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:
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, as a University System of Maryland institution and a Maryland State agency, provides a comprehensive benefits package to all regular faculty and staff. The Office of Employee Benefits provides consultative services and assistance with benefits planning, enrollment, and changes. Eligible employees may participate in a variety of benefit plans including:
• 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, skills, and effectiveness.
• 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.
• Partner with campus stakeholders to ensure that recruitment messaging
accurately reflects the University’s academic programs, student experience,
campus resources, and value proposition.
• 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.
• Cultivate relationships with schools, school 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.
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.
Additional Job Details
Required Application Materials: Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of names of three current professional references (current or past supervisor) including e-mail address, and telephone number (current supervisor will not be contacted without the candidate’s prior consent). All applicants must apply using the new online application system. Please visit https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UMES 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.
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 discriminations or harassment.