Senior Associate Director of Admissions

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

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Tuition benefits

Flexible spending accounts

Retirement plans

Job summary

The University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management is seeking a Senior Associate Director of Admissions to lead MBA/MS admissions, scholarship strategy, and yield initiatives in a hybrid, US-based role.

You will supervise Associate Directors, manage the scholarship budget, conduct admissions interviews, and collaborate across departments to attract high-quality candidates while upholding regulatory and university policies.

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

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the questionable application review process with key decisionmaking, coordinating across Carlson units.
• Ensure regulatory and University policy compliance in admissions reviews.
• Read applications across primary, secondary, admit and deny stages for all graduate programs.
• Develop and oversee yield initiatives and set program-wide enrollment goals.
• Manage the MBA/MS scholarship budget and award strategy.
• Lead recruiting events, 1:1 appointments, and prospective student follow-ups.
• Supervise Associate Directors and conduct annual performance reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Enrollment management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree + 6 years experience; or Master's +4 years

Job description

About the Job

Location: Twin Cities

Full-Time

The Senior Associate Director of Admissions - Carlson Graduate Programs will partner with the Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment to develop and manage admissions, scholarships, and yield efforts for Carlson Graduate Business Programs. This position supervises the Associate Directors of Admissions and provides critical, strategic guidance to the admissions team in developing and implementing the strategic plan to attract high quality candidates to attend the Carlson School of Management.

This position has ownership over managing the scholarship budget and award strategy and oversees yield activities and initiatives to maximize conversion from admitted to enrolled students across programs. The Senior Associate Director is a key member of the admissions committee, managing the questionable file review process that requires collaboration across several units at the Carlson School of Management. This position also conducts admissions interviews, serves as a high-level advisor to admitted candidates to MBA & MS programs, including those denied to the program, and conducts outreach with admitted students via phone, text, and email campaigns. The position represents the program on various school-wide committees, internal and external affinity groups, as well as actively participates in national conferences. The position reports to the Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment and is the primary back-up for the Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment for admissions strategy and decisions.

Admissions, Yield & Operations (35%)

• Lead and manage the questionable application review process through making key decisions on applications requiring additional review and setting a timeline for decision notification. Ownership of the questionable file review process requires collaboration and communication with critical stakeholders across Carlson units, strong communication and relationship management skills, and deep knowledge of enrollment and application data across programs and populations.
• Develop and maintain the admissions review process ensuring regulatory and University policy compliance. Assess and implement necessary updates to meet changing trends and needs in GME admissions and to ensure an inclusive and equitable admissions process for all candidates.
• Read applications across primary review, secondary review, admit and deny verification. This will be for all graduate programs and certificates offered at the Carlson School of Management.
• Lead admissions process improvement and work with the Operations team to develop and execute initiatives that deliver a better prospective student experience with higher yield conversions across all MBA and MS programs.
• In collaboration with the Senior Director, develop enrollment and yield goals by program, and oversee yield initiatives and activities across graduate programs and certificates.
• Conduct research and benchmarking of competitor Universities/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 Senior Director to support key admissions initiatives and to contribute to the strategic goals of the admissions team.
• Identify strategic objectives for admissions event management and measuring activity effectiveness, as well as special projects and timeliness in application reads.
• Ownership of admissions and deny verification authority for MBA programs.

Management & Leadership (35%)

• Supervise the Associate Directors of Admission(s) including the annual review process. Identify meaningful professional development opportunities for direct reports and provide consistent feedback and coaching on performance.
• Oversee yield initiatives and activities as implemented by the Associate Director(s) to ensure activity effectiveness. Collect data on yield initiatives and recommend strategic adjustments as needed to achieve programmatic goals.
• Serve as primary back-up to the Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment for admissions strategy and decisions.
• Oversee the appropriate and effective use of the yearly budget and partner with the Director of Admissions to define and set the next fiscal year budget.
• Represent Carlson and maintain memberships at various university and professional associations. Participate in school-wide activities & committees as appropriate.
• Participate and actively contribute at all levels of department staff meetings
• Participate in department projects/events as they arise and support as needed.

Scholarship Strategy & Management (20%)

• Lead Scholarship award strategy for Carlson MBA programs. Oversee and manage the MBA scholarship budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of funds and an equitable award process.
• Provide recommendations, develop rubrics, and provide guidance and support for MS program scholarship strategy and award decisions.
• Develop and deliver strategic recommendations to refine and improve scholarship strategy to Senior Director of Admissions and Recruitment and Assistant Dean.

Recruiting (10%)

• Participation in MBA and MS recruiting events (including but not limited to information sessions, visit days, coffee chats, tabling across campus, etc.) and recruitment fairs: virtual or in-person across the US or international.
• 1:1 appointments with prospective students: virtual or in-person
• Follow-up to prospective student questions via email, text, phone call, or Zoom

The employer reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position

This is a hybrid position - some days will be in office and some days 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, or a master's degree plus at least four years of relevant experience

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 (especially MBA/business)
• Experience with graduate student yield (especially MBA/business)

Pay and Benefits

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

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

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

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and 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 counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

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 our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, 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 successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive 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 by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for 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-life flexibility.