Admissions and Parent Experience Manager

AAESS Admissions and Parent Experience Manager

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Admissions and Parent Experience Manager to join our team at Al Ain English Speaking School for an immediate start.

About AAESS:

Al Ain English Speaking School is one of the oldest schools in Al Ain with a reputation that goes beyond the city boundaries. It sits in the 'Garden City' renowned for being an oasis in the desert. AAESS is an all through school with over 2200 children from 3 to 19 and continually growing. The campus is spacious and welcoming and prides itself with good facilities such as our fantastic indoor swimming pool; floodlit tennis courts; 566 seat auditoriums; food prep and nutrition kitchen; automotive garage; TV & radio production studio and two Apple Mac suites. We deliver the British Curriculum and offer iGCSE, AS and A Levels, with our 6th Form students securing places in prestigious universities all over the world.

Al Ain English Speaking School is the first school in Al Ain to hold the British Schools Overseas Award, where we are endorsed by the British Government and quality assured by Ofsted. Additionally, the school holds the prestigious Silver Carnegie Mental Health Award, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and the mental well-being of its students and staff.

Al Ain English Speaking School is a caring and multicultural community that enables all individuals to realise their potential in a dynamic and innovative learning environment. We value enquiry, perseverance, and reflection, treating one another with respect and integrity, while learning together to become responsible and enterprising global citizens.

About Cognita:

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, 'Thrive in a rapidly evolving world'.

At Cognita, we know every student is unique. We nurture their distinct personalities and strengths. We support them academically, socially, and emotionally, wherever they are in the world, wherever they're starting from. We protect what's special about them, while offering them rich knowledge, opportunities, and best practices. And they get to be part of something bigger; ensuring they get an education that's, quite literally, world class.

Role Purpose:

The Parent Experience Officer plays a key role in delivering an exceptional, high -touch experience for prospective and current parents across all in-person and communication touchpoints within the school. This position ensures families feel informed, supported, and connected from the first point of contact through to enrolment and ongoing school life.

The role supports parent engagement through events, tours, communications, feedback loops, and community-building initiatives, and is central to shaping the school's reputation as a welcoming, responsive, and family-focused institution.

Key Responsibilities':

Customer Service Excellence

• Spearhead initiatives that elevate parent satisfaction, engagement, and the overall parent journey.
• Promote a customer-first mindset across all interactions and ensure the school is always presented professionally and positively.
• Lead and manage the front-of-house reception team, setting high standards for service excellence and training.
• Organise events and initiatives that foster family involvement and strengthen school-community connections.

Admissions Process Management

• Deliver a seamless, efficient, and professional admissions process for prospective families.
• Implement and maintain effective onboarding, withdrawal, and re-registration procedures.
• Oversee the withdrawal process sensitively and conduct exit interviews to gather feedback for continuous improvement.

Organic Growth

• Support the Regional Head of Admissions in analysing admissions activities and retention KPIs.
• Develop and execute retention strategies informed by family feedback and data.
• Build proactive relationships with families, engaging across digital and in-person channels as a brand ambassador.
• Collaborate with school teams to enhance the overall student and family experience.

In-School Touchpoints

• Act as the primary contact for visiting parents and families, ensuring a warm and professional welcome.
• Support daily parent interactions and ensure smooth coordination of access and safeguarding protocols.

Event Management

• Plan and execute parent-facing events such as open days, onboarding sessions, and community events.
• Collaborate with admissions, academic, and operations teams to ensure smooth delivery and follow-up.

School Tours

• Design and deliver engaging and informative school tours that showcase the school's strengths.
• Train and support team members involved in conducting tours.

Content & Communication

• Coordinate the collection of photos, videos, and stories for marketing and communication purposes, ensuring compliance with data protection policies.
• Support regular parent communications (newsletters, updates, and bulletins) and respond promptly to queries and feedback.

Surveys & Feedback

• Manage the distribution and tracking of parent surveys (new, current, and departing families).
• Analyse feedback and support improvements in service delivery.

Parent Community Building

• Support the Parent Association and community initiatives to foster engagement and inclusivity.
• Build strong relationships that encourage collaboration and long-term trust.

Safeguarding and Ethical Practice

• Ensure all activities uphold the highest safeguarding and wellbeing standards.
• Collaborate with the school's DSL to ensure compliance with policies and report concerns appropriately.

Candidate Profile

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in customer service, admissions, event management, or parent relations (school experience preferred).
• Proven experience managing front-facing communications with diverse audiences.

Skills & Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organisational and multitasking abilities.
• A warm, approachable, and service-oriented mindset.
• High attention to detail and follow-through.
• Proficient with digital tools, CRM systems, and communication platforms.

Attributes:

• Empathetic, culturally sensitive, and professional under pressure.
• Team-oriented and collaborative.
• Discreet, trustworthy, and committed to confidentiality.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Education, Hospitality, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Willingness to complete safeguarding training upon hiring.

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about education, possess strong leadership skills, and thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, we would love to hear from you To support your application, please include your current, up-to-date CV. Complete this application before the closing date. The Closing Date for Applications is: 29th November 2025.

Al Ain English Speaking School and Cognita are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to detailed and enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks for all countries lived in, qualification checks, employment checks to include an exploration of any gaps in employment, and satisfactory reference checks for all employment in the last 10 years.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

Early applications are encouraged, we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to closing date for the right applicant