Head of Admissions

Full-time position reporting to the Chief Operating and Administrative Officer

The Head of Admissions is responsible for the end-to-end management of admissions for programs across the GCC region, ensuring that high-quality candidates are selected and enrolled through a fair, transparent, and efficient process. It oversees admissions operations, including pipeline management, enrollment forecasting, data analysis and reporting, and drives continuous improvement of policies, systems, and service standards. The Head of Admissions works closely with academic leadership, recruitment teams, and alumni to ensure that admissions outcomes align with the institution’s academic standards, strategic priorities, and reputation for excellence.

Admissions Oversight and Stakeholder Management

• Lead and oversee the end-to-end admissions function, ensuring alignment with enrollment targets, revenue objectives, and academic standards.
• Own the end-to-end admissions funnel, from application to enrollment, ensuring strong conversion and a seamless applicant journey.
• Lead enrollment forecasting and intake planning, monitor pipeline performance through defined KPIs, and take corrective actions to mitigate risks and optimize outcomes.
• Define and uphold robust admissions policies, frameworks, and decision-making criteria in line with institutional requirements.
• Oversee admissions committees and governance processes, ensuring consistency, fairness, and transparency in all decisions.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders (faculty, recruitment, marketing, operations, and finance) to align admissions activities with enrollment objectives and ensure a smooth transition from admission to enrollment.
• Contribute to program development and intake planning, informed by pipeline dynamics and market insights.
• Partner with the Recruitment team to design and refine financial aid strategies (scholarships, grants, early-bird incentives, discounts, etc.) aligned with recruitment and enrollment objectives.
• Engage and mobilize alumni involved in the admissions process, fostering their commitment and active participation in candidate assessment and selection.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex or exceptional applicant cases, in close coordination with senior leadership.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and lead continuous improvement initiatives across the admissions lifecycle.

CRM Effectiveness and Data Analytics

• Drive CRM effectiveness, data analytics, and process standardization to enhance accuracy, scalability, and operational excellence.
• Ensure the integrity, consistency, and reliability of admissions data and reporting, supporting audit readiness and informed decision-making.
• Guide the development of reporting tools, dashboards, and analysis frameworks to support admissions performance, decision-making, and enrollment objectives.
• Serve as the central point of accountability for institutional data, liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and timely sharing.

Team Leadership

• Lead and manage the admissions team, set clear objectives and KPIs, monitor performance, and ensure accountability through regular follow-ups and timely corrective actions.
• Build team capability and efficiency by identifying development needs, providing coaching, fostering knowledge-sharing, and encouraging innovation to enhance productivity and workflows.

Education and experience

• Master’s degree in business administration, management, marketing, education, or a related discipline. A bachelor’s degree with significant relevant experience may also be considered.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in admissions, enrollment management, student recruitment, or a closely related function.
• Proven experience managing admissions pipelines, performance metrics, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience in GCC markets is a strong advantage.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent written and spoken English. Arabic and French are advantageous.
• Strong leadership and decision-making capability in a high-volume, performance-driven environment.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across academic and business functions.
• Proven experience with CRM systems and data management.
• High level of organization, accuracy, and ability to manage peak-volume cycles.

Ways of working

• Highly results-driven with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Applicant-centric, collaborative, and service-oriented approach
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, target-driven environment
• Able to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and perform under pressure
• Flexible and willing to adapt working hours to business needs.

Prerequisite

Eligible candidates must be current residents of Qatar and hold a valid Qatar ID. International applications will not be considered for this role. 

Disclaimer 

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder might differ from those outlined in this job description and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job.

Employment Eligibility

If selected for a job at HEC Paris in Qatar, you will have to provide:

1. An original or a true copy of your Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) of your country of nationality attested by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs*; and
2. A true copy of your highest Educational Certificate attested by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs**.

*Candidates born in Qatar are exempt from providing an attested PCC. **Candidates who graduated from a university in Qatar are exempt from getting their Educational Certificate attested.

Getting your personal documents attested is a lengthy process. We encourage you to get your documents attested early in the recruitment process to reduce administrative delays upon hire.