Admissions Manager

Taaleem is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective practices in relation to child protection and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff to share this commitment.

All successful applicants must be willing to undergo enhanced child protection screening appropriate to the post, including various background checks including, receipt of high-quality references, proof of relevant qualifications, identification and police checks, including overseas checks. No member of staff will be able to start until these checks are complete and this process takes, on average, a month.

Harrow International School Abu Dhabi is seeking to hire a dynamic and experienced Admissions Manager for their founding year of operation.

Harrow International School UAE

In 2024, Harrow School entered into a landmark agreement with Taaleem, enabling the establishment of two new Harrow International Schools in the United Arab Emirates. This exciting partnership combines Harrow's 450-year legacy of exceptional pedagogy with Taaleem's unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards of education. The Harrow International Schools UAE will offer world-class education rooted in the Harrow values of courage, honour, humility and fellowship, with a strong focus on preparing students for entry to world-class universities.

With a history dating back to 1572, Harrow's heritage enriches the daily life of the School's entire community, developing in pupils, staff, and parents a strong corporate spirit and a shared sense of belonging to something that transcends generations. Equally, Harrow Schools aim to be at the forefront of educational development in the 21st century, using inspiring teaching and coaching techniques, the most up-to-date technology, and top-class facilities and resources. The essence of Harrow is this balance between tradition and innovation, between continuity and change, between the old and the new.

Harrow Schools in the UAE will offer an ambitious curriculum, the highest standards of teaching, child-centred pastoral care, and superb opportunities for leadership and community service.

The Role

As a founding member of the Harrow International School Abu Dhabi, the Admissions Manager will play a strategic and operational leadership role in ensuring exceptional applicant experiences and enrolment success. This is an opportunity to shape the admissions function from the ground up in alignment with Harrow's distinguished heritage, while contributing to the exciting growth of the Harrow brand in the UAE under Taaleem's governance.

The postholder will be responsible for designing and delivering an admissions strategy that not only meets enrolment targets but also reflects the values and standards of a Harrow education: academic excellence, character development, and global citizenship.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

• Establish and lead the Admissions team in partnership with the Founding Principal and Taaleem Head of Admissions.
• Develop and execute a robust admissions strategy to achieve student number targets for school opening and beyond.
• Align all admissions activity with the vision, values, and expectations of Harrow International Schools.

Admissions Operations

• Lead the end-to-end admissions cycle, ensuring processes are efficient, welcoming, and compliant with KHDA/ADEK regulations.
• Coordinate assessments, interviews, application tracking, and approvals with academic and SEN teams.
• Manage admissions data on CRM platform with accuracy and confidentiality.
• Oversee the induction process for new families and support their smooth transition into the school community.
• Provide timely updates and analytics to the Principal, Central Office, and wider leadership team.

Parent Engagement & Recruitment Events

• Design and deliver outstanding parent engagement events that showcase the school's academic, pastoral, and co-curricular strengths.
• Conduct school tours and consultations that authentically reflect Harrow's identity and ethos.
• Develop touchpoints throughout the admissions journey that enhance conversion and deepen family trust.

Corporate Relations & Partnerships

• Build relationships with key organisations (corporates, embassies, relocation agencies) to drive targeted student recruitment.
• Collaborate with Taaleem's central Marketing and Admissions team to align outreach and positioning strategies.

Marketing Alignment & Brand Representation

• Support the implementation of tailored admissions marketing plans in conjunction with CO teams.
• Ensure all communication and brand representation reflects the Harrow narrative of excellence, honour, and purpose.
• Train school-based staff to uphold Harrow-level customer service at every stage of the admissions journey.

Compliance

• Ensure that all admissions activities meet regulatory standards and reporting requirements.
• Lead internal compliance processes, including KHDA registration, document verification, and safeguarding checks.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (Education, Marketing, Business, or related field)
• Further training or certification in admissions, education leadership, or customer engagement (desirable)

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in admissions, with at least 2 years in a leadership capacity at a premium international or boarding school
• Experience opening or launching a new school highly preferred
• Familiarity with UAE school regulatory requirements (KHDA/ADEK)

Skills & Attributes

• Sophisticated understanding of the expectations and aspirations of Harrow families
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a small team
• Analytical and strategic thinker with strong organisational skills
• High emotional intelligence and a deep sense of professional integrity
• Technologically confident; experience with CRM systems and admissions platforms essential

Other Expectations

• Participation in key school events and promotional activities as required
• Flexibility to support the evolving needs of a founding school environment
• Adherence to all Taaleem HR and operational policies

Harrow Values

All staff are expected to conduct themselves in line with the School's values which are: Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship. While the School's values set out what matters most to us, the behaviours below are intended as a shared set of expectations to refer to, and standards to aspire to, in our dealings with others. They are the practical application of our values.

COURAGE

• We remain optimistic and purposeful in a disrupted world.
• We take responsibility for our decisions, even the hard ones.
• We always challenge poor behaviour in ourselves and others.
• We are open to new ideas, and seek fresh challenges.

HONOUR

• We keep our promises.
• We act with integrity – doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or when no one is watching.
• We respect and value our traditions whilst setting them in the context of today.

HUMILITY

• We work hard to serve others within the School and across our wider communities where possible putting their interests before our own.
• We respect each other and value our differences, knowing that we are more effective and more resilient working together.
• We are kind and inclusive; we value the contribution that each of us makes.
• We give and seek honest and appropriate feedback, reflect on our failures and learn from them.
• We support each other through challenges and whatever the outcome, we celebrate those that took part. We role model the behaviours that we would like to see in others; we ask only of others what we would be prepared to do ourselves.

FELLOWSHIP

• We respect each other and value our differences, knowing that we are more effective and more resilient working together.
• We are kind and inclusive; we value the contribution that each of us makes.
• We role model the behaviours that we would like to see in others; we ask only of others what we would be prepared to do ourselves.

Application Process

Applications must include an up-to-date CV and a covering letter outlining their suitability against the job description.

Candidates who best meet the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification will be shortlisted. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by our recruitment team regarding the next steps in the selection process.

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are values that are important to us at Taaleem. We believe in diversity of thought and actively welcome everyone regardless of their background to bring their valuable and relevant skills to our community.

This advertisement is posted on behalf of Harrow International School Abu Dhabi which is part of the group owned by Taaleem Holdings PJSC and independently operated under a licence to use the Harrow School brand. For further details of the relationship, please see the relationship statement on the harrowdubai.ae website. Accordingly, applicants should be aware that the employer will be part of Taaleem Holdings PJSC's group and under its control and not Harrow School.