Admissions Administrator

The Admissions Administrator will contribute to a professional, knowledgeable, effective and efficient admissions service delivering the University's strategic aims and targets and ensuring that University and external regulations and policies are adhered to.

As part of a wider Admissions Services Team (consisting of UG Admissions, PG Admissions, Enquiries and Admissions Compliance teams), the Admissions Administrator will support the applicant journey throughout the admissions cycle. This will include implementing admissions processes, providing information, advice and guidance to enquirers by telephone, email, or in person and applying judgement to independently make criteria-based decisions. It also involves providing information, advice and guidance and developing positive working relationships with other staff within Student Recruitment and Admissions, across the wider University, and beyond. The post-holder will be based in the Admissions Compliance Team.

Student Recruitment and Admissions is based in the Student & Academic Services Directorate and brings together several teams providing services in events, enquiry management, campaign delivery, admissions systems support, data analysis and forecasting, projects, compliance and admissions. It provides an essential service to the University in ensuring its financial sustainability and in delivering student number growth and increasing diversity in line with strategic aims and targets.

Service Delivery:
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values.
- Provide an excellent and timely service to applicants, academic departments and other colleagues within and beyond the office.
- Use standard office-based devices and applications such as MS Word, Excel and Dynamics, and a Student (Admissions) Record System to deliver services.
- Update guidance on standard operating procedures followed by the team.
- Contribute to the planning of Admissions Services activities, work and deadlines to ensure the smooth running and timelines of service.
- Operate admissions processes (such as responding to enquiries and processing admissions-related decisions), finding solutions or escalating queries where necessary.
- Compile, record, store and archive admissions data and information to ensure the accuracy and safety of information, and provide reports as required to team members and managers.
- Acquire, maintain and apply a good working knowledge of professional and regulatory policies including: Durham University policies, UCAS regulations, Equality Act 2010, GDPR (data protection), Home Office regulations, UUK Admissions Code of Good Practice and Consumer Protection Law.
- Apply standard professional and recognised regulatory procedures to make admissions-related decisions and process, check and reconcile anomalies within admissions data and information sets.

Teamwork:
- Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice and bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members.
- Help your team organise and provide administrative services that support key activities undertaken within your service and contribute to team planning activities.
- Help your team ensure that products and services are adapted in response to feedback and to meet changing demands.

Communication/Liaison:
- Seek feedback from students, staff and anyone else encountered as part of the role on their requirements from the service.
- Record information e.g. bookings for activities/events and respond to queries received.
- Liaise with staff in other areas, professional organisations and agencies to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
- Liaise with external suppliers, contractors, specialists and service providers to plan the delivery of services and events.
- Provide support for meetings, working groups and committees, such as preparing and sending documents for meetings, drafting reports and taking minutes.
- Liaise and collaborate with staff in other areas of the organisation to ensure a seamless, smooth and efficient service, and to develop personal knowledge of the University and admissions processes.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to support the organisation, planning and delivery of admissions activity.
- Provide expert information, advice and guidance to applicants and their advisors by email, telephone or in person, including participation in recruitment events such as open days.

Occasionally the postholder will be required to work weekends, evenings and extended hours to assist with tasks such as open days, recruitment events, undergraduate Confirmation & Clearing and other peak periods. Additional opportunities are available to support UCAS Fairs and other recruitment activity, which may include UK travel. Leave is restricted at certain times of the year, including in August around A Level results publication and on occasional days when major recruitment events are delivered.

Person Specification — Essential Criteria:
1. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent experience.
2. Experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services.
3. Experience of work which involves a significant amount of data handling and verification, requiring a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
4. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.
5. Good spoken and written communication skills, with the ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers by telephone, email and in person.
6. Good digital skills including experience in using the Internet, email, digital communication tools and Microsoft 365 applications, as well as the ability to learn new systems.
7. Committed to continuing professional development.
8. Ability to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues independently and as part of a team.
9. Ability to work independently and use own initiative in the completion of day-to-day tasks.
10. Ability to make criteria-based decisions and think critically with sound judgement.
11. Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and manage multiple tasks efficiently.

Person Specification — Desirable Criteria:
1. Knowledge and understanding of UCAS processes.
2. Knowledge and experience of Higher Education admissions processes.
3. Knowledge and experience of student/applicant records systems.

Benefits:
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year (total 39 days). The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
- Parking across campus, cycle to work scheme, and discounts with local bus and train companies.
- Exclusive discounts via benefits portal including supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products, eating out and days out.
- On-site nursery rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and holiday camps for children aged 5–16.
- Wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Opportunity to take part in volunteering activities.
- Family friendly policies including maternity and adoption leave among the most generous in the higher education sector.
- Learning and development opportunities from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
- Generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts.