Director of Admissions

UM04 University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES); United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition remission benefits

Retirement plans

Paid holidays

Job summary

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore seeks a Director of Admissions to provide strategic leadership for undergraduate admissions and recruitment. You will develop comprehensive recruitment and admissions strategies, lead the Admissions team, and collaborate across university partners to meet enrollment goals.

Responsibilities include overseeing operations, analyzing trends, managing budgets, and driving improvements in the student experience from inquiry to enrollment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Ten years of higher education experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and assess recruitment and admissions strategies aligned with enrollment goals.
• Lead admissions operations to ensure timely, accurate processing and student-centered service.
• Monitor funnel performance and collaborate with stakeholders to improve conversion.
• Manage budget and staffing to support enrollment priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Slate CRM

Job description

Job Description Summary Organization’s Summary Statement: The Director of Admissions provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the University’s undergraduate admissions and recruitment functions. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive recruitment and admissions strategies that support institutional enrollment goals, expand access to higher education, strengthen recruitment pipelines, and provide a seamless, student-centered experience from initial inquiry through enrollment. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience, the Director leads the Admissions team and works collaboratively with University partners to achieve enrollment objectives. The Director uses data, technology, market intelligence, and best practices to evaluate recruitment performance, improve admissions operations, and continuously enhance the prospective student experience. The Director serves as the University’s senior admissions leader and represents the University at recruitment events, college fairs, school and community engagements, professional associations, and other internal and external activities.

Salary Range: $95,000 - $98,000

Benefits

• Health insurance, including multiple medical plan options for employees and dependents offered through the State of Maryland Employee Benefits Division
• Prescription drug, dental, and flexible spending accounts, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans: mandatory enrollment in a state pension system or an Optional Retirement Plan with Fidelity or TIAA, Supplemental Retirement Accounts (TIAA, Fidelity, or MSRP-Nationwide) with $600 annual state match, Life Insurance (state sponsored MetLife, USM sponsored MetLife Plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance)
• Tuition remission benefits for eligible employees and, subject to USM policies, spouses and dependents at University System of Maryland institutions
• Exempt positions start at 22 days annual per year, sick leave 15 days per year, personal leave 3 days per year, and paid holidays
• Employee wellness and support resources and access to the State of Maryland wellness programs

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Admissions Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Develop, implement, and assess comprehensive annual and multi-year recruitment and admissions strategies aligned with the University’s enrollment goals, strategic priorities, academic programs, and institutional mission.
• Translate Strategic Enrollment Management priorities into measurable recruitment and admissions plans with clear goals, performance indicators, timelines, and accountability.
• Lead recruitment and admissions strategies for traditional undergraduate, transfer, adult learner, online degree completion, veteran, dual enrollment, and international student populations, as applicable.
• Analyze enrollment trends, demographic data, market conditions, competitor activity, student behavior, and admissions funnel data to identify opportunities, challenges, and emerging recruitment trends.
• Advise the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience and University leadership regarding admissions trends, recruitment performance, market opportunities, and strategies for achieving enrollment objectives.
• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, student-centered service, and continuous improvement within the Admissions operation.
• Develop and maintain recruitment territories, enrollment projections, recruitment goals, and performance expectations for admissions staff.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and return on investment of recruitment strategies, events, travel, partnerships, communications, and other admissions activities.
• Develop and manage the Admissions budget and allocate resources in alignment with institutional enrollment priorities.
• Recommend organizational, staffing, and operational improvements that strengthen the effectiveness and scalability of the Admissions operation

Recruitment Management

• Develop and implement comprehensive recruitment strategies designed to attract, engage, admit, and enroll qualified students.
• Establish and maintain recruitment pipelines with high schools, school districts, community colleges, community-based organizations, workforce partners, alumni, and other external stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationships with school counselors, principals, superintendents, community college personnel, employers, community leaders, and other recruitment partners.
• Develop strategies to increase applications, admissions, deposits, and enrollment while maintaining appropriate standards for academic quality and student fit.
• Lead recruitment planning and execution for on-campus and off-campus recruitment activities, including college fairs, high school visits, information sessions, admitted student events, yield events, virtual events, and other recruitment programs.
• Ensure prospective students receive timely, personalized, and consistent communication throughout the recruitment and admissions process.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop targeted recruitment messaging, communications, campaigns, publications, digital content, and other materials that support enrollment objectives.
• Develop and strengthen transfer recruitment strategies, articulation partnerships, dual enrollment opportunities, and other pathways that expand access to the University.
• Identify new recruitment markets, partnerships, and student populations that may contribute to enrollment growth.
• Represent the University at local, regional, state, and national recruitment events and professional activities.

Admissions Operations

• Provide leadership for the day-to-day administration of the Admissions operation, ensuring efficient, timely, accurate, and student-centered service.
• Establish and monitor admissions policies, procedures, workflows, timelines, and service standards.
• Ensure consistent application of university admissions policies and procedures across recruitment and admissions activities.
• Oversee the admissions application, review, decision, communication, and enrollment processes to ensure timely and accurate processing.
• Monitor the admissions funnel from inquiry through enrollment and develop strategies to improve conversion at each stage.
• Ensure effective coordination between Admissions and other enrollment-related offices, including Financial Aid, Registrar, Student Accounts, Housing, Orientation, and Student Life.
• Identify operational barriers that may negatively affect prospective student conversion and develop solutions to improve the enrollment process.
• Lead efforts to modernize admissions operations through improved processes, automation, technology, artificial intelligence, and other emerging tools.
• Ensure that admissions practices comply with applicable federal and state laws, University policies, accreditation standards, and other applicable requirements.
• Monitor admissions deadlines, enrollment deposits, application completion, decision processing, and other key operational metrics.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and documentation for Admissions processes.

Data, Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure effective use of the University’s CRM, Slate, enrollment technologies, analytics, dashboards, and reporting tools to support recruitment and admissions objectives.
• Monitor recruitment and admissions performance through enrollment funnel data and other key performance indicators.
• Develop regular reports and presentations regarding admissions activity, enrollment projections, recruitment performance, conversion rates, and progress toward enrollment goals.
• Use data to evaluate recruitment territories, student populations, events, communications, and other recruitment activities.
• Leverage technology and emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, to improve operational efficiency, communication, personalization, and the prospective student experience.
• Establish a continuous improvement process for evaluating admissions policies, procedures, communications, and student service delivery.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce barriers to application, admission, enrollment, and matriculation.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, develop, and evaluate Admissions staff.
• Establish clear performance expectations, goals, and accountability measures for Admissions personnel.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, professional development, and training to strengthen staff knowledge and skills.
• Develop a collaborative team environment that promotes accountability, innovation, professional growth, and high-quality service.
• Monitor staff recruitment activity and performance and provide appropriate guidance and corrective action when necessary.
• Ensure Admissions staff maintain current knowledge of recruitment practices, University policies, admissions requirements, technology, and applicable regulations.
• Establish appropriate delegation of responsibilities and decision-making authority within the Admissions organization.

Student Experience & Cross-Campus Collaboration

• Partner with other University offices to create a seamless prospective student experience.
• Collaborate with academic leadership to understand program capacity, academic offerings, student demand, workforce trends, and opportunities for recruitment growth.
• Promote a high-touch, student-centered admissions experience that responds to the needs of prospective students and their families.
• Identify and address barriers that may prevent prospective students from completing the admissions and enrollment process.
• Support initiatives designed to improve access, affordability, student engagement, and enrollment outcomes.

Community & External Engagement

• Serve as a visible ambassador and senior representative of the University in admissions and recruitment matters.
• Collaborate with schools, districts, community organizations, educational partners, employers, alumni, civic leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the University at recruitment fairs, professional conferences, community events, school visits, public forums, and other external engagements.
• Participate in professional organizations and maintain knowledge of national and regional admissions and enrollment trends and best practices.
• Develop partnerships that expand awareness of the University and create new recruitment and enrollment opportunities.

Other Duties

• Serve on University committees and task forces as assigned.
• Participate in institutional enrollment initiatives and strategic planning activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission, goals, and strategic priorities of the University and the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience.

Preferences

• Master’s degree
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, or a related area, including significant supervisory or leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing comprehensive recruitment and admissions strategies that support institutional enrollment goals.
• Demonstrated experience leading and supervising professional staff and managing complex admissions operations.
• Strong knowledge of undergraduate admissions practices, recruitment strategies, enrollment processes, and student service delivery.
• Demonstrated experience developing recruitment pipelines and partnerships with high schools, community colleges, community organizations, and other external stakeholders.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and allocating resources to support recruitment and admissions priorities.
• Demonstrated success recruiting diverse student populations, including traditional undergraduate, transfer, adult learner, online, veteran, dual enrollment, and/or international students.
• Strong understanding of enrollment funnel management, conversion strategies, student recruitment, and yield management.
• Advanced experience analyzing admissions and enrollment data, performance metrics, market trends, and recruitment outcomes to inform decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience using CRM systems, enrollment technologies, data analytics, dashboards, and other technology to improve recruitment and admissions operations.
• Experience with Slate or a comparable customer relationship management and admissions system.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with university administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, counselors, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Strong presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed to support recruitment and admissions activities.
• Occasional travel, including out-of-state travel.

Physical Demands

• May require extended periods of standing, bending, stooping, sitting at desk.
• May require lifting.
• Requires communication with a variety of constituents externally and internally.
• Requires operation of a variety of office equipment.

Minimum Qualifications Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience

• Ten (10) years of experience in higher education, advising, international student services; or immigration law.
• Five (5) years of experience supervising or managing professional staff.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of international and U.S. higher education; immigration legislation, practice and procedures.
• Knowledge of federal or foreign requirements that impact the international work of the university.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace products.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
• Ability to multitask while demonstrating a commitment to customer service.

Application Requirements

The successful candidate must be able to show acceptable documentation establishing the right to accept employment in the United States of America without employer sponsorship.

Posting Details

Best Consideration Date: N/A

Posting Close Date: N/A

Open Until Filled: Yes

Department: UMES-VPSA-Admissions & Recruitment Worker Sub-Type Staff Regular

Salary Range: $95,000 - $98,000

EEO Statement

UMES is an EEO/AA employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information or political affiliation. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must be able to show acceptable documentation establishing the right to accept employment in the United States of America without employer sponsorship.

Diversity Statement

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is an equal access, equal opportunity institution fully committed to diversity in education and employment. All students, employees, and the campus community at UMES are valued, respected, and have the opportunity to receive an equitable experience in an inclusive, welcoming environment of openness and appreciation.

Title IX Statement

It is the policy of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on sex in the University’s educational programs and activities. Title IX also prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discrimination or harassment.

Welcome to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Employment Website!

The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding faculty and staff to support the student-centered mission of our university. Founded in 1886, the University is a Historically Black, Land Grant University with over 30 degree programs housed on a campus of over 50 buildings on over 1,100 acres. With an atmosphere of collegiality and a commitment to go from Excellence to Eminence, UMES is not only a great place to work, but it is a place to express your passion for educating students, develop your personal career goals, and to make a difference in the community, the state, and the world beyond. Located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the university is a beautiful place to work and call home. Thank you for your interest in employment with our University.

Human Resources

Our Human Resources office is committed to supporting the mission of University of Maryland Eastern Shore by recruiting, developing, and retaining talented employees.

Contact

If you have questions, please call the Office of Human Resources at [phone].