Director of National Recruitment - Office of Admissions

Summary:

Reporting to the Executive Director and in close coordination with the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, the Director of National Recruitment is responsible for providing strategic leadership for all freshman and transfer national undergraduate recruitment and enrollment on the Twin Cities campus. The Director also serves on systemwide committees and coordinates strategic undergraduate enrollment efforts with the four Greater Minnesota campuses of the University of Minnesota on behalf of the Twin Cities campus. The Director is responsible for overseeing individuals who manage, plan, and implement national undergraduate recruitment efforts. The Director identifies new strategic initiatives in national recruitment and admission, develops strategic plans, and executes the full range of management responsibilities overseeing the national recruitment team.

The Director is responsible for meeting the University's national undergraduate enrollment goals as defined by the University Strategic Plan and the Office of Enrollment Management.

The Director oversees a 7-member staff of recruiters based in national markets, with direct supervision of 1 assistant director of national recruitment. Leveraging the expertise of these staff members, the Director provides oversight for the development and implementation of innovative recruitment and yield strategies for national student populations, working closely with the Director of Holistic Review to oversee the review policies and processes of national applications. The Director also works closely with the Director of Communication to develop and execute a strategic marketing plan specifically focused on national Non-Resident Non-Reciprocity (NRNR) students.

As a strategic leader in the Admission Office, the Director works closely with Admission leadership, attends all admission leadership meetings, and collaborates with other key university departments on the Twin Cities campus and across the University of Minnesota system. The primary focus of this role is on the strategic oversight and planning for national Non-Resident Non-Reciprocity (NRNR) undergraduate enrollment, but the Director also works in support of all aspects of the enrollment goals for the entire incoming undergraduate class.

This role has significant visibility and accountability to the campus and the public. It requires extensive public speaking, as well as professional interaction with senior members of the University.

This is a 100% time, 12-month, annually renewable appointment in the academic administrative (P&A) employee group. The job code for this position will be SS Director 1-Admissions (9365AN). The University of Minnesota offers an excellent benefits package including medical/dental/vision/life/LTD insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, 22 paid time off days, one personal holiday in addition to the existing 11 University holidays.

Major Responsibilities:

National Undergraduate Recruitment Strategy (70%)
* Strategic oversight and planning of recruitment for prospective national undergraduate students who meet the University's goals as defined by the University Strategic Plan and the Office of Enrollment Management.
* Oversee the development and execution of national recruitment activities, including the development of institutional relationships with key educational programs across the nation, advisory networks, and other constituents who facilitate the enrollment of national undergraduate students. This includes overseeing recruitment travel, and the ongoing relationship management with high school counselor communities across the nation and professional organizations and other specialized educator bodies.
* Working closely with the Executive Director and Director of Communications, create strategies to foster long-term visibility, brand recognition, and interest among prospective students resulting in increased prospects, inquiries, and applications, and the successful enrollment of national undergraduates.
* Evaluate and analyze admission data to inform the effectiveness of recruitment activities.
* Oversee the strategic financial aid leveraging of l student scholarships to enroll a class of national first-year and transfer students that meets the goals of the University.
* Oversee the counseling of prospective students, families, and stakeholders on University of Minnesota policies related to admission, financial aid, housing, health and safety, academics, among others areas.

Management, Supervision & Budget (20%)
* Oversee the National Recruitment team, consisting of 7 professional staff members who are located in national markets and work fully remotely. Provide leadership and oversight of the teams' hiring processes, staff development, and performance management issues.
* Provide oversight of the national recruitment budget, acting with substantial discretion, balancing multiple goals at once to minimize costs/risk and maximize benefits/returns.
* Ensure that recruitment efforts are effectively supporting the achievement of the University's goals, as well as the goals of each college on the Twin Cities campus.
* Oversee the management of customer service and timely response to all inquiries related to national student recruitment and admission.
* Work in close collaboration with the Director of Holistic Review to provide oversight of the application review, admission, and scholarship process for national students. Ensure application review is conducted in a timely and organized manner.
* Continuously monitor and analyze enrollment metrics to make data-driven decisions related to national recruitment and admission.

Other Duties (10%)
* Serve as key liaison with University partners and ensure other Admission staff members are informed of campus updates and new initiatives.
* Represent the Office of Admission and serve on University and professional committees as appropriate.
* Conduct other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management.

Work Hours and Location: Most work is conducted during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. However, evening and weekend work is occasionally required, as necessary, to properly execute the duties of this role. This position is based in the Twin Cities and will require extensive travel. Remote work outside of the Twin Cities may be accommodated at the discretion of the Executive Director of Admissions when such remote work is in the interest of the University. If remote work is accommodated, the incumbent must be based near a major U.S. airport.

Required Qualifications:

* BA/BS degree plus at least 12 years of relevant experience, or master's degree plus at least 10 years of relevant experience.
* Demonstrated experience working in recruitment and admission with expert-level knowledge of the national education landscape, recruitment markets, and high school student population demographics.
* Demonstrated experience successfully operating at a strategic level, providing vision and leadership for recruitment through data-informed analysis.
* Demonstrated cultural competence through active listening, seeking understanding of diverse perspectives, and respecting lived cultural experiences.
* Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing circumstances and adopt new solutions through leveraging existing knowledge, technology, and data tools, including seeking input from team members, partners, and networks, incorporating new experiences to inform perspectives, and strong proficiency in standard office software solutions.

The mission of the Office of Admissions is to take leadership in recruiting and enrolling undergraduate students who will benefit from and contribute to the University of Minnesota scholarly community. Admissions strives to be service-driven, tenacious, respectful, inclusive, authentic, and ethical. The Office of Admissions coordinates undergraduate student enrollment efforts and collaborates campus-wide with colleges, departments, and the units within the Office of Undergraduate Education to meet the University's enrollment goals. The Office of Admissions serves prospective undergraduate students, and incoming undergraduate students.

Pay Range: $110,000 - $130,000 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 75%-100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications materials must be submitted online. The priority application deadline is December 16, 2024. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.

You will need to complete an online application for the position and submit the following required materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter

3 professional references will be requested by finalists only at a later time in the interview process.

Additional documents such as diversity statement may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Must be eligible to work in the United States; this position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).