Assistant Vice President and Executive Director, Admissions

Kent State • Kent, OH

9d • $125,000 - $135,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for the leadership, oversight, and management of the Office of Admissions and all of its functions. Partners closely with deans, faculty, and staff to determine and enact policies and strategies that will realize the university's ambitious enrollment goals. Serves as a representative for the university's mission by presenting an attractive vision to potential students; enhancing the admissions process for those candidates; and helping to assure a rewarding experience for students who enroll. Works closely with the campus community and the regional campuses to build effective relationships and communicate about and garner support for the goals of the Office of Admissions.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Seven years' experience in the management of admissions operations within higher education.
• Enrollment Management and student recruitment strategies
• Strategic planning
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
• Written, verbal, and interpersonal communication
• Negotiating and co laborating across campus departments including financial aid, academic units, marketing, athletics, and university leadership to align enro lment goals with institutional priorities
• Recruiting, training, and retaining a multi-tiered staff (from entry-level recruiters to directors), preventing burnout during peak seasons, and cultivating an inclusive team culture
• Restructuring teams, streamlining high-volume processing systems (CRMs, application reviews), and guiding staff through policy or technological transitions without disrupting operations
• Read team dynamics, manage staff anxiety during high-stress cycles, and pivot strategies smoothly when external forces (such as demographic shifts, legislative changes, or economic dips) alter application projections
• See both the macro picture (institutional brand, enro lment goals) and micro dependencies (CRM workflow bottlenecks, transcript processing latency) to understand how a friction point in one area impacts the entire funnel
• Analyze demographic shifts, yield rates, regional trends, and financial aid distribution to shape enro lment strategy, forecast class composition, and optimize recruitment resources

Nice To Haves

• None.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in the planning, development, and administration of the Admissions department in a manner consistent with the mission of Kent State University.
• In collaboration with the Vice President for Enrollment Management, deans, faculty, and staff, develop, implement, and promote a yearly admissions plan that will achieve university enrollment goals.
• Further a data-informed culture to shape strategic directions and make appropriate adjustments to an integrated admissions plan; regularly assess accuracy and effectiveness of recruitment activities and make appropriate adjustments so as to lead an effort that is proactive, strategic, and responsive to the changing needs of students.
• Coordinate the design and implementation of recruitment materials to prospective undergraduate and graduate students, expanding the university's ability to attract, select and enroll an increasingly talented and diverse student body.
• Provide regular reports, data analyses, and evaluation tools to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the colleges, the division, and other designated persons/units.
• Work collaboratively and strategically with other units within the Division of Enrollment Management, particularly with the Office of Student Financial Aid; enhance working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Administer academic policy and university regulations that govern the process of recruitment and enrollment of students.
• Lead a transparent and forward-looking budgeting process that projects clear outcomes for expenditures and evaluates achievements in the context of an environment in which strategic use of resources is important.
• Stay current with issues and policies pertaining to the achievement of a diverse student body and play a leadership role in assisting the university in reaching its goals.
• Provide supervision of unclassified and classified staff; oversee personnel administration and professional development.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive