Associate Director, International Admissions

Rhode Island School of Design•Providence, RI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, International Admissions provides strategic and operational leadership for RISD’s international recruitment and admission efforts. In collaboration with the Director, Admissions, and VP, Enrollment Management, the Associate Director develops and executes a data-informed, multiyear strategy to attract, evaluate, and enroll talented artists and designers from diverse countries, educational systems, and lived experiences. As RISD’s primary admissions leader for international recruitment, the Associate Director manages priority markets and partnerships, leads international application review, analyzes enrollment data, and represents RISD worldwide. The position is a member of the Admissions leadership team and serves as a Designated School Official (DSO), overseeing admissions-related I-20 responsibilities in coordination with the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO), International Student & Scholar Affairs (ISSA), and other campus partners. The role ensures that international recruitment and enrollment practices are culturally responsive, federally compliant, and aligned with RISD’s enrollment goals and global mission.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in admissions, enrollment management, international education, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the minimum educational requirement.
Valid passport and driver’s license, and ability to meet institutional travel requirements.
Meet federal DSO eligibility requirements, including U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency and regular employment as a member of the school administration whose office is located at the school. Appointment is contingent upon formal RISD nomination and authorization through the applicable SEVP process.
Demonstrated experience implementing international recruitment strategy and evaluating applications from multiple educational systems.
Strong analytical skills and experience using CRM, reporting, and data-visualization tools.
Ability to lead complex projects, develop partnerships, and work effectively across organizational areas.
Excellent written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills across cultural and professional contexts.
Commitment to equitable, holistic admission practices and a globally diverse creative community.
Ability to develop and maintain expertise in SEVP regulations, SEVIS reporting, institutional certification, and F-1 student requirements.
Commitment to supporting an inclusive work environment and ability to work respectfully and effectively across differences in background, role, and perspective.

Nice To Haves

Experience in admissions at an art, design, architecture, or portfolio-based institution, with knowledge of visual arts curricula, portfolio preparation, and the needs of emerging artists and designers.
Experience managing budgets, international recruitment partners, or alumni ambassador and volunteer recruitment programs.
Prior service as a DSO at an SEVP-certified institution.
Familiarity with Slate or a comparable admissions CRM, international credential resources, and data-reporting platforms.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and annually assess a multiyear international recruitment plan aligned with institutional enrollment goals, academic priorities, and available resources.
Identify priority, growth, and emerging markets using enrollment trends, student quality, geographic diversity, affordability, mobility, risk, and institutional fit.
Plan and conduct international recruitment activities, including travel, school visits, portfolio programs, fairs, counselor engagement, family information sessions, and virtual programming.
Develop market-specific outreach and yield strategies with Admissions Communications, Student Financial Services, and other campus partners.
Monitor geopolitical, economic, policy, and mobility developments; advise enrollment leadership on their potential impact; and manage assigned budgets and recruitment investments based on outcomes and return on investment.
Lead or coordinate review of assigned international first-year and transfer applications, including academic records, school context, English-language proficiency documentation, and portfolio materials; provide guidance for international graduate application review as appropriate.
Develop guidance for evaluating international credentials and educational systems; train admissions readers in equitable, culturally responsive practices; and support quality assurance, committee preparation, and consistent policy application.
Identify barriers affecting international applicants and recommend improvements to policies, communications, forms, and workflows. Maintain knowledge of ethical recruitment standards and regulatory developments, referring immigration matters beyond the position’s authority to ISSA.
Build and maintain relationships with international schools, art and design programs, counselors, EducationUSA centers, community organizations, alumni, and other mission-aligned networks.
Evaluate prospective partnerships based on access, mission alignment, student preparation, geographic priorities, scalability, and anticipated outcomes.
Develop and manage an International Alumni Recruitment Network with Alumni Relations, including ambassador selection, training, communications, event participation, and program assessment.
Provide alumni with approved messaging, ethical recruitment and referral guidance, and clear boundaries regarding admissions decisions and immigration advice.
Represent RISD at international events, conferences, counselor programs, and portfolio-development activities; create year-round opportunities for counselors and educators to learn about RISD’s curriculum, community, admissions process, and portfolio expectations.
Track and analyze international inquiries, applicants, admits, deposits, and enrolled students by market, school, and recruitment activity, including conversion, yield, melt, market concentration, enrollment quality, event effectiveness, and return on investment.
Produce regular market briefs and an annual assessment of recruitment activities, partnerships, and outcomes; partner with enrollment leadership on forecasts, enrollment targets, and future investment recommendations.
Review domestic and international applications and portfolios, participate in the admissions committee, and support office-wide recruitment, yield, and enrollment priorities through tours, information sessions, portfolio programs, and advising.
Maintain a regular presence in the Providence-based Admissions office and contribute to staff training, visitor experience, and cross-functional enrollment initiatives.
Serve as a DSO and oversee assigned SEVIS, reporting, record-maintenance, incoming-student support, and admissions-related I-20 responsibilities in coordination with the PDSO, ISSA, Registrar, and other responsible offices.
Complete required DSO training and refer matters outside the position’s authority to the appropriate campus resource.
Serve on the Admissions leadership team and contribute to office-wide strategy, planning, and policy development.
Lead cross-functional projects related to international recruitment, application review, yield, and student transition.
Support professional staff, seasonal readers, student employees, or project teams as assigned, while modeling ethical, inclusive, student-centered, and culturally responsive professional practice.
Perform all other duties as assigned.