Assistant Vice President of Admission

06/22/2021

Yes

No

As a living, learning and working community, Susquehanna University affirms its commitment to being an engaged, culturally inclusive campus. As we seek to embody the rich diversity of the human community, we commit ourselves to the full participation of persons who represent the breadth of human difference. The university encourages candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Susquehanna University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Susquehanna University is a national liberal arts college committed to excellence in educating students for productive, creative and reflective lives of achievement, leadership and service in a diverse, dynamic and interdependent world. Its more than 2,300 undergraduates come from 35 states and 22 countries, and all students study away through Susquehanna’s unique Global Opportunities program. Susquehanna University’s 325 acre campus, noted for its beauty, is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 50 miles north of Harrisburg in the scenic Susquehanna River Valley, about a three hour drive from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City. For more information, please visit https://www.susqu.edu.

Job Summary
The AVP and Director of Admission maintains overall responsibility for the design, support, and implementation of all activities related to successfully attract, enroll, and retain academically qualified first-year and transfer students to the university. Under the direction of the Vice President for Enrollment, the AVP of Admission will lead and direct recruitment and outreach initiatives consistent with institutional mission and in alignment with the strategic plan, the application review process, and the admission team in developing professionally and in meeting annual goals.

Specific Responsibilities
Contribute to enrollment planning to meet enrollment goals annually for domestic and international first-year and transfer students by planning, coordinating, and managing activities and leading the admission team via the following:
• Oversee the building of targeted, successful recruitment strategies to meet quantitative and qualitative enrollment objectives for first-year, transfer, and international students.
• Collaborate with university partners (i.e. academics, advancement, athletics, housing) in developing and implementing strategies to successfully attract and enroll prospective students.
• Collaborate with external partners in developing and implementing strategies that successfully build a recruitment funnel to support short and long-term enrollment objectives.
• Oversee the application review/selection process.
• Collaborate with the Vice President for Enrollment and the Director of Admission Communications in planning and implementation of the enrollment communication plan (i.e. print, email, social and digital)
• Oversee the hiring, onboarding, training, ongoing development (which include diversity action plans), leading, mentoring and annual goals/performance of the admission team. This includes supervising four associate/senior associate directors within the admission team, in addition to the CRM coordinator.
• Oversee the preparation and development of annual queries and reports to support the Office of Admission.
• Understand and utilize admission/enrollment data to shape perspective and inform decisions.
• Analyze budgetary data, verify figures, and develop budget proposals; recommend allocation of budgetary funds.
• Assist the Vice President for Enrollment, as a member of the enrollment leadership team, in developing/implementing a comprehensive enrollment strategy that designs, implements, and supports long-term marketing, recruitment, and scholarship and financial aid strategies. This plan will specify clear enrollment goals including the number of new first-year and transfer students and the mix of students with regard to academic ability, co-curricular interests, the potential to contribute to the university in many ways, geographic distribution, ethnic diversity, and socio-economic distribution.
• Chair the Faculty Admissions Committee as outlined in the Faculty Handbook and represent the Admissions Office on a variety of university committees.
• Contribute to the overall success of the Office of Admissions and the University by performing other duties and responsibilities as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Knowledge of current market forces in higher education, including market research and the role economics plays in student choice. Knowledge of customer relations management systems (Slate preferred) that support the recruitment, application, and communications process. Ability to interpret, analyze and make informed decisions with data. Knowledge of English language including meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar. Skilled at written and verbal communication, including formal presentation to groups. Ability to set priorities and advocate team concepts, work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and external partners. Ability to work various hours including nights and weekends. Knowledge of and strong belief in the value of a residential liberal arts education. Knowledge of current electronic recruitment strategies including but not limited to social networking and the Web.

Education
Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience
A minimum of 7 years of admissions, student recruitment, or related experience, with a proven record of success in higher education student recruitment, territory management, project management, change management, successful use of the CRM to support recruitment, admission processing and aid, and an ability to utilize data to inform decisions. Three years of experience leading and supervising a diverse staff including hiring, training, professional development, and evaluation. Experience in collaborating with financial aid, marketing & communications, alumni, athletics, the office for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the faculty are extremely valuable.

Physical Demand
Position requires the ability to stand and sit for extended periods of time. Position requires the ability to move about the campus and travel to various states. Position requires the ability to talk and to hear instruction. Position requires manual dexterity for computer work and the ability to use fingers, hands, and arms to feel, handle, and reach. Position requires occasional stooping, crouching, and bending. Position requires the ability to occasionally lift up to 40 pounds.

Education
Master’s degree preferred

Yes

12 months

Full-Time Benefits Eligible

06/25/2021

08/15/2021

No

AH00754