Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions

University of St Thomas•St. Paul, MN

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions is a key leader in the University of St. Thomas’s centralized graduate enrollment operation. Working closely with the Director of Graduate Admissions, the Assistant Director translates institutional enrollment strategy into recruitment plans and execution for an assigned portfolio of colleges and graduate programs. The role leads and develops recruitment staff, manages funnel performance, and supports achievement of enrollment goals. The Assistant Director also personally manages an assigned recruitment funnel and is responsible for prospective student engagement and enrollment outcomes. The position uses enrollment data and market insights to identify opportunities and emerging risks, and collaborates with academic leaders, Marketing, Strategic Partnerships, OISS, and other University partners to support sustainable graduate enrollment growth. The successful candidate will demonstrate commitment to the University’s mission and its ideals of dignity, diversity, personal attention, inclusion, and equal opportunity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
At least five years of experience in recruiting, admissions, or sales.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Prior supervisory experience.
Experience in a graduate admissions environment.

Responsibilities

Lead recruitment strategy, funnel performance, and enrollment outcomes for an assigned portfolio of graduate programs.
Personally manage an assigned recruitment funnel, including prospective student engagement, recruitment activity, conversion, and enrollment outcomes from inquiry through enrollment.
Partner with Marketing to develop campaigns, communications, events, and recruitment materials that support enrollment goals.
Identify and test recruitment channels, events, and outreach strategies, and stay current on industry trends and competitor activity.
Represent the University at recruitment events, fairs, presentations, and other outreach opportunities as appropriate.
Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships to incorporate corporate and employer-based enrollment opportunities into portfolio recruitment strategies and support partnership-generated pipelines.
Partner with the Director of Graduate Admissions to turn institutional enrollment strategy into recruitment plans, priorities, and execution for assigned colleges and programs.
Lead the day-to-day work and performance of Graduate Admissions staff assigned to the portfolio.
Collaborate with academic leaders, faculty, Marketing, OISS, athletics, and other University stakeholders to align recruitment efforts with program needs and enrollment priorities.
Build partnerships with college and program student support teams to coordinate yield strategies, clarify ownership across the prospective-to-enrolled student journey, and support effective handoffs.
Serve as a trusted advisor and decision-maker, exercise independent judgment, manage escalated student and recruitment situations, and lead special projects.
Lead implementation of recruitment processes, technologies, policies, program launches, and organizational changes for the assigned portfolio.
Directly supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Graduate Admissions direct reports.
Set and monitor individual recruitment goals and performance expectations aligned with portfolio and institutional targets.
Monitor staff portfolios, pipelines, activity, conversion, and outcomes; provide coaching and intervention as needed.
Manage staff portfolios, workloads, and recruitment priorities to align team capacity with enrollment needs and opportunities.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, service-oriented team culture and support professional development.
Monitor enrollment funnels across assigned programs, colleges, populations, and entry terms to identify risks and opportunities.
Establish and monitor recruitment benchmarks, conversion rates, activity measures, and enrollment progress against goals.
Use Salesforce and other enrollment systems to analyze student behavior, recruiter performance, and pipeline health.
Lead tactical interventions when programs or populations are underperforming.
Provide regular enrollment analysis and recommendations to the Director and other University leaders.