Executive Director, Admissions

Academy of Art University•Bentonville, AR

28d•$115,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

Academy of Art University is seeking an Executive Director of Admissions to join our outstanding Admissions Team. The Executive Director provides direct leadership and oversight for the day-to-day management, performance, and accountability of the admissions organization. This role is responsible for leading admissions directors and managers, driving frontline execution, and ensuring the admissions team consistently delivers strong enrollment results and a high-quality, student-centered experience. The Executive Director partners closely with the Executive Vice President of Admissions to execute enrollment strategies, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the admissions organization. This position requires an experienced and results-oriented leader who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment, leading through change, developing high-performing teams, and balancing performance expectations with a positive and team-driven culture.

Requirements

Experience managing, leading, mentioning a large diverse team which includes guiding, supporting and evaluating employees to achieve the goals of the Admissions team.
7+ years of progressive experience in admissions, enrollment management, higher education leadership, or related field
Demonstrated experience leading high-performing admissions, enrollment, or student-facing teams
Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management experience
Experience managing multiple teams and leaders in a fast-paced environment
Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
Ability to lead through change and support organizational growth initiatives
Experience working within CRM and enrollment management systems preferred
Excellent time management and organizational skills
Ability to multi-task while also working in a fast-paced environment
Ability to collect, analyze, and use performance metrics to ensure work goals of a large team
A Bachelor’s degree - is preferred

Responsibilities

Provide direct day-to-day leadership and oversight of admissions directors and managers
Establish and communicate clear expectations related to performance, accountability, professionalism, and student experience
Build and maintain a collaborative, results-oriented culture focused on both performance and team development
Evaluate leadership effectiveness and make recommendations regarding staffing, organizational structure, and talent development
Drive succession planning and leadership development across the admissions organization
Hold admissions directors and managers accountable for achieving enrollment goals, conversion targets, productivity expectations, and service standards
Monitor admissions performance and take proactive action to address performance gaps and execution issues
Conduct regular coaching, performance reviews, and development discussions with direct reports
Lead performance improvement efforts across the admissions funnel to increase conversion and operational effectiveness
Ensure admissions leaders consistently apply consultative enrollment practices and maintain high standards of student engagement
Oversee day-to-day admissions execution to ensure alignment between strategy and frontline activity
Direct leaders in resolving operational challenges, staffing issues, and escalated concerns
Ensure consistency in outreach efforts, follow-up cadence, responsiveness, and pipeline management
Maintain organizational focus on achieving institutional enrollment objectives
Develop admissions directors and managers into effective and accountable leaders
Partner with training and enablement resources to strengthen onboarding, coaching, and leadership readiness
Promote a coaching-based management approach that balances accountability with professional growth.
Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared success
Collaborate with Enrollment Operations, Marketing, Financial Aid, Student Services, International Admissions, and other departments to support enrollment growth and improve the prospective student experience
Communicate organizational priorities and ensure consistent execution across the admissions organization
Lead implementation of departmental and institutional initiatives as assigned