Assistant Dean, VSB Graduate Admissions

Villanova School of Business; Rosemont (PA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Villanova School of Business seeks an Assistant Dean of Graduate Admission to lead enrollment strategy for MBA and specialty programs. You will direct recruitment, marketing, and admissions operations, shaping data-driven decisions and optimizing the candidate experience.

You will manage budgets, collaborate with faculty and university partners, and serve as a brand ambassador to elevate VSB’s national and international enrollment goals.

Qualifications

• Masters degree is required or an equivalent combination of education and business experience may be considered.
• Experience leading recruitment efforts at an AACSB accredited business school or comparable program; marketing, new media, and budget management.
• Strong platform and communication skills; a strong brand ambassador.

Responsibilities

• Lead graduate recruitment and enrollment management across all programs.
• Develop and implement recruitment and marketing strategies to meet enrollment goals.
• Oversee budgeting for recruiting, scholarships, and marketing; collaborate with Marketing & Communications.
• Coordinate with academic leaders to evaluate candidates and admissions decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Recruitment strategy

Marketing strategy

Budget management

CRM systems

Analytics

Public speaking

Team development

Education

Masters degree

MBA desirable

Tools

Slate / enrollment CRM

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean, Graduate Admission for the Villanova School of Business (VSB) is responsible for the strategy, implementation and evaluation of recruitment and marketing plans designed to meet the Villanova School of Business enrollment goals across all graduate business programs while enhancing the local, regional, national and international reputation of VSB. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Graduate Business Programs, the Assistant Dean leads the enrollment management and recruitment teams.

The Assistant Dean will serve as a forward‑looking enrollment leader who uses data, technology, market intelligence, and cross‑functional collaboration to shape recruitment strategy and strengthen enrollment outcomes. The successful candidate will be expected to lead continued digital transformation within the graduate admissions function, including the effective use of CRM systems, marketing automation, enrollment analytics, digital engagement tools, and process improvements that enhance the prospective student experience and improve decision‑making across the enrollment funnel.

The Assistant Dean is responsible for the direct outreach and yield of high potential candidates for all MBA and specialized masters programs, management of the recruiting, scholarship, and marketing budget, coordinating public relations activities with the VSB Marketing & Communications team, and ultimately for strengthening VSBs revenue stream by meeting set goals for overall enrollment across the portfolio of graduate business programs. To ensure the continued success of recruiting efforts, the Assistant Dean will build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including faculty, students, administrators, alumni, and other university constituents. Working closely with the Associate Dean, the Assistant Dean will help develop evaluate recruiting strategies, evaluate VSBs strength and positioning, and advise on strategic choices which ensure VSB remains competitive and increases brand recognition regionally, nationally and internationally.

The Assistant Dean will lead the committee tasked with evaluating candidates and rendering admissions decisions for all graduate programs in coordination with the relevant academic department chairs and program faculty directors.
Must have evening availability to support working professionals in their programs and periodically on weekends in support of the various course and program events.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the Universitys mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

Graduate Recruitment & Enrollment Management

• Develop and lead the strategy for the schools recruitment and admissions efforts across all graduate business programs. This includes increasing admissions pipelines, applications and yield of high‑caliber students into VSBs graduate programs.
• Develop and implement recruiting and marketing strategies designed to meet the Villanova School of Business enrollment goals across all graduate business programs.
• Lead admission and enrollment management outreach to candidates across graduate business programs; manage admissions processes and communication cycles to ensure a high‑quality experience for prospects and applicants; implement yield strategies for high potential candidates for MBA and specialized masters programs.
• Work closely with academic program faculty directors, the Assistant Dean will lead the committee tasked with evaluating candidates and rendering admissions decisions for all graduate business programs.
• Build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including faculty, students, staff, alumni, and university constituents with the goal of continuing to increase the breadth, quality and diversity of graduate students enrolled in VSB programs.
• Provide a strong and sustainable revenue stream by meeting set goals for overall enrollment in graduate and executive business programs. Evaluate success of recruitment and marketing plans and adjust plans and strategies to meet changing VSB goals.
• Lead, coach, and develop the graduate recruitment and enrollment management teams. Establish individual and team goals; provide ongoing feedback, mentoring, and professional development; foster a culture of trust, accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement; and support succession planning that strengthens team capacity, advances staff growth, ensures continuity of operations, and prepares the team for future business needs.
• Meet with the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, and Deans Office leadership, quarterly to review enrollment strategies and yields of graduate students to ensure VSBs goals are being met and to determine other assistance that may be needed.
• Work closely with colleagues across graduate business programs to create synergies, share best practices, and work collaboratively to achieve desired goals. Manage the recruiting, scholarship, and marketing budgets.
• Collaborate with VSB MarCom team and university marketing and communications (UCM) teams to develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy across the schools portfolio of MBA and specialty masters programs, within the larger communication objectives of the School and University. This includes web, electronic and print marketing efforts; publications, websites, social media, communications, public relations as well as sponsorship and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as the primary graduate business programs contact for all marketing projects. Facilitate the exchange of best practices and strategies across the program teams and to extended team members (e.g. Executive Education).
• Collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Deans Office to lead the awarding of scholarship and funding opportunities offered to graduate business students across VSBs various programs.

Strategic Initiatives

• Evaluate the viability of recruiting students into newly proposed graduate programs and evaluate VSBs strength and positioning and advise on strategic choices which will ensure the School remains competitive and increase brand recognition regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Prepare quarterly reports benchmarking the fields of graduate and executive education as it relates to initiating new programs and consolidating and/or altering current programs.
• Participate in curriculum committees and sub‑committees to share benchmarking on enrollment reports and trends in graduate education and programs.
• Present (and encourage staff to present) at key graduate conferences and sessions (as identified by the Deans Office) to enhance the brand visibility of VSBs graduate and executive programs.

Other

• Perform additional duties and assist with special projects as assigned.
• Must have evening availability to support working professionals in their programs and periodically on weekends in support of the various course and program events.

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education

• Masters degree is required or an equivalent combination of education and business experience may be considered.

Specific Job Knowledge

• Experience leading recruitment efforts at an AACSB accredited business school or comparable program. Experience with high‑caliber candidates at all experience levels, marketing, new media, and budget management.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting initiatives and a track record of success in quantifying results.
• Must have strong platform and communication skills and be a strong brand ambassador.
• Ability to make decisions in a fast‑paced environment and handle multiple priorities across the schools programs.
• Proficiency in all standard computer applications, including Microsoft Office products, particularly Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant and applicable work experience in a professional environment with progressive responsibility and experience leading teams, including demonstrated experience with:
  • Leading high‑performing teams, developing talent, managing through change, building team capacity, and supporting succession planning in a complex, goal‑oriented professional environment.
  • Developing and executing effective marketing and recruiting strategies.
  • Project management and presentation skills and experience.
  • Developing targeted, compelling, and effective marketing and communications messages; managing projects, deadlines, and priorities; planning, coordinating, and executing events; managing relationships with various constituents; and working and leading teams.
  • Creating and delivering presentations and other public speaking activities.

Work Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Team player with a highly professional demeanor and be a team player.
• Ability to handle a fast‑paced environment and manage multiple projects/tasks with varied deadlines.
• Poised with strong customer‑service skills and ability to work independently under general supervision.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under strict deadlines.
• Ability to translate complex enrollment, marketing, scholarship, budget, and pipeline data into clear insights, practical recommendations, and actionable strategies.

Other

• Ability to work regularly in the evening to support working professionals in their programs and periodically on weekends in support of the various courses and program events.
• Ability to travel regionally, nationally and internationally as needed is required.
• The individual must have a deep commitment to the well‑being of the Villanova School of Business and the University, a commitment to the Universitys Catholic/Augustinian heritage, and the advancement of its mission, and to serving the needs of a diverse community.

Preferred Qualifications

Formal Education

• MBA from a reputable and accredited institution desirable.

Specific Job Knowledge

• Experience with marketing and recruiting for online programs or multi‑modality programs is a plus.
• Experience in building a diverse pipeline of qualified graduate and executive students are preferred.
• Experience with Slate or a comparable enrollment CRM is strongly preferred, including the ability to use CRM functionality, communication workflows, event management tools, application tracking, reporting, and funnel data to support recruitment strategy, and improve yield.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

Some regional and/or national travel required. Occasional evening and weekend work required to serve the needs of the student population.

Special Message to Applicants

Applications will be reviewed and considered as they are submitted.

Salary Posting Information

This position falls within salaried grade 18 and the range is $117,000-130,000. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.