Deputy Director of Evaluation

Rice University•Houston, TX

1d•$82,000 - $88,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Executive Director of Admission, the Deputy Director of Admission will be a key leader in the admissions office, with oversight of application evaluation. The Deputy Director will manage the application review process, including overseeing staff review training and development, developing and executing review plans for each application round, and monitoring the overall application process with the goal of enrolling a highly talented incoming class. The Deputy Director will also work closely with admissions systems and operations, financial aid, and other campus partners on projects relevant to the evaluation of undergraduate students. The Deputy Director will have highly developed skills in process and project management, team management and oversight, strategic planning, budget management, measurement, accountability, admissions practices and policies, and constituent communications. The Deputy Director will be a seasoned admissions professional with a deep understanding of the college admissions field, including holistic application evaluation (preferably committee-based evaluation), targeted recruitment strategies, educational trends in secondary and postsecondary education, and admissions policies and theories in a highly selective admissions environment. The Deputy Director will serve as a thought partner and leader within the enrollment division and supervise a team of admissions officers to support their professional development, including aligning projects, initiatives, and processes with the goals of the division and priorities of the university. The Deputy Director will engage with constituents within the Rice community and key partners external to Rice. This individual will be expected to represent Rice at professional conferences as a thought leader, sharing best practices within the field. They will manage a specific recruitment territory and engage in all aspects of recruitment, evaluation, selection, yield, measurement, and planning to ensure the development of a geographic pipeline to Rice.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
4+ years of experience in admissions
Valid driver’s license
Strength in admissions evaluation and training staff to use individualized, professional judgment when evaluating candidates
Strong analytical skills and familiarity with enrollment reporting
Familiarity with the multiple work areas of a modern admissions office, including CRM systems; reporting and analytics; recruitment; evaluation and selection; marketing, including social media; access and inclusion; on-campus programming; staff training; budget management; and staff development
Strong process and project management skills required; proven ability to develop these skills in staff members so they can manage work areas independently with appropriate levels of management input
Experience developing and implementing innovative solutions and processes to respond to the ever-changing field of admissions and the information consumption habits of the undergraduate prospective student market
Demonstrated ability to use admissions and enrollment data to make data-driven decisions, measure and assess progress toward strategic goals, present data, and revise practices as needed
Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and develop partnerships with key internal and external constituents and stakeholders
Strong staff management skills
Ability to delegate projects and processes with an appropriate level of oversight
High level of proficiency in Google and MS Office suites; excellent verbal and written communication, presentation, and customer service skills
Ability to exercise independent judgment

Nice To Haves

6+ years of experience in admissions
Master’s degree or equivalent
Experience with committee-based evaluation is highly desired
Knowledge of Rice University and/or experience in a higher education environment is desired
Familiarity with the evaluation and selection process in a selective admissions environment
Demonstrated ability to lead staff through change management
Proficiency with Slate by Technolutions
Demonstrated leadership, communication, marketing, planning, and public speaking skills highly desired

Responsibilities

Manages the review and evaluation process of a freshman applicant pool of over 35,000 for an incoming freshman class of 1,250–1,350 annually
Coordinates initial and ongoing training for admissions staff who review and evaluate applications using a committee-based evaluation process
Works closely with the Deputy Director of Access & Institutional Excellence to manage QuestBridge evaluation and application-based fly-in visit programming
Supervises, manages, and develops a team of highly skilled admissions professionals, including the development of process and project management skills, year-over-year planning, budget management, measurement and accountability, and admissions practices and policies
Manages a recruitment and travel territory, conducts information sessions, and builds relationships with students, families, school counselors, and community-based organizations
Serves as a thought leader within the division and in the field on best practices for college admissions, recruitment, selection, accountability, and measurement
Manages a budget and seeks to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the use of staff and financial resources
Ensures compliance with federal and state laws concerning college admissions and FERPA