Director of Admissions

JOB SUMMARY: 

The Director of Admissions is a strategic leader with responsibility for developing and executing a comprehensive student recruitment strategy to meet the College’s enrollment goals. In a tuition-dependent environment, this position is critical to the institution. The Director provides hands-on leadership to a team of six admission professionals and ensures data-driven, goal-oriented recruitment practices.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise, train, and evaluate six admission professionals.
• Set daily, weekly, and seasonal priorities and goals for recruitment outreach and territory management.
• Lead regular staff meetings to ensure alignment on goals, timelines, and messaging.
• Create a collaborative, accountable team culture focused on measurable results.

Recruitment Strategy & Execution

• In partnership with the VP for Enrollment, develop and implement a student recruitment plan aligned with institutional enrollment and revenue goals.
• Establish annual goals for inquiries, applications, admits, and enrollments by counselor and territory.
• Ensure effective use of data and CRM tools (Slate) to track prospective students and funnel performance.
• Coordinate participation in high school visits, college fairs, and community events.
• Promote best practices in lead generation, name purchases, inquiry cultivation, application review, and yield strategies.
• In partnership with the VP for Enrollment and Chief Marketing Officer, lead social media strategies.

Budget-Conscious Operations

• Prioritize cost-effective recruitment strategies that deliver strong ROI.
• Optimize use of travel budgets, print/mail campaigns, and digital marketing efforts in collaboration with the VP for Enrollment and Marketing Office.
• Seek creative, low-cost outreach opportunities to expand the College's visibility in key markets.

Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate closely with the Office of Financial Aid to ensure cohesive messaging and strategy regarding affordability and scholarships.
• With the VP for Enrollment, coordinate with Marketing to ensure branding and communication materials align with recruitment goals.

Application Review & Admission Decisions

• Oversee application review procedures and ensure consistent, mission-aligned admissions decisions.
• Train staff in holistic admissions review practices appropriate for a nonselective institution.
• Monitor application and decision timelines to avoid bottlenecks in the process.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Regularly analyze recruitment funnel metrics and report trends to the VP for Enrollment.
• Use data to inform strategy adjustments throughout the admissions cycle.
• Monitor and report on counselor performance and territory outcomes.

Campus Visits & Events

• Oversee the planning and execution of on-campus and virtual visit experiences.
• Lead the team in executing Open Houses and Admitted Student Days.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in college admissions, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Demonstrated success in achieving enrollment goals in a tuition-driven environment.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with SLATE. Able to create queries and reports as well as teach these skills to staff.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Public speaking will be required in this position.
• Willingness and ability to travel, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working at a small, liberal arts or nonselective college.
• Familiarity with financial aid processes and leveraging aid in the recruitment process.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• Meeting or exceeding annual enrollment targets.
• Effective utilization of budget and resources.
• Timely and accurate reporting of key metrics.
• Improved recruitment-to-yield conversion rates.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references.