"Associate Dean, Admissions - Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine"

Position Summary

The Associate Dean of Admissions at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (HCOM) will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all recruitment and admissions activities across the college's three campuses-Athens, Dublin, and Cleveland.

This role will guide the development and execution of marketing strategies, student outreach initiatives, and the admissions selection process to recruit capable medical students committed to serving rural and underserved communities. These students, who will ultimately become physicians, will meet the primary care needs for the state of Ohio and beyond, which is vital to fulfill the school's mission.

The Associate Dean will be responsible for effectively promoting Heritage College's offerings, showcasing the unique opportunities available to medical students, and presenting the institution in an engaging and accurate manner. In addition to managing recruitment and admissions, this position will lead the Early Assurance Program (EAP) for outstanding Ohio high school seniors to earn their undergraduate degree from an approved EAP partner school and their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Heritage College. These initiatives will serve as key recruitment tools and fostering future enrollment in the college's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program.

Position Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Set and execute the vision, goals, and policies for admissions aligned with the institution's mission, values, and accreditation standards.
• Lead long-range enrollment planning, class composition strategy, and capacity management across campuses or programs.
• Ensure admissions practices support workforce needs, diversity goals, and institutional priorities.

Leadership & Operational Oversight

• Lead and develop a high-performing team across three campuses, setting clear goals, providing mentorship, and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Oversee the overall success of the Admissions department, including the performance outcomes of all Admissions staff across three campuses.
• Oversee operations and resources, managing budgets, delegating responsibilities, and ensuring alignment with organizational strategy.
• Ensure processes are in place to support operational continuity under all circumstances.
• Drive team performance and growth, conducting evaluations, implementing development plans, and building succession pipelines for sustained leadership.

Admissions Operations & Oversight

• Oversee the full admissions cycle: recruitment, application screening, interviewing, selection, waitlist management, and matriculation.
• Ensure consistent, fair, and holistic review processes.
• Monitor yield, melt, and cycle trends; adjust strategy in real time.

Committee & Decision-Making Leadership

• Member of the selection committee.
• Train and support faculty, staff, and student interviewers.
• Ensure documentation, transparency, and defensibility of decisions.

Recruitment & Outreach

• Lead recruitment strategy, pipeline programs, and partnerships (e.g., early assurance, post-baccalaureate, feeder schools).
• Represent the institution at recruitment events, fairs, and professional meetings.
• Build relationships with advisors, pre-health offices, and community partners.

Data, Analytics & Reporting

• Oversee departmental processes and data management practices to ensure that all student-related contact and activities are tracked in a system that allows for operational continuity and data analytics (such as SalesForce or E-medley).
• Use data to inform admissions strategy, including applicant trends, academic metrics, demographic data, and outcomes.
• Prepare reports for leadership, accreditation bodies, and institutional research.
• Oversee application platforms and process optimization.

Policy, Compliance & Accreditation

• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards (e.g., COCA), institutional policies, and legal/regulatory requirements.
• Maintain written policies and procedures for admissions operations.
• Prepare for accreditation reviews and audits related to admissions.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

• Manage the admissions budget.
• Oversee scholarship strategy in collaboration with financial aid.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, training, and workload distribution.

Collaboration & Institutional Leadership

• Partner with Student Affairs, Marketing, Financial Aid, and Registrar.
• Serve as a senior leader contributing to broader institutional strategy.
• Communicate regularly with executive leadership.

Position Profile

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following:

Oversees recruitment, evaluation, and selection of prospective Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (HCOM) students, ensuring candidates meet academic, personal, and professional criteria. Responsible for student recruitment, application review and interviewing, and contributing to the development of admissions policies and strategies. Directs HCOM Admission team(s).

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a Master's degree in a related field, 15 or more years of related professional experience, and 9 or more years of supervisory experience, or equivalent education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Strong preference will be given to candidates who meet the following qualifications:

• D.O., M.D., Ed.D. or Ph.D. in Higher Education, Administration, Counseling, Business, or related field
• Knowledge of osteopathic medicine/medical education
• Experience with osteopathic/medical school
• Minimum of 8 years of full-time experience related to the position, with at least three years at or above the director level
• Demonstrated history developing and leading highly effective teams
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills are required, as well as proven leadership and visionary abilities
• Experience with professional school admissions
• Knowledge of medical school accreditation standards (e.g., COCA), student services requirements, and learning environment expectations. Demonstrated success in accreditation preparation, site visits, and ongoing compliance management.
• Experience with data-driven assessment, program evaluation, and continuous quality improvement in admissions.
• National or regional leadership involvement in medical education or higher education admissions organizations.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please complete the online application and attach the required documents. Required documents include a detailed cover letter, current resume, and a list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact details, including email addresses.

The position will remain open until filled. For full consideration, please apply by 11:59 p.m. on March 22, 2026.

Pay Rate

The approved hiring range for this position is $95,101 to $128,385. Offers outside of this range require additional approvals. The final offer will be commensurate with the candidate's education and experience in relation to the minimum qualifications for the position. Pay is accompanied by Ohio University's generous benefits package.