Vice Principal – Student Recruitment & Marketing

About the Role

DN Colleges Group is seeking an exceptional and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Vice Principal – Student Recruitment & Marketing. This is a pivotal role responsible for shaping and delivering a long-term vision for student growth, brand positioning and market engagement across our further and higher education provision.

You will lead a high-performing function that drives recruitment across 16–18, adult, apprenticeships and higher education, ensuring an outstanding and seamless journey from first enquiry through to enrolment.

In this role you will oversee and help to shape the future of over 5000 students annually, leading student recruitment across 4 campuses and mentoring a team of over 20 professionals.

Working closely with the Group Principal, Corporation Board and senior leaders, you will provide insight on market trends and opportunities, ensuring the organisation remains innovative, competitive and responsive to regional and national priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for student recruitment, admissions and marketing across the Group.
• Develop and deliver a multi-year recruitment and marketing strategy aligned to curriculum and financial priorities.
• Lead and optimise recruitment pipelines, digital channels, campaigns and CRM systems to maximise conversion and growth.
• Oversee the delivery of a sector-leading customer journey from enquiry to enrolment.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with schools, employers, universities and key stakeholders.
• Act as a senior ambassador for the Group at regional and national level.
• Drive performance through data-led decision making, KPIs and forecasting models.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record of delivering successful marketing or recruitment strategies that drive measurable growth.
• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex organisation, including budget responsibility.
• Strong strategic, analytical and data-driven decision-making capability.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage at executive level.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams through change and transformation.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary
• 35 Bookable annual leave days, bank holidays, and 2 weeks off at Christmas.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Access to same-day GP appointments, high street discounts, discounted hair and beauty treatments, electric car scheme.
• On-site gym & florist (site dependent).
• Access to our In-house Food Hall & Coffee Shops.

Additional Information

• 
  Safer Recruitment: As part of the recruitment process and in line with keeping children safe in education, we will conduct social media checks on shortlisted candidates. Additionally, before commencing employment, all employees undergo safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS.
• 
  Right to Work: Applicants must be authorised to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

For an informal discussion or further details about the role, please contact:
[email protected]

Here at Doncaster College and University Centre we understand that choosing what to do next can be a huge decision. It’s not just about the course you choose to study, it is about the tutors, the experiences and the friends you meet along the way.

We have over 120 courses at full and part-time, from entry level right up to university level. As well as the vast amount of courses on offer, we ensure all our students get the right support and guidance whether it is through our careers service, our additional learning support, counselling, student finance and many other services all tailored to each individual.

Our exciting and modern campus is in a central location, packed with workspaces designed to industry standard. We work directly with employers allowing you real work experience and industry insight that you will not get from sitting behind a desk.