Directorate of Planning and Academic Administration

£49,794 to £54,395 per annum with additional progression opportunities up to £57,696 per annum

Permanent

Full-time (37 hours per week)

Based in Canterbury (hybrid and flexible working is welcome). The role is not remote, and the successful candidate will be expected to work on Campus.

Relocation package available. Come and live in beautiful Canterbury and the surrounding area, just under 1 hour from London!

Job Reference number: REQ04392

Would you like to lead and influence applicant experience in the largest provider of placed applicants through UCAS in 2022? Following a restructure in our Admissions team due a significant increase in overall applications, Canterbury Christ Church University now seeks a solution-focused Head of Applicant Experience. We believe it to be one of the most exciting jobs in Higher Education Admissions right now due to the pace, potential and scale.

The role is crucial. It carries a high level of autonomy and the chance to work right across the organisation. It is an especially interesting role since we handle a huge variety of applications at Canterbury Christ Church University, from UK and international students (undergraduate and postgraduate) through to our growing number of partner institutions. We offer professional programmes across health and education too, as well as places at our Kent Medical School, jointly run with the University of Kent. The picture is therefore complex – but the journey for each person applying must be superb, seamless and supportive, no matter from what route they apply. Would you like to be the person to lead this work at a time of growth and change?

The Opportunity

The Head of Applicant Experience reports to our Assistant Director (Admissions) and leads a small team. Their key areas of responsibility are collaborative applications (working with our partner institutions), refining and developing admissions processes and leading the University’s Clearing Enquiry Service. In all cases, the focus is on creating a high-quality experience to all applicants, from course set up through to acceptance. Our Head of Applicant Experience also engages closely with UCAS and DfE changes, CMA compliance, OfS conditions of registration, international/national entry qualifications and both UK and international partnership developments to make sure we have our finger on the pulse of any developments that will impact on admissions.

This is collaborative work. The Head of Applicant Experience is a key interface with Registry, Student Systems and Planning, working to provide a seamless student experience as the applicant record transfers to the student record. They work collaboratively across the Undergraduate Admissions, Postgraduate Admissions and Compliance teams. It is also a strategic role, proactively leading systems and processes enhancements to improve the applicant experience and setting policy related to the quality of the applicant record.

Who are we looking for?

We are keen to hear from people with experience of admissions in Higher Education at team leader or management level, who are excited to lead an area focused on applicant experience. Experience of developing and applying policy, procedures and regulations and of improving systems and processes is extremely relevant. We welcome compassionate leaders, who nurture and support their team, warm colleagues who build excellent working relationships and strategic thinkers, able to see new ways of improving what we do and come up with solutions. The role is busy and sometimes can be pressured – but if you work in admissions, you know that already!

Sound knowledge of the following would be highly valuable:

SITS Tribal, particularly the Marketing and Admissions components

UCAS/UCAS Teacher Training business rules and managing link products

Why join Canterbury Christ Church University?

There is a real sense of optimism at Canterbury Christ Church University. This is an exciting time to join us, at the start of Vision 2030, our new strategic framework that places collaboration, courage and creativity at its heart. We are home to 25,000 students across three different campuses and several key collaborative partners in the UK and overseas. We have invested over £100M over the past decade in our facilities as well as implementing a new Student Records System (SITS Tribal) - and the most recent Graduate Outcomes survey puts us as the best large university in the UK for graduates in employment. We are passionate about transforming lives through education and ambitious to grow our reputation across every area of student experience – starting right from the moment our students apply.

How to apply


Start Date:                          Friday 15th September 2023

Closing date:                      Friday 13th October 2023

Interview date:                  W/c 23rd October 2023 (TBC)

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Canterbury Christ Church University. A search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement. Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence or for details on how to progress your application, please direct all enquiries to our advising consultant Akhil Yerneni, who can be reached at akhil.yerneni@andersonquigley.com or 07808 649 556

Prior consideration will be given to applicants in the University’s redeployment pool. No agencies, thank you.