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The Associate Vice President, Admissions (AVP) provides strategic leadership, vision, and administrative oversight for all undergraduate and graduate recruitment and admissions operations. Managing a comprehensive portfolio that includes traditional freshman, transfer, international, and graduate student populations, the AVP is responsible for designing and executing a data-driven, student-centric recruitment strategy. The AVP is charged with increasing net tuition revenue through both headcount growth and management of the discount rate.

Operating in a highly selective environment where creative portfolio reviews, auditions, and specialized talent assessments are central to the evaluation process of several candidate pools, the AVP balances rigorous academic standards with artistic excellence. The AVP collaborates closely with other institutional stakeholders to develop awe-inspiring events and tours, a highly focused recruitment travel plan, and engagement with prospective students at every level of the admission funnel.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Provide leadership to the directors of undergraduate, transfer, graduate and international recruitment that result in achieving and exceeding enrollment projections.
• Develop and execute an innovative, multi-channel strategic recruitment plan tailored to distinct student pipelines: traditional first-year, specialized transfers, international, and advanced graduate cohorts for both spring and fall start terms.
• Partner with senior enrollment leadership to establish annual enrollment goals, predictive yield modeling, and net tuition revenue targets.
• Utilize advanced data analytics, CRM platforms, and market research to monitor application funnels, identify emerging demographic shifts, and adjust recruitment strategies in real time.
• Lead a forward-thinking specialized territory management model, utilizing targeted geographic and zip-code level data to maximize yield.
• Significantly expand the number of inquiries and applicants, providing rapid application review and decisions.
• Expand the top of the admissions funnel significantly.
• Collaborate with faculty and academic department chairs to standardize, streamline, and optimize talent-based evaluation rubrics, ensuring a transparent, equitable, and efficient review cycle.
• Maintain a deep understanding of evolving trends in arts, film, digital media, and communication education to effectively position the college’s unique institutional value.
• Cultivate and expand global recruitment networks, ensuring compliance with international credential evaluations, visa processing pipelines, and English language proficiency standards to enrich the campus's international footprint.
• Partner with Financial Aid and Student Accounts to strategically leverage institutional aid, merit scholarships, and talent-based awards to optimize student yield and retention.
• Work alongside University Communications and Marketing and especially Enrollment Management Marketing to co-create compelling, brand-aligned print and digital admissions materials, social media campaigns, and personalized outreach sequences.
• Partner with event management leaders to create and support top-of-class events that increase applications and deposits as well as reduce melt.
• Work in tandem with the Visitor Center as well as other campus stakeholders to present the gold standard in campus visits.
• Align with Student Affairs to ensure a seamless transition from deposited status to orientation and matriculation.

QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform the job.

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, enrollment management, communications, fine arts administration, or a related field required.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in college admissions or enrollment management at the level of director or higher, with a documented track record of meeting enrollment goals in a selective environment required
• Advanced experience in data analysis and analyzing enrollment funnel data required
• Demonstrated experience managing, developing, and empowering a diverse professional staff required
• Experience leading enrollment operations within a specialized arts, design, or communication institution, or a comprehensive university with highly prominent creative colleges preferred
• Experience working directly with external strategic partners and consulting entities specializing in stop-out recovery, adult completion, or digital lead generation preferred
• Proven success in working with partners that design and manage financial aid leveraging models or merit/talent-based scholarship matrices preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead and work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• High level of initiative and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to meet enrollment and net tuition revenue goals.
• Understanding of and ability to implement best practices of admissions.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing needs and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent public speaking and relationship building.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• This position requires traveling around the campus on a daily basis.
• Occasional travel out of state and internationally.
• Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with students, co-workers and supervisors is essential.
• Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds, reaching, lifting, stooping and the ability to read a computer screen, detect color-coding and read fine print will be expected.

WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• General office conditions. Exposed to moderate noise levels

Disclaimer: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws.  Certain job duties described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

Compensation: $196,750.00 - $255,700.00 annually, commensurate with experience.

 

Grade of Position: 23-17E

Employment Category: Regular

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Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. 

Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.