ABOUT ALU
At the African Leadership University (ALU), we're more than just an institution—we're a catalyst for transformation. Our mission is to develop a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who will shape Africa's future. Through our innovative curriculum, focus on experiential learning, and vibrant pan-African community, we empower students to become changemakers, problem-solvers, and innovators. At ALU, we're not just teaching; we're nurturing the leaders who will drive Africa's progress and prosperity in the 21st century
We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.
HOW WE WORK
The ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.
The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.
ABOUT THE TEAM
The Postgraduate Admissions & Recruitment team is a lean, entrepreneurial unit responsible for growing ALU's executive and postgraduate programmes. We operate at the intersection of recruitment, business development, and executive engagement — building relationships with senior professionals and corporates who want to invest in transformational education. We are ambitious, commercially minded, and deeply motivated by the impact that executive education can have on African leadership.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Postgraduate Admissions Manager leads recruitment and admissions for the university's postgraduate portfolio, with a primary focus on the Executive MBA (EMBA) programme and responsibility for any new postgraduate programmes launched in the future. Reporting to the VP of Enrolment, this role combines strategic recruitment with hands-on admissions management, targeting working professionals and senior executives domestically and internationally.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and execute a targeted recruitment strategy for the EMBA programme and other postgraduate offerings, identifying and engaging prospective students across domestic and international markets.
- Manage, coach, and develop a Postgraduate Admissions Associate, setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and building their capability to independently manage candidate pipelines and outreach activities across assigned markets.
- Own tuition revenue targets for the postgraduate admissions function, tracking fee-paying enrollment against financial projections, identifying pipeline risks early, and working with the Admissions Director and programme leadership to deploy interventions that protect and grow postgraduate tuition income.
- Manage the end-to-end admissions process for all postgraduate programmes, from initial enquiry and application through interview, selection, and offer.
- Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective EMBA students through proactive outreach, corporate partnerships, alumni networks, and industry events.
- Design and deliver tailored engagement activities for postgraduate prospects, including information evenings, campus visits, webinars, and one-to-one consultations.
- Collaborate with programme directors, faculty, and the Dean's office to ensure admissions criteria, processes, and candidate profiles align with programme objectives.
- Develop compelling recruitment materials and digital content in partnership with Marketing, tailored to the EMBA target audience of experienced professionals.
- Use CRM systems to track enquiries, manage the applicant pipeline, and analyse conversion rates, providing regular reporting to leadership.
- Lead on building relationships with corporates and employers to develop sponsored or cohort-based EMBA enrolment opportunities.
- Manage application review processes, coordinate candidate interviews, and make recommendations on admissions decisions in line with programme standards.
- Work closely with the Financial Aid team to develop scholarship and funding options relevant to postgraduate and executive students.
- Support the development and launch of new postgraduate programmes, contributing market insight and recruitment planning from the outset.
- Represent the university at domestic and international postgraduate and MBA fairs, corporate events, and sector conferences
Qualifications & Experience
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience (typically 5+ years) in postgraduate or executive education admissions, recruitment, or business development within a higher education or professional training environment.
- Demonstrated understanding of the EMBA market and the motivations and expectations of executive-level candidates.
- Experience building corporate and employer partnerships for recruitment or sponsored enrolment.
- Proficiency with CRM systems and data-driven recruitment approaches.
- Willingness to travel and work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to attend events and engage candidates.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Functional Skills
- Executive recruitment and admissions process management.
- Corporate and employer partnership development.
- CRM pipeline management and conversion analysis.
- Strong organisational skills — able to manage multiple candidate pipelines simultaneously.
- Market research and competitive intelligence in the postgraduate education space.
Soft Skills & Mindset
- Excellent communication and relationship-management skills — confident engaging with senior professionals and C-suite executives.
- Commercially minded with a business development orientation.
- Self-directed and entrepreneurial — comfortable working with limited precedent and building new pipelines from scratch.
- Collaborative — works effectively with faculty, programme directors, marketing, and financial aid.
- Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred, ideally including an MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
