuring that application and offer making response times are met.
• Regularly communicate with others, for example producing and presenting reports and explaining policies and procedures.
• Apply working knowledge of policies, procedures, and systems, providing an expert point of guidance.
• Work closely with the team to coordinate the day-to-day processes and prioritisation of tasks to ensure deadlines are met and the work is of a high standard.
• Review applications and make decisions based on agreed entry requirements, referring to academic staff where appropriate.
• Make decisions on fee status assessments in line with Fees Regulations.
• Line management of 2/3 team members, providing support and identifying training and development needs.
• Use initiative to resolve problems which arise such as resolving issues regarding processes and workload and resolving applicant issues.
• Manage small projects and contribute to longer term planning within the area as part of the local management team.
• Liaise with colleagues and participate in networks to pass on information promptly.
• Participate in internal and/or external forums to share best practice.
• Any other duties as required by the Line Manager.

Education, qualifications and experience

Essential

• Educated to minimum SCFQ Level 7, or significant relevant experience.
• Competent in the use of relevant IT packages including student record or CRM systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Good knowledge and experience of relevant regulations and best practice within Higher Education.
• Evidence of performing and delivering to targets.
• Ability to work quickly, flexibly, and accurately in a dynamic, changing, and pressured environment.
• Experience of working with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to research, analyse and present complex information effectively with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrable ability or potential to manage, assess and develop staff.
• Demonstrable professional and proactive approach.

Desirable

• Experience of working within Admissions in Higher/Further education.
• Detailed knowledge of qualifications.
• Detailed knowledge of fee status assessment.
• Detailed knowledge of Student visa issues.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Thursday 28th May 2026. Interviews are expected to commence w/c 8th June.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups.

For more information, please see our website here and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers here.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: here to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.