Director of Admission Events, Student Experience and Visit Operations

Illinois Institute of Technology•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Admission Events, Student Experience, and Visit Operations provides strategic leadership for Illinois Tech’s prospective and admitted student engagement programs, including undergraduate and graduate admission events, student engagement programs, campus visits, and Visitors Center operations. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Director establishes priorities, experience standards, resource allocation, and measures of success across these areas. The Director leads a team responsible for delivering coordinated, high-quality experiences for prospective and admitted students and their families. The position works closely with enrollment leadership, admission and recruitment teams, academic units, Enrollment Marketing, faculty, and other campus partners to support student engagement, conversion, yield, and institutional connection. This is a full-time, exempt, fully on-site position at Illinois Tech in Chicago. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening and weekend work is required for scheduled major admission events, student programs, and other recruitment and engagement initiatives. These needs are generally planned in advance, with advance notice whenever practicable. Occasional travel within the Chicagoland area, elsewhere in Illinois, or other domestic locations may be required. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of employment. The Director directly supervises the Associate Director of Student Experience and Events, Assistant Director of Student Experience and Events, Visitors Center Operations Coordinator, and other positions as assigned. Through these roles, the Director oversees admission events, student engagement programs, campus visits, Visitors Center operations, and associated student employees. The role requires moving throughout campus and standing or walking for extended periods during events, and occasionally lifting, carrying, and moving event materials, supplies, signage, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made consistent with applicable law.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in higher education, business administration, communications, marketing, hospitality, event management, student affairs, or a related field.
Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, admissions, enrollment management, event leadership, student engagement, visitor experience, or a related area.
Three or more years of supervisory, team leadership, or significant organizational leadership experience.
An equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.
Demonstrated leadership and people management skills, including setting priorities, developing staff, delegating effectively, and maintaining accountability for results.
Ability to translate enrollment priorities into coordinated strategies, programs, and service standards across multiple student-facing functions.
Strong judgment, analytical ability, and decision-making skills, including demonstrated use of data and assessment to evaluate performance and guide improvements.
Executive-level communication and relationship management skills and ability to collaborate with university leadership, faculty, staff, students, vendors, and campus partners.
Ability to lead complex, highly visible initiatives, manage competing priorities, and maintain service, operational effectiveness, and institutional standards.
Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate needs, address challenges, and drive continuous improvement.
Ability to effectively use standard office technology and equipment in a primarily in-person campus environment.
Ability to move throughout campus and stand or walk for extended periods during events.
Ability to occasionally lift, carry, and move event materials, supplies, signage, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
Legal authorization to work in the United States, both presently and for the duration of employment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education, business administration, communications, marketing, hospitality, event management, student affairs, or a related field.
Experience supporting prospective or admitted student engagement in a higher education environment.
Experience with Slate or comparable CRM, event management, scheduling, or reporting systems.
Experience with Square POS.

Responsibilities

Lead strategy and priorities for admission events, student engagement programs, campus visits, and Visitors Center operations in alignment with enrollment goals.
Supervise and develop the Associate Director, Assistant Director, Visitors Center Operations Coordinator, and other assigned staff; establish clear responsibilities, expectations, and accountability.
Oversee staffing, student employee programs, and operational coverage for major events, high-volume visit periods, and engagement programs.
Evaluate program needs, resources, and opportunities for improvement, and serve as the escalation point for complex operational issues.
Build and maintain partnerships with academic units, Enrollment Marketing, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Facilities, Public Safety, Dining, Event Services, and other campus partners.
Coordinate campus participation in admission events, visits, recruitment programs, and yield initiatives.
Partner with enrollment and recruitment leadership to ensure programs and experiences support undergraduate and graduate enrollment goals.
Promote consistent service standards, messaging, and institutional representation across student and family experiences.
Establish measures of success and monitor participation, attendance, satisfaction, conversion, yield, and other relevant program data.
Partner with Enrollment Operations and colleagues to support reporting and assessment using Slate and other systems.
Use program results and year-over-year trends to improve staffing, communication, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Present findings and recommendations to enrollment leadership and campus partners as appropriate.
Translate enrollment priorities into coordinated strategies, programs, and service standards across multiple student-facing functions.
Lead complex, highly visible initiatives, manage competing priorities, and maintain consistent service, operational effectiveness, and institutional standards.
Anticipate needs, address challenges, and drive continuous improvement.

Benefits

Medical coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Life insurance
Long-term disability insurance
403(b) retirement plan with university contributions and matching for eligible employees
Tuition assistance programs
Flexible spending benefits
Commuter benefits
Employee assistance program
University holidays
Applicable paid and job-protected leave benefits