Program Manager (Admission Officer)

Program Manager Admissions Office

Mumbai

Lodha Foundation offers an exciting platform for an impact leader to conceptualize and implement pan-India educational initiatives. We are dedicated to identifying and nurturing India’s brightest and most capable children by providing them with comprehensive support—educational, financial, psychological, and infrastructural—to help them achieve their full potential. Our ultimate goal is to inspire these individuals to contribute back to society once they are financially self-sufficient.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a proactive and results-oriented Program Manager - Admissions Office to lead our admissions outreach and processing functions. This role requires an entrepreneurial mindset to not only manage but also innovate our entire admissions pipeline. You will be responsible for leading, mentoring, and scaling a team of admissions counselors (callers) to ensure a seamless, empathetic, and effective experience for all prospective applicants, educators, and parents.

Your success will be measured by the quality and diversity of our applicant pool, the efficiency of our admissions process, and the performance of your team in achieving outreach and enrollment targets.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of admissions counselors/callers, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture.
• Develop and implement comprehensive training programs for the team on program details, communication protocols, and CRM usage.
• Set clear performance goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the team related to inquiry response times, application completion rates, and conversion metrics.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and support the professional growth of your team members.

Admissions Strategy & Process Optimization:

• Design and oversee the entire admissions inquiry and application support strategy, from initial contact to final submission.
• Analyze inquiry trends and applicant data to identify bottlenecks, refine communication strategies, and continuously improve the admissions process.
• Develop and maintain standardized operating procedures (SOPs), communication scripts, and FAQ repositories to ensure consistency and quality.
• Champion the strategic use of our CRM system to track the admissions pipeline, generate insights, and automate workflows.

Data Management & Reporting:

• Oversee the integrity of all applicant data and ensure meticulous record-keeping by the team.
• Generate and present regular reports to senior leadership on admissions metrics, team performance, and key trends.
• Translate data-driven insights into actionable recommendations for outreach campaigns, program modifications, and process enhancements.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Serve as the primary liaison between the admissions team and other departments, including Program Management, Technology, and Marketing.
• Collaborate with the technology team to troubleshoot issues and enhance the functionality of the application portal.
• Provide strategic feedback from applicant interactions to help shape outreach materials and improve the overall program experience.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• 5+ years of experience in admissions, outreach, student counseling, customer experience or a related field, preferably within the education or non-profit sector.
• A minimum of 2-3 years of proven experience in a team leadership or management capacity, with a track record of coaching and developing a team.
• Proven Leadership Skills: Demonstrated ability to inspire, manage, and scale a team to achieve ambitious goals.
• Strategic & Analytical Mindset: Strong ability to use data to inform decisions, optimize processes, and drive strategy.
• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in using CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, Zoho) and other database management systems for reporting and pipeline management.
• Exceptional Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Hindi, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Empathy & Problem-Solving: A patient, empathetic, and solution-oriented approach to guiding both your team and potential applicants.
• Passion for the Mission: A deep commitment to education and social impact, aligned with the values of the Lodha Foundation.

If you are a passionate leader eager to build and guide a team that will shape the future of India's brightest minds, we encourage you to apply. Please share your profile at tanvi.gaikwad@lodhagroup.com.