Director of Undergraduate Admission

Maryland Institute College of Art•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

The Director of Undergraduate Admission leads MICA’s undergraduate recruitment, application and portfolio review, and strategic enrollment efforts. Reporting to the Vice President, Enrollment Management, the Director supervises undergraduate admissions staff, develops data-informed recruitment plans, oversees on- and off-campus recruitment events, and analyzes enrollment funnels. The role requires knowledge of market and demographic trends, transfer admissions, enrollment analytics, and CRM systems to track performance and project enrollment. The Director collaborates across campus—including with Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Marketing, and Student Engagement—and represents MICA to internal and external audiences. The Director also works with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Financial Aid on financial aid and merit-based scholarship strategies, and oversees Slate CRM customizations and workflows to improve the recruitment process. The Director develops and implements recruitment and enrollment strategies aligned with institutional goals; oversees admissions operations and equitable application and portfolio review processes; supervises staff and manages departmental resources; plans and assesses recruitment activities; builds relationships with schools, community organizations, and external partners; monitors KPIs and produces projections and reports; manages the admissions budget; and supports compliance, data confidentiality, and institutional planning. The role may involve travel and occasional evening or weekend work to support recruitment activities. Employment is subject to a satisfactory background check.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, business administration, or a related field.
Eight years of experience in admissions or enrollment management, including five years at the management level supervising staff.
Demonstrated experience using enrollment data, analytics, and CRM systems to develop recruitment strategies, monitor performance, and project enrollment outcomes.
Experience managing admissions operations, recruitment events, and application review processes.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
Knowledge of undergraduate admissions operations, strategic enrollment management, recruitment practices, portfolio review, and transfer admissions.
Knowledge of higher education enrollment trends, student demographics, recruitment strategies, and factors influencing enrollment decisions.
Knowledge of enrollment analytics, forecasting, performance metrics, and data-informed decision-making.
Proficiency in CRM systems and using technology to manage recruitment workflows, communications, and reporting.
Strong leadership, supervisory, coaching, and staff development skills.
Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to develop strategic recruitment plans and translate enrollment data into actionable recommendations.
Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and engage with diverse internal and external constituencies.
Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and adapt to changing enrollment needs.
Satisfactory background check.
Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends to support recruitment activities, as required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education administration, enrollment management, student affairs, or a related field.
Experience with Slate CRM, including workflow development, system customization, automated communications, and reporting.
Experience developing and implementing financial aid and merit-based scholarship strategies in collaboration with Financial Aid.
Experience with transfer student recruitment and enrollment strategies.
Experience in an art and design college or a similarly specialized higher education environment.
Experience using enrollment analytics and forecasting tools to inform strategic planning and institutional decision-making.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement data-informed undergraduate recruitment and enrollment strategies aligned with institutional goals.
Monitor market conditions, demographic trends, and enrollment performance to identify opportunities to improve recruitment, yield, and matriculation.
Develop annual recruitment plans addressing student demographics, market trends, geographic markets, recruitment channels, and enrollment objectives.
Oversee undergraduate admissions operations, including application processing, portfolio review, admission decisions, and transfer admissions.
Establish efficient, consistent, and equitable admissions processes that support institutional standards and a positive applicant experience.
Oversee application and portfolio review processes that reflect MICA’s academic programs, educational philosophy, and admissions standards.
Supervise, develop, and evaluate admissions staff; set performance expectations; and manage resources, workloads, and professional development.
Direct the planning, execution, and assessment of on- and off-campus recruitment activities, including open houses, college fairs, portfolio days, and school visits.
Represent MICA to prospective students, families, counselors, external partners, and other constituent audiences.
Expand recruitment outreach, strengthen institutional visibility, and build relationships with schools, community partners, and other organizations.
Monitor enrollment funnel metrics and KPIs, analyze recruitment effectiveness, and develop enrollment projections and reports.
Oversee strategic use and continuous improvement of Slate CRM, including customizations, workflows, automated communications, and reporting tools.
Partner with Communications and Marketing on messaging, web content, communication campaigns, and routine letters.
Partner with Information Technology, Enrollment Services, Marketing, and other campus stakeholders to improve process efficiency and data integration.
Collaborate with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Financial Aid on financial aid and merit-based scholarship strategies.
Develop, manage, and monitor the undergraduate admissions budget; assess expenditures and recommend adjustments.
Coordinate recruitment and enrollment initiatives with Financial Aid, Enrollment Services, Marketing, Student Engagement, and academic departments.
Ensure admissions practices comply with institutional policies and applicable laws and regulations, including confidentiality and responsible data management.
Maintain relationships with external partners, including Baltimore community-based organizations, NPDA, AICAD, and professional admissions organizations.
Represent undergraduate admissions on institutional committees, planning meetings, and strategic initiatives as assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned.