Job Description

Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:

The Director of Admissions provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the University’s undergraduate admissions and recruitment functions. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive recruitment and admissions strategies that support institutional enrollment goals, expand access to higher education, strengthen recruitment pipelines, and provide a seamless, student-centered experience from initial inquiry through enrollment.

Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience, the Director leads the Admissions team and works collaboratively with University partners to achieve enrollment objectives. The Director uses data, technology, market intelligence, and best practices to evaluate recruitment performance, improve admissions operations, and continuously enhance the prospective student experience.

The Director serves as the University’s senior admissions leader and represents the University at recruitment events, college fairs, school and community engagements, professional associations, and other internal and external activities.

Salary Range: $95,000 - $98,000

Benefits

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, as a University System of Maryland institution and a Maryland State agency, provides a comprehensive benefits package to all regular faculty and staff. The Office of Employee Benefits provides consultative services and assistance with benefits planning, enrollment, and changes. Eligible employees may participate in a variety of benefit plans including:

• Health insurance, including multiple medical plan options for employees

and dependents offered through the State of Maryland Employee Benefits

Division.

• Prescription drug, dental, and flexible spending accounts, and vision

coverage.

• Retirement plans: mandatory enrollment in a state pension system or an

Optional Retirement Plan with Fidelity or TIAA, Supplemental Retirement

Accounts (TIAA, Fidelity, or MSRP-Nationwide) with $600 annual state

match, Life Insurance (state sponsored MetLife, USM sponsored MetLife

Plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance).

• Tuition remission benefits for eligible employees and, subject to USM

policies, spouses and dependents at University System of Maryland

institutions.

• Exempt positions start at 22 days annual per year, sick leave 15 days per

year, personal leave 3 days per year), and paid holidays.

• Employee wellness and support resources and access to the State of

Maryland wellness programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Admissions Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Develop, implement, and assess comprehensive annual and multi-year

recruitment and admissions strategies aligned with the University’s

enrollment goals, strategic priorities, academic programs, and institutional

mission.

• Translate Strategic Enrollment Management priorities into measurable

recruitment and admissions plans with clear goals, performance

indicators, timelines, and accountability.

• Lead recruitment and admissions strategies for traditional undergraduate,

transfer, adult learner, online degree completion, veteran, dual enrollment,

and international student populations, as applicable.

• Analyze enrollment trends, demographic data, market conditions,

competitor activity, student behavior, and admissions funnel data to identify

opportunities, challenges, and emerging recruitment trends.

• Advise the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student

Experience and University leadership regarding admissions trends,

recruitment performance, market opportunities, and strategies for

achieving enrollment objectives.

• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, student-

centered service, and continuous improvement within the Admissions

operation.

• Develop and maintain recruitment territories, enrollment projections,

recruitment goals, and performance expectations for admissions staff.

• Evaluate the effectiveness and return on investment of recruitment

strategies, events, travel, partnerships, communications, and other

admissions activities.

• Develop and manage the Admissions budget and allocate resources in

alignment with institutional enrollment priorities.

• Recommend organizational, staffing, and operational improvements that

strengthen the effectiveness and scalability of the Admissions operation

Recruitment Management

• Develop and implement comprehensive recruitment strategies designed to

attract, engage, admit, and enroll qualified students.

• Establish and maintain recruitment pipelines with high schools, school

districts, community colleges, community-based organizations, workforce

partners, alumni, and other external stakeholders.

• Strengthen relationships with school counselors, principals,

superintendents, community college personnel, employers, community

leaders, and other recruitment partners.

• Develop strategies to increase applications, admissions, deposits, and

enrollment while maintaining appropriate standards for academic quality

and student fit.

• Lead recruitment planning and execution for on-campus and off-campus

recruitment activities, including college fairs, high school visits, information

sessions, admitted student events, yield events, virtual events, and other

recruitment programs.

• Ensure prospective students receive timely, personalized, and consistent

communication throughout the recruitment and admissions process.

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop targeted

recruitment messaging, communications, campaigns, publications, digital

content, and other materials that support enrollment objectives.

• Develop and strengthen transfer recruitment strategies, articulation

partnerships, dual enrollment opportunities, and other pathways that

expand access to the University.

• Identify new recruitment markets, partnerships, and student populations

that may contribute to enrollment growth.

• Represent the University at local, regional, state, and national recruitment

events and professional activities.

Admissions Operations

• Provide leadership for the day-to-day administration of the Admissions

operation, ensuring efficient, timely, accurate, and student-centered service.

• Establish and monitor admissions policies, procedures, workflows,

timelines, and service standards.

• Ensure consistent application of university admissions policies and

procedures across recruitment and admissions activities.

• Oversee the admissions application, review, decision, communication, and

enrollment processes to ensure timely and accurate processing.

• Monitor the admissions funnel from inquiry through enrollment and develop

strategies to improve conversion at each stage.

• Ensure effective coordination between Admissions and other enrollment-

related offices, including Financial Aid, Registrar, Student Accounts,

Housing, Orientation, and Student Life.

• Identify operational barriers that may negatively affect prospective student

conversion and develop solutions to improve the enrollment process.

• Lead efforts to modernize admissions operations through improved

processes, automation, technology, artificial intelligence, and other

emerging tools.

• Ensure that admissions practices comply with applicable federal and state

laws, University policies, accreditation standards, and other applicable

requirements.

• Monitor admissions deadlines, enrollment deposits, application completion,

decision processing, and other key operational metrics.

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and documentation

for Admissions processes.

Data, Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure effective use of the University’s CRM, Slate, enrollment

technologies, analytics, dashboards, and reporting tools to support

recruitment and admissions objectives.

• Monitor recruitment and admissions performance through enrollment

funnel data and other key performance indicators.

• Develop regular reports and presentations regarding admissions activity,

enrollment projections, recruitment performance, conversion rates, and

progress toward enrollment goals.

• Use data to evaluate recruitment territories, student populations, events,

communications, and other recruitment activities.

• Leverage technology and emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, to

improve operational efficiency, communication, personalization, and the

prospective student experience.

• Establish a continuous improvement process for evaluating admissions

policies, procedures, communications, and student service delivery.

• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce barriers to

application, admission, enrollment, and matriculation.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, develop, and evaluate Admissions staff.
• Establish clear performance expectations, goals, and accountability

measures for Admissions personnel.

• Provide coaching, mentoring, professional development, and training to

strengthen staff knowledge, skills, and effectiveness.

• Develop a collaborative team environment that promotes accountability,

innovation, professional growth, and high-quality service.

• Monitor staff recruitment activity and performance and provide appropriate

guidance and corrective action when necessary.

• Ensure Admissions staff maintain current knowledge of recruitment

practices, University policies, admissions requirements, technology, and

applicable regulations.

• Establish appropriate delegation of responsibilities and decision-making

authority within the Admissions organization.

Student Experience & Cross-Campus Collaboration

• Partner with other University offices to create a seamless prospective

student experience.

• Collaborate with academic leadership to understand program capacity,

academic offerings, student demand, workforce trends, and opportunities

for recruitment growth.

• Partner with campus stakeholders to ensure that recruitment messaging

accurately reflects the University’s academic programs, student experience,

campus resources, and value proposition.

• Promote a high-touch, student-centered admissions experience that

responds to the needs of prospective students and their families.

• Identify and address barriers that may prevent prospective students from

completing the admissions and enrollment process.

• Support initiatives designed to improve access, affordability, student

engagement, and enrollment outcomes.

Community & External Engagement

• Serve as a visible ambassador and senior representative of the University in

admissions and recruitment matters.

• Cultivate relationships with schools, school districts, community

organizations, educational partners, employers, alumni, civic leaders, and

other stakeholders.

• Represent the University at recruitment fairs, professional conferences,

community events, school visits, public forums, and other external

engagements.

• Participate in professional organizations and maintain knowledge of

national and regional admissions and enrollment trends and best practices.

• Develop partnerships that expand awareness of the University and create

new recruitment and enrollment opportunities. Other Duties

• Serve on University committees and task forces as assigned.
• Participate in institutional enrollment initiatives and strategic planning

activities.

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission, goals, and

strategic priorities of the University and the Division of Enrollment

Management and Student Experience.

Other Duties

• Serve on University committees and task forces as assigned.
• Participate in institutional enrollment initiatives and strategic planning

activities.

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission, goals, and

strategic priorities of the University and the Division of Enrollment

Management and Student Experience.

Preferences:

• Master’s degree
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in

admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, or a related area,

including significant supervisory or leadership experience.

• Demonstrated success developing and implementing comprehensive

recruitment and admissions strategies that support institutional enrollment

goals.

• Demonstrated experience leading and supervising professional staff and

managing complex admissions operations.

• Strong knowledge of undergraduate admissions practices, recruitment

strategies, enrollment processes, and student service delivery.

• Demonstrated experience developing recruitment pipelines and

partnerships with high schools, community colleges, community

organizations, and other external stakeholders.

• Experience developing and managing budgets and allocating resources to

support recruitment and admissions priorities.

• Demonstrated success recruiting diverse student populations, including

traditional undergraduate, transfer, adult learner, online, veteran, dual

enrollment, and/or international students.

• Strong understanding of enrollment funnel management, conversion

strategies, student recruitment, and yield management.

• Advanced experience analyzing admissions and enrollment data,

performance metrics, market trends, and recruitment outcomes to inform

decision-making.

• Demonstrated experience using CRM systems, enrollment technologies,

data analytics, dashboards, and other technology to improve recruitment

and admissions operations.

• Experience with Slate or a comparable customer relationship management

and admissions system.

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and problem-

solving skills.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to

communicate effectively with university administrators, faculty, staff,

students, parents, counselors, community partners, and other stakeholders.

• Strong presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and the ability to work effectively with

individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities.

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed to support recruitment

and admissions activities.

• Occasional travel, including out-of-state travel.

Physical Demands:

• May require extended periods of standing, bending, stooping, sitting at

desk.

• May require lifting.
• Requires communication with a variety of constituents externally and

internally.

• Requires operation of a variety of office equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Ten (10) years of experience in higher education, advising, international student services; or immigration law. Five (5) years of experience supervising or managing professional staff.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Knowledge of international and U.S. higher education; immigration legislation, practice and procedures.

Knowledge of federal or foreign requirements that impact the international work of the university.

Skill in oral and written communication.

Skill in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace products.

Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.

Ability to multitask while demonstrating a commitment to customer service.

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials: Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of names of three current professional references (current or past supervisor) including e-mail address, and telephone number (current supervisor will not be contacted without the candidate’s prior consent). All applicants must apply using the new online application system. Please visit https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UMES to apply. The successful candidate must be able to show acceptable documentation establishing the right to accept employment in the United States of America without employer sponsorship.

Best Consideration Date: N/A

Posting Close Date: N/A

Open Until Filled: Yes

Department

UMES-VPSA-Admissions & Recruitment

Worker Sub-Type

Staff Regular

Salary Range

$95,000 - $98,000

EEO Statement

UMES is an EEO/AA employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must be able to show acceptable documentation establishing the right to accept employment in the United States of America without employer sponsorship.

Diversity Statement

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is an equal access, equal opportunity institution fully committed to diversity in education and employment. All students, employees, and the campus community at UMES are valued, respected, and have the opportunity to receive an equitable experience in an inclusive, welcoming environment of openness and appreciation.

Title IX Statement

It is the policy of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on sex in the University's educational programs and activities. Title IX also prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discriminations or harassment.