Assistant Vice President and Executive Director, Admissions

Kent State; Kent (OH); On-site; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent State University in Kent, OH seeks an Assistant Vice President and Executive Director, Admissions to lead the Office of Admissions and align policies with enrollment goals while representing the university to prospective students.

The role partners with deans, faculty, and staff to develop annual admissions plans, drive a data-informed culture, manage recruitment materials, and report analyses to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Experience with enrollment management and recruitment strategies.
• Ability to plan strategically and collaborate across campus.
• Understanding of FERPA and privacy regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in planning and administration of the Admissions department.
• Develop and promote yearly admissions plans to meet enrollment goals.
• Lead data-driven decision making and assess recruitment activities.
• Coordinate recruitment materials to attract diverse students.
• Provide regular reports and analyses to leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with financial aid, academic units, marketing, athletics, and leadership.
• Oversee policies governing recruitment and enrollment processes.
• Lead budgeting discussions and resource planning.
• Address diversity goals and strategic outcomes with stakeholders.
• Supervise staff and support professional development.

Skills

Enrollment management

Strategic planning

FERPA compliance

Communication skills

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Assistant Vice President and Executive Director, Admissions

Salary: $125,000 - $135,000

Location: Kent Campus - Kent, OH

Work type: Staff/Unclassified (Full-time)

Basic Function

Responsible for the leadership, oversight, and management of the Office of Admissions and all of its functions. Partners closely with deans, faculty, and staff to determine and enact policies and strategies that will realize the university's ambitious enrollment goals. Serves as a representative for the university's mission by presenting an attractive vision to potential students; enhancing the admissions process for those candidates; and helping to assure a rewarding experience for students who enroll. Works closely with the campus community and the regional campuses to build effective relationships and communicate about and garner support for the goals of the Office of Admissions. Reports to Vice President for Enrollment Management.

Additional Basic Function – if applicable

Not applicable.

Examples of Duties

Provide leadership in the planning, development, and administration of the Admissions department in a manner consistent with the mission of Kent State University.

In collaboration with the Vice President for Enrollment Management, deans, faculty, and staff, develop, implement, and promote a yearly admissions plan that will achieve university enrollment goals.

Further a data-informed culture to shape strategic directions and make appropriate adjustments to an integrated admissions plan; regularly assess accuracy and effectiveness of recruitment activities and make appropriate adjustments so as to lead an effort that is proactive, strategic, and responsive to the changing needs of students.

Coordinate the design and implementation of recruitment materials to prospective undergraduate and graduate students, expanding the university's ability to attract, select and enroll an increasingly talented and diverse student body.

Provide regular reports, data analyses, and evaluation tools to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the colleges, the division, and other designated persons/units.

Work collaboratively and strategically with other units within the Division of Enrollment Management, particularly with the Office of Student Financial Aid; enhance working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Administer academic policy and university regulations that govern the process of recruitment and enrollment of students.

Lead a transparent and forward-looking budgeting process that projects clear outcomes for expenditures and evaluates achievements in the context of an environment in which strategic use of resources is important.

Stay current with issues and policies pertaining to the achievement of a diverse student body and play a leadership role in assisting the university in reaching its goals.

Provide supervision of unclassified and classified staff; oversee personnel administration and professional development.

Perform related duties as assigned.

Additional Examples of Duties – if applicable

Not applicable.

Minimum Qualifications

Master's degree in a related field. Seven years' experience in the management of admissions operations within higher education.

License/Certification

Not applicable.

Knowledge Of

Enrollment Management and student recruitment strategies

Strategic planning

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

Skill In

Written, verbal, and interpersonal communication

Negotiating and co laborating across campus departments including financial aid, academic units, marketing, athletics, and university leadership to align enro lment goals with institutional priorities

Recruiting, training, and retaining a multi-tiered staff (from entry-level recruiters to directors), preventing burnout during peak seasons, and cultivating an inclusive team culture

Restructuring teams, streamlining high-volume processing systems (CRMs, application reviews), and guiding staff through policy or technological transitions without disrupting operations

Ability To

Read team dynamics, manage staff anxiety during high-stress cycles, and pivot strategies smoothly when external forces (such as demographic shifts, legislative changes, or economic dips) alter application projections

See both the macro picture (institutional brand, enro lment goals) and micro dependencies (CRM workflow bottlenecks, transcript processing latency) to understand how a friction point in one area impacts the entire funnel

Analyze demographic shifts, yield rates, regional trends, and financial aid distribution to shape enro lment strategy, forecast class composition, and optimize recruitment resources

Preferred Qualifications – if applicable

None.

Assessments

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which require assessments

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

None.

Working Schedule

Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM, or otherwise discussed with leadership.

Additional Information

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is cultura ly and inte lectua ly diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

Must pass a security check.

For official job descriptions, visit www.kent.edu/hr .

Kent State University is a Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free University effective July 1, 2017. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on any of Kent State’s campuses or other locations and properties that are owned, operated, or leased by Kent State, both domestic and international. For additional details, visit www.kent.edu/smoke-free .

Disclaimer

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related experience/education beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.

Advertised: September 15, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: October 30, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time