Senior Manager (Admissions & Outreach)- YIF

Job Title: Senior Manager

Reports to: Head of the department

Location: Sonipat

Experience (in years): 8-15 years of experience

Nature of work: Full-time

About Ashoka University:

10 years ago, we embarked on a journey to establish a world-class, multi-disciplinary, liberal arts and sciences university in India. Built on the finest global best practices of institution and university governance, Ashoka has truly transformed Indian higher education in India with its unique pedagogy, governance and best practices.

Ashoka is today India's #1 liberal arts and sciences university that is home to the most diverse student body, a hub for impactful research and a magnet for best-in-class faculty and staff.

Ashoka has been ranked in the top five among private Universities in India by QS Asia and has also secured top rank among all Indian Universities in the International Faculty indicator. The University was earlier awarded Diamond rating by QS I.GAUGE as a recognition of its continuous focus on academic rigour, inter-disciplinary pedagogy, world-class faculty, academic research, innovative modules of engagement with the community and teaching methods.

For further information, visit www.ashoka.edu.in.

We aim to co-create a nurturing space for our students, faculty, staff, donors and community positively through universal values:

• Be Mission-Driven
• Think Strategically
• Act Authentically
• Take Accountability
• Build Collaboration
• Deliver Excellence

About the Young India Fellowship:

The Young India Fellowship is Ashoka University's flagship postgraduate programme, launched in 2011. A one-year, fully residential Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies, it brings together exceptional graduates from diverse backgrounds to develop multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, synthetic thinking, communication, and leadership skills. Over the past 15 years, the Fellowship has built a vibrant community of 2,400+ alumni making their mark across academia and research, corporate leadership and startups, government and public policy, and media and the arts in India and globally.

Position Overview: Ashoka University is seeking a strategic and highly organized professional to join the Young India Fellowship team as Senior Manager Admissions & Outreach. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end management of the YIF admissions cycle, ensuring a rigorous, efficient, and fair selection process that attracts and admits a diverse cohort of high-potential Fellows each year.

Working closely with the Director, university outreach teams, and internal stakeholders, the Senior Manager will oversee key aspects of the admissions journeyfrom application review and interview coordination to candidate engagement and final offerswhile also supporting outreach initiatives that expand the programme's reach and strengthen the YIF brand. This role offers the opportunity to play a central role in shaping future cohorts and strengthening the admissions and outreach strategy for one of Ashoka University's flagship programmes.

Role and Responsibilities:

1. Admissions and Selection

• Lead the end-to-end execution of the YIF admissions process, ensuring a rigorous, fair, and timely evaluation of applications.
• Oversee application review, candidate shortlisting, and evaluation processes in alignment with the programme's selection framework.
• Coordinate the interview process, including scheduling, candidate communication, and engagement with multiple interview panellists.
• Compile and analyse interview outcomes, discuss cohort composition and strategic considerations with senior stakeholders, and support the release of final admission offers.
• Maintain accurate documentation and ensure a smooth and transparent admissions workflow across all stages.

2. Candidate Engagement and Yield Management

• Develop and implement strategies to engage admitted candidates and strengthen their connection with the YIF community.
• Ensure consistent communication and engagement between the offer stage and programme onboarding.
• Support initiatives that improve offer acceptance rates and candidate retention.

3. Outreach and Programme Visibility

• Collaborate with the Outreach and Communications teams to drive awareness and visibility of the YIF programme.
• Lead outreach initiatives and drive multi-pronged outreach strategies and communication materials in collaboration with with the central outreach team
• Support efforts to diversify and expand the applicant pool while strengthening the programme's brand and positioning.

4. Stakeholder and Process Management

• Coordinate with internal stakeholdersincluding IT, outreach, communications, programme teams, and university leadershipto ensure smooth admissions operations.
• Work with the Director to continuously improve admissions processes and systems, making them more efficient, transparent, and candidate-friendly.
• Manage team of 2-4 members to ensure end to end success in outreach and admissions
• Contribute to strategic discussions with Ashoka leadership regarding admissions progress, outreach impact, and cohort composition.

Who You Are

We are looking for someone who:

• Is highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage complex, multi-stage processes.
• Demonstrates strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Is comfortable working in dynamic environments and balancing multiple priorities.
• Brings an understanding of outreach, candidate engagement, and programme visibility.
• Is committed to building diverse, high-potential, and high-impact learning communities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Public Policy, or a related field.
• 8 15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in higher education admissions, programme management, outreach, or student recruitment.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex processes involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication, coordination, and analytical skills.