Director (Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions) (6-month contract)

• This position is for Office of Postgraduate Professional Programmes (PGPP)

• Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute an integrated Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions strategy aligned with PGPP's growth goals and SMU's brand positioning.

• Lead the consolidation and transformation of the MRA functions to foster synergy, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Advise senior leadership on market trends, enrolment performance, and strategic opportunities for growth.
• Champion a data-driven approach to decision-making, leveraging analytics to inform resource allocation and strategy refinement.

• Marketing and Recruitment

• Position and promote SMU's postgraduate professional programmes through compelling value propositions and consistent branding.

• Oversee multi-channel marketing campaigns (digital, social, PR_, events, partnerships) in collaboration with the Office of Corporate Communications and Marketing.
• Drive outreach and relationship-building with feeder universities, employers, professional associations, and SMU Overseas Centres to expand recruitment networks.
• Ensure the effective use of CRM tools and digital platforms to nurture leads through the prospect journey.
• Monitor key marketing metrics (e.g., leads, cost per acquisition, conversion rates) to evaluate campaign effectiveness and ROI.

• Admissions

• Oversee the full admissions lifecycle—from application to matriculation—ensuring fairness, efficiency, and alignment with academic standards.

• Partner with Academic Directors and Programme Offices to maintain rigour in selection and evaluation processes.
• Champion a superior candidate experience through proactive engagement, transparency, and timely communication.
• Oversee the strategic allocation of scholarships and financial aid to attract and secure top-quality candidates.
• Track and analyse admissions performance data to identify trends, inform strategies, and improve yield outcomes.

• People and Operations

• Lead, coach, and develop the MRA team to foster a high-performance, collaborative culture.

• Build cross-functional alignment between marketing, recruitment, and admissions teams to streamline processes and enhance responsiveness.
• Oversee budgets, resource planning, and vendor partnerships to ensure cost-effective and impactful execution.

Focus areas for the 6-month contract hire:

• Project Coordination

• Support the Associate Provost (PGP Education) in coordinating the consolidation of the MRA function across Schools, ensuring alignment with approved structures and timelines.

• Process Mapping & Harmonisation

• Document existing MRA workflows, identify overlaps and gaps, and recommend streamlined processes to enhance efficiency and consistency in applicant engagement and admissions operations.

• Change Management Support

• Facilitate communication and transition activities among affected staff and stakeholders to ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines.

• Operational Continuity

• Provide interim oversight of day-to-day MRA operations to minimise disruption to ongoing marketing and admissions activities during the transition period.

• Data & Systems Coordination

• Work with relevant offices to ensure proper data migration, reporting alignment, and integration of marketing and admissions systems under the new structure.

• Handover Preparation

• Develop documentation, transition plans, and briefing materials to ensure a seamless handover to the incoming Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Admissions.

• Any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A postgraduate degree, preferably in Marketing, Communications, or Business.
• At least 15 years of experience in marketing, recruitment, and/or admissions, ideally within higher education or a related professional services environment.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, market development, and enrolment management.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and managing organisational change.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing, CRM systems, and analytics platforms.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic yet hands-on, with the ability to balance vision with operational execution.
• Strategic mindset combined with a hands-on approach to execution.
• Ability to influence and build relationships across diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Other Information

Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary.