Category:: Staff and Administrators
Department:: 2815 (GADM-Graduate admissions)
Locations:: Worcester, MA
Posted:: Oct 8, 2021
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Full-time - Exempt
Position ID:: 137948

About Clark University:

Founded in 1887, Clark was one of the first all-graduate institutions in the United States. Today the University is a highly-ranked, student-centered institution educating approximately 2,350 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. This commitment to scholarship and inquiry reflects the University's commitment to "challenge convention and change our world" and to address issues of critical importance to society. It is also reflected by Clark's many national and international distinctions, including recognition for its diversity and inclusion efforts, innovation, community engagement and impact, as a top green campus, and for having a distinguished geography and international development program. Clark has also been included in the groundbreaking Colleges that Change Lives guide since it was first published in 1996.

Clark is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, a dynamic, diverse city "on the rise." The second largest city in New England, Worcester is home to 11 institutions of higher learning and is increasingly recognized for its growing healthcare and biotechnology communities, its thriving cultural scene, and as a vibrant food hub.

Job Description:

The Director Graduate Admissions leads Clark University's office of Graduate Admissions. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Professional Education, the director serves as a senior team member in the development and execution of Clark University's graduate enrollment strategy. Along with peer leaders of graduate marketing and graduate recruitment, this role functions both at the operational level as well as the strategic level.

Operationally, the director manages the day-to-day functions of the graduate admission office. As such, the director hires, supervises, directs and evaluates staff in the admissions operations area, the Accelerated Degree Program (ADP) and the enrollment engagement areas (a.k.a enrollment coaching). In addition, the director monitors budget, develops and tracks the office's Key Performance Indicators (KPI), oversees communication flow to student applicants and develops workflow for graduate and professional student applications. This also entails managing fees tables and fee waivers, and collaborates extensively with other administrative and academic units at Clark University. The focus of the operational function is to achieve a high volume, highly efficient unit that is responsive to student applicants in a highly competitive market.

Strategically, the director is a senior team member in the graduate enrollment management area and works collaboratively with the graduate marketing and graduate recruitment areas. The team which leads these three enrollment functions works with the Associate Provost for Professional Education to set overall graduate enrollment goals, develop a cohesive policy structure for the unit, creating and executing professional development plans for direct reports, helps identify salient trends in the market and works directly with Clark's graduate academic units to identify key academic admission criteria for a wide range of graduate credentials. The focus of the strategy is to provide Clark University a state-of-the-art graduate admissions operation staffed by admissions professionals that positions the school for growth in both enrollment and quality of student applications.

Management of Graduate Admissions Office

• Manages, develops and supervises staff within the Graduate Admissions Office. Staff include both admission operation personnel and enrollment engagement staff.
• Serves as the key spokesperson for the Graduate Admissions office and serves on relevant university-wide committees and teams having to do with graduate admissions
• Oversees, manages and designs the student applications workflow from inquiry to acceptance and beyond.
• Coordinates with staff and vendors to provide a high-quality responsive student experience during the application process.
• Responsible for maintaining and maximizing the use of student data within Clark's graduate iteration of SLATE (Technosolutions) data management system.
• Troubleshoots operational matters having to do with the graduate admissions and student applications process with relevant staff members, other university personnel and vendors.
• Prepares and compiles reports on graduate admission and other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relevant to the graduate student application, enrollment and matriculation process. These KPIs include, but are not limited to, student demographics, time to decision, enrollment funnel data etc.
• Interface with Clark's office of International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO) to ensure speedy and effective visa processing for international students.
• Manage fiscal and property assets of the unit with an element of high ethical standards.
• Also manages and oversees the admission and application process for graduate certificates, some non-matriculated student programs and the School of Professional Studies undergraduate program.
• Set professional goals and priorities for operational staff of the unit while providing formal and informal mentorship, training, evaluation and feedback for staff members. Recommend to senior level management professional development plans for staff based on operational needs and professional performance.
• Must be prepared to coordinate staff-- both on-campus and remote staff?so the admission's office is accessible to students both on and off campus.

Graduate Admissions Strategy

• Coordinate with graduate academic units and other graduate unit leadership to develop the admission standards and policies which yields desired student quality and enrollment levels for Clark University.
• Inform communication strategy which conveys to Clark's target student population relevant information regarding the admissions and applications process. This communications strategy should include, but is not limited to, the institutional web site, social media, admissions letters, email and text messaging communication flow.
• Serve as the chief advocate for the graduate admissions office to other university units.
• Help interpret and analyze student surveys, institutional reports and other market research tools employed by Clark to better inform the graduate admission's process.
• Develop a graduate admission's forecasting methodology in conjunction with other enrollment management, finance, and academic staff.
• Recommend policy and practice changes for the graduate admissions and enrollment management more broadly which positions Clark as a state-of-the-art graduate admission's office positioned for high enrollment yields and targeted high-quality student recruitment.

Unit and Institutional Leadership

• The director, in coordination with and at the direction of relevant university marketing and communications officials, provides press and media comment graduate admission's issues.
• Director serves on university wide committees as needed/requested.
• Assists academic units in the development of new or revised academic programs that require accreditation or university governance approval.
• Participates in broad-based university events (orientation, graduation, alumni weekends etc.) as a supportive individual who represents the unit and Clark University more broadly.
• Is active in relevant professional societies and organizations which augments Clark's standing in the broader academic market.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Master's Degree from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized institution of higher learning.
• Five or more years of work experience in higher education.
• Five or more years of management experience developing direct reports
• Outstanding interpersonal relationship building, employee coaching, and development skills.
• Management experience in a team-oriented workplace preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a department and department staff members.
• Commitment to Clark's institutional values of diversity and inclusion, equity and social justice.
• Prior experience working with and contributing to a diverse workplace with the ability to interact effectively with a broad range of constituents on campus.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized institution of higher learning.
• Experience in elite college/university admissions/graduate admissions.
• Demonstrated experience in employee development including mentoring and guidance
• Experience with admissions software data management systems (Technolutions Slate, preferred)
• Admission background with international student admissions, visa process coordination and transcript evaluation.
• Experience in developing communication flow for the student application process and coordinating messaging to a broader university population.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and prioritize work tasks
• Demonstrated computer literacy with proficiency in software systems that include Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated experience working positively and collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Strong and creative problem-solving skills.
• Experience in a high pressure, high volume unit.

Clark University currently requires all employees and students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Exemptions will be made for medical or disability reasons or religious beliefs, and could be made, at the sole discretion of the University, for other well-documented reasons.

Additional Information:

Clark University embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action as core values: we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. This commitment applies to every aspect of education, services, and employment policies and practices at Clark. Our commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. All positions at Clark share in the responsibility for building a community that values diversity and the uniqueness of others by exhibiting integrity and respect in interacting with all members of the Clark community to create an atmosphere of fairness and belonging. We strongly encourage members from historically underrepresented communities, inclusive of all women, to apply.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

Application Instructions:

To be considered for this position, you must submit your credentials online. Create a Clark University Careers Account by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below. You will be able to upload the following documents, which are required for consideration:

• Resume
• Cover letter

See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Already have a Clark University Careers Account? Login to your account to add documents or update your account.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary will be commensurate with skills and experience.

HR to select: A successful background check is required upon acceptance.