Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions & Communications
Salary: £85,415 to £93,318 per annum
A career opportunity for an ambitious senior student recruitment & admissions specialist in Higher Education
About this role
We are seeking a Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Strategic Growth. This is a role for an exceptional leader to drive our university’s student growth ambitions across home, international and emerging markets.
This role will lead the end-to-end recruitment journey ensuring a seamless, insight-led experience that delivers both growth and quality from first enquiry through to enrolment. It will shape strategy, sharpen performance and lead high-impact activity that strengthens conversion, broadens access and increases income.
A central part of the role will be leading Chi World - our global hub for international activity - turning ambition into sustainable growth through partnerships, market development and transnational opportunities. Working in close partnership with senior colleagues the role will align recruitment, admissions and market development with our wider institutional priorities - helping to build a resilient, future-focused university.
Principle accountabilities:
1. Strategic Leadership and Institutional Contribution
2. Recruitment Growth and Market Development
3. Applicant Experience and Conversion
4. Strategic Channels, Business Development and Partnerships
5. Leadership and Team Development
6. Performance, Insight and Reporting
About you
You are a commercially astute and strategically minded leader with a strong track record of delivering growth in complex, regulated environments - ideally within higher education or a similar sector.
You bring deep expertise across recruitment, admissions and the full applicant journey, with the insight to navigate global markets, policy shifts and changing learner behaviours. You are confident operating at executive level, combining strong analytical judgement with the ability to translate strategy into high-performing, multi-channel delivery.
You are an experienced leader of teams and partnerships, collaborative but decisive - able to challenge, influence and act at pace. You are driven by performance, committed to continuous improvement, and motivated by delivering an outstanding, inclusive student experience.
About us
You will be joining a highly professional, committed and student focused academic community. We are a university where people matter. We value collegiality, inclusivity and shared endeavour, and are fully committed to our students, our staff and our wider communities.
In addition to your salary we offer a competitive reward package with a range of staff benefits and discounts which include:
7. A flexible defined contribution pension scheme via Aviva Master Trust (FlexHE).
8. A paid closure period over the Christmas break is in addition to our generous holiday allowance with bank holidays too and an occupational sickness scheme.
9. On-site gym at our Chichester campus.
10. Hybrid working options.
11. 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to support our staff.
12. Extensive personal / professional training opportunities throughout the year.
13. Cycle to work, Season Ticket Loan and Electric Vehicle schemes.
14. Bus travel for staff between our Bognor Regis and Chichester campuses and Chichester city centre.
You can view further details about the role in the attached job profile.
Enquiries are welcomed by Olivia McLaughlin; Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary via Executive Officer; Melissa Francis, m.francis@chi.ac.uk
15. Closing Date: Monday 1st June 2026
16. Interview Date: 8th, 9th or 10th June 2026
Prior to submitting your job application kindly ensure you have considered and can demonstrate your right to work in the UK.
All new external appointments are employed by Chichester Staff Services Ltd (CSSL). Internal appointments remain with their existing employer.
If you require any support with completing your application, please contact the recruitment team; staffrecruitment@chi.ac.uk
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion at every level because we believe a diverse workforce benefits us all.