Manager (Admissions & Services) (3-year contract), OPGPP

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Singapore Management University is a place where high-level professionalism blends together with a healthy informality. The 'family-like' atmosphere among the SMU community fosters a culture where employees work, plan, organise and play together - building a strong collegiality and morale within the university. Our commitment to attract and retain talent is ongoing. We offer attractive benefits and welfare, competitive compensation packages, and generous professional development opportunities - all to meet the work-life needs of our staff. No wonder, then, that SMU continues to be given numerous awards and recognition for its human resource excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Admission Counselling: Manage admissions counselling activities for assigned Schools, programme clusters, and priority regions. Advise prospective students and admitted candidates, conduct information sessions with faculty, and support conversion efforts. Provide high standard of service and customer experience to prospective candidates, addressing their queries promptly and effectively. Serve as the primary admissions liaison for Deans, Academic Directors, and programme offices, ensuring consistent communication and service standards.
• Yield Management: Plan, coordinate, and implement targeted yield activities to maximise offer acceptance and enrolment rates across assigned programmes and regions. Design and execute engagement strategies (e.g. conversion events, personalised follow-ups, student and alumni sharing sessions) to strengthen admits' commitment. Monitor offer-to-accept and accept-to-enrol conversion data, analyse trends, and recommend tactical interventions to improve yield outcomes.
• Application and Scholarship Services: Oversee the end-to-end application process, including document checks, credential verification, interview and test coordination, and offer issuance. Administer scholarships and financial aid schemes, providing applicants with timely and accurate information to support decision-making and yield. Ensure adherence to admissions policies, quality assurance standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Student Pass Management: Oversee the application process for student passes for assigned PGP programmes. Address and resolve administrative issues and queries related to student pass applications.
• System, Data and Admin Support: Maintain and optimise the admissions CRM and related systems to ensure data accuracy, process efficiency, and reporting integrity. Develop dashboards, track service-level metrics, and provide analytics to inform admissions and recruitment strategies. Provide administrative, budgeting, and logistical support to the Admissions and Marketing & Recruitment teams.
• Cross Functional Work: Adapt admissions processes to reflect the cultural, regulatory, and operational nuances of assigned regions. Apply programme-specific knowledge and judgement during selection and conversion to uphold admissions standards. Partner closely with Deans, Academic Directors, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on admissions outcomes and objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related discipline is required.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in admissions, student services, or programme management, preferably in a university or higher education environment.
• Demonstrated experience in end-to-end admissions management, including applicant counselling, evaluation, and offer administration.
• Prior experience in scholarship administration or financial aid processing will be preferred.

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of admissions policies, processes, and quality assurance standards in higher education.
• Proficiency in CRM systems and student information systems, with the ability to manage data integrity and workflow automation.
• Familiarity with international education markets, including cultural and regulatory variations in applicant qualifications.
• Knowledge of data analysis and reporting tools to support evidence-based decision-making.

Skills:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and advisory skills, with the ability to engage effectively with prospective students, faculty, and other administrators.
• Strong organisational and project management abilities, with keen attention to detail and process efficiency.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven problem-solving skills.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and sound judgment in handling sensitive applicant information.
• Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable, with the ability to perform in a fast-paced and cyclical work environment.

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary. Please note that your application will be sent to and reviewed by the direct employer - Singapore Management University.