Senior Associate Director of Admissions

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 74,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Tuition benefits (Regents)

Retirement plans with employer match

Diversity & inclusion initiatives

Job summary

The Senior Associate Director of Admissions - Carlson Graduate Programs will partner with the Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment to oversee admissions, scholarships, and yield for Carlson Graduate Business Programs. This role directs the admissions team and provides strategic guidance to attract high-quality MBA and MS candidates.

You will supervise Associate Directors of Admissions, manage the scholarship budget, and lead yield initiatives across programs.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least six years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree plus at least four years of relevant experience.
• Supervisory experience leading admissions staff and cross-functional teams.
• Experience in graduate admissions and yield management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee admissions review and decision processes for MBA/MS programs.
• Develop and monitor scholarship budgets and award strategies.
• Lead yield initiatives to maximize admitted-to-enrolled conversions.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and university committees.
• Represent Carlson in external conferences and internal governance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Enrollment management

Staff supervision

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decisions

Education

BA/BS degree + 6+ years experience

Master’s degree + 4+ years experience

Job description

About the Job

The Senior Associate Director of Admissions - Carlson GraduatePrograms will partner with the Senior Director of Admissions andRecruitment to develop and manage admissions, scholarships, andyield efforts for Carlson Graduate Business Programs . Thisposition supervises the Associate Directors of Admissions andprovides critical, strategic guidance to the admissions team indeveloping and implementing the strategic plan to attract highquality candidates to attend the Carlson School ofManagement. This position has ownership over managing the scholarship budgetand award strategy and oversees yield activities and initiatives tomaximize conversion from admitted to enrolled students acrossprograms. The Senior Associate Director is a key member of theadmissions committee, managing the questionable file review processthat requires collaboration across several units at the CarlsonSchool of Management. This position also conducts admissionsinterviews, serves as a high-level advisor to admitted candidatesto MBA & MS programs, including those denied to the program,and conducts outreach with admitted students via phone, text, andemail campaigns. The position represents the program on variousschool-wide committees, internal and external affinity groups, aswell as actively participates in national conferences. The positionreports to the Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment and isthe primary back-up for the Senior Director of Admissions andRecruitment for admissions strategy and decisions.

Admissions, Yield & Operations (35%)

• Lead and manage the questionable application review processthrough making key decisions on applications requiring additionalreview and setting a timeline for decision notification. Ownershipof the questionable file review process requires collaboration andcommunication with critical stakeholders across Carlson units,strong communication and relationship management skills, and deepknowledge of enrollment and application data across programs andpopulations.
• Develop and maintain the admissions review process ensuringregulatory and University policy compliance. Assess and implementnecessary updates to meet changing trends and needs in GMEadmissions and to ensure an inclusive and equitable admissionsprocess for all candidates.
• Read applications across primary review, secondary review,admit and deny verification. This will be for all graduate programsand certificates offered at the Carlson School of Management.
• Lead admissions process improvement and work with theOperations team to develop and execute initiatives that deliver abetter prospective student experience with higher yield conversionsacross all MBA and MS programs.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, develop enrollmentand yield goals by program, and oversee yield initiatives andactivities across graduate programs and certificates.
• Conduct research and benchmarking of competitorUniversities/programs for continuous improvement.
• Create and analyze reports, analyze findings to report results,and identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborates with fellow admissions team members and the SeniorDirector to support key admissions initiatives and to contribute tothe strategic goals of the admissions team.
• Identify strategic objectives for admissions event managementand measuring activity effectiveness, as well as special projectsand timeliness in application reads.
• Ownership of admissions and deny verification authority for MBAprograms.

Management & Leadership (35%)

• Supervise the Associate Directors of Admission(s) including theannual review process. Identify meaningful professional developmentopportunities for direct reports and provide consistent feedbackand coaching on performance.
• Oversee yield initiatives and activities as implemented by theAssociate Director(s) to ensure activity effectiveness. Collectdata on yield initiatives and recommend strategic adjustments asneeded to achieve programmatic goals.
• Serve as primary back-up to the Senior Director of Admissionsand Recruitment for admissions strategy and decisions.
• Oversee the appropriate and effective use of the yearly budgetand partner with the Director of Admissions to define and set the next fiscal year budget.
• Represent Carlson and maintain memberships at variousuniversity and professional associations. Participate inschool-wide activities & committees as appropriate.
• Participate and actively contribute at all levels of departmentstaff meetings
• Participate in department projects/events as they arise andsupport as needed.

Scholarship Strategy & Management (20%)

• Lead Scholarship award strategy for Carlson MBA programs.Oversee and manage the MBA scholarship budget, ensuring responsiblestewardship of funds and an equitable award process.
• Provide recommendations, develop r ubrics, and provide guidanceand support for MS program scholarship strategy and awarddecisions.
• Develop and deliver strategic recommendations to refine andimprove scholarship strategy to Senior Director of Admissions andRecruitment and Assistant Dean.

Recruiting (10%)

• Participation in MBA and MS recruiting events (including butnot limited to information sessions, visit days, coffee chats,tabling across campus, etc.) and recruitment fairs: virtual orin-person across the US or international.
• 1:1 appointments with prospective students: virtual orin-person
• Follow-up to prospective student questions via email, text,phone call, or Zoom

** The employer reserves the right to change or assign otherduties to this position **

This is a hybrid position - some days will be in office and somedays will be remote.

The department does not provide sponsorship for this position -applicants MUST be able to work in the U.S. unrestricted.

Qualifications

*MINIMUM / ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS degree plus at least six years of relevant experience, ora master’s degree plus at least four years of relevantexperience

*PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Supervisory experience
• Experience in higher education
• Prior higher education experience
• Prior admissions experience
• Experience collaborating across multiple teams
• Experience managing yield
• Experience managing scholarship strategy and awards
• Budget management
• Experience with graduate scholarship awarding (especiallyMBA/business)
• Experience with graduate student yield (especiallyMBA/business)

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $74,000 to $80,000 ; depending oneducation/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for moreinformation regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package thatincludes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional trainingand degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counselingat no cost
• Employee TransitPass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metroarea

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of ourcommitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware thatthe salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on theirindividual credentials and experience.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience. The University iscommitted to attracting and retaining employees with varyingidentities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to andopportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment withoutregard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender,age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successfulcompletion of a background check. Our presumption is thatprospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists fromemployment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers,international corporations, government agencies, and arts,nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized byForbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employerfor Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State(2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence &Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-lifeflexibility.