Executive Director, Admissions

PAY GRADE: 34E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Under the leadership and direction of the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Executive Director of Admissions is a critical leader of the Enrollment Management team. The Executive Director is responsible for managing and directing all activities related to achieving undergraduate enrollment goals for all undergraduate colleges, schools, and programs through which new matriculants enter the University. The Executive Director interacts regularly with deans, chairpersons, senior faculty/administrators, and the leadership of Student Financial Services and the Registrar’s Office, in matters relating to the admission and recruitment of new undergraduate students and their successful matriculation and retention at the University.

The Executive Director interprets policy and makes recommendations to the V.P. for Enrollment Management for appropriate actions by the various colleges/departments. The Executive Director maintains high visibility, not only within the University community, but also with the University's several public constituencies, e.g., prospective students and their families, guidance personnel in the public and private sectors, alumni, and community leaders. The Executive Director supervises approximately 50 professional and salaried staff in the daily operation of the admissions office.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages the admission of all undergraduate applicants to the University from first contact to matriculation, including recruiting, marketing communications, and application processing, review, and decision-making. Critical populations include: first-year students entering main campus; first-year students entering the Associate in Arts Programs at off-campus locations; international populations entering main campus as full matriculants; international populations provisionally admitted via the English Language Institute; international populations entering special off-site programs; students transferring from other degree-granting institutions; any other special population that may be served by the University as a matriculating undergraduate.
• Responsible for the coordination of all University-wide efforts that serve the purpose of recruiting undergraduate students to the University. Leads all prospecting activities, ensuring that messages, activities, and processes are clearly coordinated no matter the source.
• Ensures that University-wide efforts for international student recruitment are well coordinated and that close collaboration takes place across a variety of units to position the University appropriately in the international marketplace. Leads the international recruitment team within the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Ensures that University-wide efforts in the pre-college arena are well-coordinated and include a focus on preparing a pipeline of future students for the University. Leads the pre-college team embedded within the admissions office, including programs specifically managed by the admissions office, including Edge (pre-college summer program), the College Readiness Scholars Institute, and others.
• Establishes and implements short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives, strategic plans, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates programmatic and operational effectiveness, and effects changes required for continuous improvement.
• Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives.
• Effectively manage an $8m budget to achieve short-term goals and position the office for strategic success.
• Leads approximately 40 admissions professionals in all facets of undergraduate admissions, including training, hiring and evaluation.
• Represents the University to various institutional divisions as well as externally to media, governmental agencies, funding agencies, students and their parents, and the public. Plans, coordinates, and evaluates the recruitment activities of the office, both on and off campus.
• Collaborates with the V.P. for Enrollment Management and others in developing marketing strategies to serve the University's enrollment objectives.
• Partners with the V.P. for Enrollment Management, the Graduate College Dean, and designated graduate-program staff to create collaborative strategies to recruit graduate students.
• Promotes the University to a diverse audience including prospective students, parents, counselors, school officials, alumni, University personnel and the public.
• Assists and advises the V.P. for Enrollment Management in all aspects of the admissions enterprise, including budget administration and planning, and policy development.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree, master's preferred, in a related field with 7–10 years of admissions experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Thorough understanding of the admissions profession, familiarity with selective admissions and financial-aid practices.
• Leadership experience in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to develop and cultivate complex, collaborative internal and external relationships.
• Highly proficient in data analysis and leveraging data to inform decision making.
• Skill in organizing and managing resources and establishing priorities.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Knowledge of integrated marketing communications, including print and a variety of digital mediums.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Demonstrated understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated, and equity is a core value.