Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions - Darden School of Business

University of Virginia • VA

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About The Position

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business seeks a visionary, strategic, globally-minded leader to serve as Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions. Working directly with the Dean, Dean’s Office, faculty program leadership and reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Engagement, this individual will lead a high-performing team in attracting, evaluating, and enrolling exceptional students across all Darden degree formats, which includes full-time MBA, Executive MBA, part-time MBA, PhD, and the M.S. in Business Analytics in partnership with the McIntire School of Commerce. The Senior Assistant Dean will advance Darden’s global impact through its applicant-centered, caring and innovative admissions process in partnership with an exceptional team of admissions professionals and stakeholders across the Darden community. This is a pivotal moment for Darden at a time when the school is experiencing great momentum. Darden has reached record enrollments, recently launched a part-time MBA, and expanded its Executive MBA at its Washington, D.C., Metro grounds. With record rankings as the No. 1 global public full-time MBA program, record-setting success with $632M in philanthropic impact in its recently concluded capital campaign, and record scholarship resources available to top talent, Darden continues to innovate in a competitive global admissions landscape. More than 30% of the Darden full-time MBA student body comes from outside of the U.S., and students across all formats are expected to bring global mindsets and perspectives, requiring acumen in leading an international recruitment strategy and experience engaging varied global markets to identify top talent. The Senior Assistant Dean will play a central role in shaping the future of Darden admissions by championing an applicant-centric and technology-engaged culture in admissions. They will ensure that the admissions strategy reflects Darden’s commitment to excellence, global leadership, engagement, and innovation, while aligning with broader institutional goals, aspirations as a top global business school, and digital transformation efforts. As a key Darden representative, the Senior Assistant Dean will be the primary spokesperson for prospective students and will also engage with current students, partners, the media, alumni, and others, as necessary to advance Darden admissions. The Senior Assistant Dean will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to identify talent and ensure a seamless and impactful admissions experience, both in terms of process and the talent of admitted classes. As a senior enterprise leader, the Senior Assistant Dean will serve on key Darden committees and leadership groups, including the Darden Enterprise Team, Darden Student Success Group, and other cross-functional leadership teams. The Senior Assistant Dean will serve as a strategic and operational leader, responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive admissions strategy that reflects Darden’s distinctive transformational learning experience, culture, values, priorities, and leading global position. This role spans a wide range of responsibilities, from team leadership and scholarship strategy to digital transformation and stakeholder engagement, all aimed at attracting and enrolling exceptional students across Darden’s degree programs.

Requirements

• Advanced degree required; MBA or higher education degrees preferred.
• Extensive admissions management experience (8+ years) at a top-tier higher education institution or equivalent relevant experience.
• Skill in building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic agility.
• Relevant managerial and practitioner-based experience in higher education or in the business world at a top-tier organization.
• Recognition as a trusted strategic advisor and thought partner to senior leaders.
• Track record of influencing organizational direction through thought leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and innovation.
• Proven analytical capability and experience with data-driven decision-making and storytelling.
• Demonstrated success in leading technology adoption and digital transformation.
• Marketing acumen and ability to synthesize and leverage analytics for targeting and admissions strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a key spokesperson through direct engagement, presentations, and other media.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing budgets and ensuring compliance.
• Deep understanding of graduate management education and enrollment management.
• Global awareness, a student-centered mindset, and a belief in and passion for Darden’s (and UVA’s) mission.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute a bold, forward-looking admissions strategy for all degree formats that aligns with Darden’s mission and academic priorities.
• Shape the composition of incoming classes across all formats to reflect excellence, breadth of background and thought, and alignment with Darden’s distinctive educational approach.
• Provide strategic leadership to members of the Communications and Marketing Center of Excellence that supports overall admissions marketing and outreach strategies.
• Sustain and develop a high-performing admissions team of around 15 people, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee application review processes, manage operational budgets, and ensure compliance with confidentiality and regulatory standards.
• Foster a culture that thoughtfully integrates data and technology into the admissions process.
• Set and lead a multimillion-dollar scholarship strategy to ensure access, affordability, and the ability to yield exceptional talent.
• Engage with prospective students, alumni, media, consultants, and other external stakeholders to elevate Darden’s profile.
• Work closely with internal partners to ensure admissions activities are integrated with broader student success efforts.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer.
• Encouragement for veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Master's degree