Job Description: Arcadia University seeks a dynamic, innovative, student-centered leader to serve as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, the Director will play a pivotal role in enrolling the undergraduate student body by developing and executing strategic recruitment initiatives, admissions policies, and data-driven enrollment strategies to attract and enroll a talented, diverse incoming undergraduate class. As a strategic leader of the undergraduate admissions team, the Director, through coaching and development, will motivate the undergraduate team to ensure growth. Innovation and forward-thinking is at the forefront of the team. The Director will oversee all aspects of undergraduate student recruitment and admissions, working closely with enrollment leadership, key campus partners, and faculty to advance institutional enrollment goals. This position requires a visionary, relationship-driven professional who can cultivate a culture of collaboration, strategic planning, and continuous improvement in a competitive admissions landscape. The individual will also play a key role in promoting the college's brand, expanding outreach initiatives, and maintaining strong relationships with high schools, community colleges, and other feeder institutions. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record in higher education admissions leadership or consultative sales, a deep understanding of undergraduate admissions processes, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment.
Location: Glenside
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Enrollment Leadership: Develop and implement comprehensive recruitment strategies that align with the university's mission, enrollment objectives, and values.
- Team Development & Supervision: Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing admissions team, fostering a culture of professional development, accountability, and innovation.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize analytics, market research, and admissions trends to inform recruitment strategies and enhance the student admissions experience.
- Technology & Marketing: Ensure the integration of technology (including CRM tools such as Salesforce) into recruitment efforts, including strategic use of e-communications, digital marketing, and admissions publications.
- Outreach & Engagement: Serve as a visible and engaging representative of the university, building strong relationships with high schools, community organizations, and external partners to expand outreach and increase enrollment pipelines.
- Collaboration Across Departments: Work closely with financial aid, marketing, student success, and other campus partners to create a seamless and supportive enrollment experience.
Essential Functions
- Leadership & Strategic Planning: Develop and implement a comprehensive undergraduate admissions strategy that aligns with institutional goals. Provide visionary leadership to the admissions team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Act as a key contributor to the enrollment management leadership team, supporting broader enrollment initiatives. Ensure admissions policies, procedures, and strategies align with the University's mission and values.
- Recruitment & Outreach: Plan and execute innovative recruitment strategies to attract a diverse and talented student body. Guide the admissions team in executing a consultative sales approach. Collaborate with high school counselors, community-based organizations, and campus partners to expand recruitment pipelines. Develop and oversee travel strategies for recruitment staff, ensuring targeted outreach.
- Admissions Operations & Candidate Selection: Assist the Senior Associate Director with managing the first-year application review process, including holistic evaluations, appeals, and special program considerations. Ensure the admissions team follows best practices for evaluating applications and yielding students. Serve as a second level reviewer for first-year students. Monitor and analyze year-over-year pacing, application volume, and conversion trends to optimize decision-making.
- Enrollment Data & Analytics: Cultivate a data-informed culture within the admissions team by utilizing key metrics and predictive analytics. Regularly review admissions funnel data, conversion rates, and yield trends to adjust recruitment strategies. Collaborate with Enrollment leadership to ensure optimal enrollment outcomes.
- Relationship Management & Campus Collaboration: Build strong relationships with campus partners to create a seamless enrollment experience. Work closely with marketing and university relations teams to develop recruitment materials, e-communications, and publications. Strengthen engagement with feeder high schools, community colleges, and external partners to enhance recruitment efforts. Represent Arcadia University at regional and national conferences, admissions networks, and professional organizations.
- Team Leadership & Professional Development: Recruit, train, and mentor a team of Admissions Counselors and admissions professionals, fostering professional growth and performance excellence. Establish clear enrollment goals and provide coaching and feedback to ensure team success. Promote a collaborative and innovative work environment where staff feel empowered and engaged. Encourage continuous professional development, ensuring the team remains up-to-date with admissions best practices.
Marginal Functions
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing and the VP for Enrollment, Technology and Innovation, or other senior management, as appropriate.
- Assist the Office of Enrollment Management with taking on additional work on a temporary basis during times of high volume or need.
Qualifications
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Communication: Able to give clear and timely information to the appropriate stakeholders in compliance with state and federal laws that safeguard personal information. Able to professionally communicate via written correspondence, telephone or video, online media, and face-to-face, and tailoring the message appropriately to the medium used and the audience (example: coworker, parent, student, other University employees). Also able to give clear and complete presentations and engage large groups, including varied audiences.
- Customer Service: Able to work professionally with prospective students, current students, parents, high school representatives and university employees. Provides clear and timely information and answers to questions, following up as necessary, or being able to refer an individual to a more appropriate team member. Able to empathize with others and understand the various perspectives that individuals bring to a situation, and address those perspectives. Proven ability to solve problems and provide outstanding customer service.
- Project Management: Able to organize tasks in the right order to reach the right outcome at the right time. Monitor progress in projects and plans and adapt appropriately to changes or challenges. Communicates workload and status of projects effectively and timely. Is well organized and manages assignments to a successful conclusion.
- Technology: Able to use appropriate software for efficient completion of work objectives. Demonstrate intermediate level mastery of core MS Office programs and Google Workspace, and have general background knowledge about social media platforms.
- Leadership and Cultural Understanding: Strong leadership skills with the ability to hire, mentor, train, and develop a high-performing team. Able to demonstrate respect for and engage with people of diverse backgrounds to create a stronger community.
- Emotional Intelligence: Ability to understand how this role fits into the overall goals of the EM office and the University, and how the quality and consistency of individual efforts affect other staff in the unit. Able to respond positively to direction and performance-related critiques. Able to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere on campus and when conducting University business off campus.
- Higher Education Admissions Practices: A deep understanding of the admissions process, including the development and execution of recruitment strategies, evaluating applications, understanding state and federal regulations, and student success initiatives. Proven success in leading an undergraduate admissions team, with a track record of meeting and exceeding enrollment goals.
- Enrollment Management and Data Analysis: Knowledge of enrollment trends, forecasting, and the ability to analyze data related to applications, yield rates, demographics, and other metrics that inform decision-making and planning. Demonstrated expertise in recruitment strategy development, market analysis, and leveraging technology to enhance admissions processes.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree, required, Master's degree preferred
- 7+ years of admissions or enrollment management experience at a postsecondary school or 7+ years of consultative sales
- experience preferred
- Valid driver's license with a vehicle available for recruitment travel
- Successful completion of a background check and motor vehicle record check
- Available for regular evening and weekend programs and activities as well as overnight travel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Business uses of social media including knowledge of Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, LinkedIn, and other platforms as they relate
- to higher education recruitment
Supervision
- Received: Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing
- Given: Admission Counselors, Assistant Directors, Associate Directors
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift up to 35 lbs with or without reasonable accommodation
Application Instructions
- Applications must be submitted online through Arcadia's Human Resources portal to receive full consideration. Please do not email application materials to the hiring manager. Due to the volume of applications received, communication will generally be limited to candidates selected for additional consideration.
- Application review will begin immediately. Posting will be removed from the website once we've established a sufficient talent pool for consideration.
Arcadia University is a top-ranked private University in Greater Philadelphia that provides a values-based, authentic educational experience by placing students at the center. The Institute of International Education has consistently ranked Arcadia first in the nation for study abroad, and the Princeton Review has ranked Arcadia among the "Best in the Northeast" for 10 consecutive years. The University's graduate programs in Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Education, and Public Health are nationally ranked in their respective categories by U.S. News & World Report, which cites Arcadia for being among the top study abroad programs and a top performer for social mobility. Arcadia is home to a close-knit and welcoming community that supports students throughout their journey. Arcadia's quality academic programs, unique approach to a liberal arts education, and supportive community guide students toward degree completion and career success. Learn more about our vibrant community at www.arcadia.edu.
We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our community. The successful candidate will demonstrate examples of ways they will incorporate our values in their work.
Arcadia actively seeks and welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Arcadia prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, age, gender identity, military or military veteran status, disability, family medical or genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. All offers of employment are conditional based on the successful completion of a background check. Employment may not begin until the University accepts the results of the background check.
Arcadia offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, generous tuition benefits for employees and their families, retirement benefits, health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Position Code: AC0064
