Dean of Admissions

AACTE Connect360; Moraga (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Mary's College of California seeks a Dean of Admissions to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for undergraduate admissions, including first-year, transfer, and international recruitment.

The role directs admissions operations, staff development, enrollment communications, and data-informed decision-making to advance enrollment, diversity, and financial goals while ensuring a student-centered experience.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a related field (Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Business/Public Administration, or related field).
• Eight years in admissions, enrollment management, or higher education administration with six+ years in leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of admissions policies, practices, and strategy.
• Experience with enrollment technologies and data-informed decision making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate recruitment and enrollment strategies to meet short- and long-term objectives.
• Oversee admissions operations, application review, and enrollment processes ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Lead staff, manage budgets, and foster professional development.
• Build partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and external partners to strengthen pipelines.
• Represent the college at educational fairs and conferences and coordinate communications for applicants and families.
• Collaborate with Marketing to implement integrated campaigns and communication plans.

Skills

Enrollment management

Slate CRM

Data analysis

Leadership

Budgeting

Diversity & inclusion

Education

Master's degree in Higher Education Administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Student Experience and Enrollment Management, the Dean of Admissions provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for undergraduate admissions, including first-year, transfer, and international student recruitment and enrollment. The Dean develops, implements, and evaluates comprehensive enrollment strategies that advance the College's financial, academic, and diversity goals while ensuring a student-centered admissions experience. The position provides leadership for admissions operations, staff development, enrollment communications, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative partnerships that support institutional enrollment objectives.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate comprehensive recruitment and enrollment strategies designed to achieve the College's short- and long-term enrollment, academic quality, financial, and diversity objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight of the admissions, application review, and enrollment processes to ensure efficiency, regulatory compliance, and an exceptional prospective student experience.
• Review, evaluate, and recommend enhancements to admissions policies, practices, and selection criteria based on institutional priorities, enrollment trends, and best practices.
• Create informed policies and procedures to ensure excellent student services throughout the enrollment cycle.
• Hire, mentor and supervise a professional staff, creating and fostering an atmosphere of facilitating professional opportunities to improve individual capability and managing performance against job accountabilities, department goals and established SMC, campus and department policies and procedures.
• Develop, assign, and evaluate recruitment territories and staff assignments to maximize enrollment opportunities and operational effectiveness.
• Plan and conduct regular staff meetings.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with high schools, community colleges, community-based organizations, educational agencies, and other external partners that strengthen student recruitment and enrollment pipelines.
• Align institutions to build student pipelines through these organizations.
• Represent SMC at educational fairs and conferences, high schools and community colleges in support of student recruitment.
• Build out a communication plan for prospective student applicants, parents and advisors, to facilitate the admissions process.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop and implement integrated print, digital, web, and social media recruitment campaigns that effectively communicate the College's value proposition.
• Plan and collaborate with campus partners to enhance and execute recruitment and yield plans and strategies to ensure student quality, diversity, and revenue goals are met.
• Evaluate activities and strategies for effectiveness and return on investment.
• Analyze enrollment data, recruitment outcomes, market trends, and return-on-investment metrics to make strategic, data-informed recommendations that improve enrollment performance and operational effectiveness.
• Provide reports and analyses to campus partners, as requested.
• Other duties as assigned

Education

Master's degree from an accredited institution in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Business Administration, Public Administration, Student Affairs, Communications, Marketing, or a closely related field required.

Experience

Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in admissions, enrollment management, or higher education administration, including at least six (6) years of progressively responsible leadership experience overseeing admissions operations, recruitment strategy, enrollment planning, staff supervision, and budget or resource management.

Skills/Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of admissions, enrollment management, student recruitment, and higher education best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate strategic enrollment management initiatives.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to analyze enrollment data, market trends, and performance metrics to support strategic decision-making.
• Knowledge of enrollment technologies, CRM systems (including Slate), and student information systems.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni, community organizations, and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, coach, and develop professional staff.
• Ability to interpret and apply institutional policies, higher education regulations, and admissions best practices while exercising sound professional judgment.
• Knowledge of budget planning, resource allocation, and operational management principles.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing institutional needs while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Slate CRM, data analysis tools, and related enrollment technologies.