Job Details
Lead Graduate Enrollment in the Heart of Washington, DC.
Are you an innovative enrollment strategist ready to shape the global footprint of a premier school of international affairs? Do you thrive at the intersection of data-informed recruitment, international collaboration, and dynamic team management?
The Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Director, Graduate Admissions and International Partnerships to lead our graduate recruitment initiatives, enrollment operations, and international institutional partnerships.
About GW & the Elliott School
The George Washington University
Chartered by Congress in 1821, GW takes full advantage of its location in the heart of the nation’s capital to bring together diverse communities of scholars, practitioners, and professionals in service to the public good.
The Elliott School of International Affairs
Ranked among the top schools of international affairs globally, the Elliott School educates world leaders, advances critical research, and engages policy communities worldwide.
Located steps from the White House, the U.S. Department of State, and the World Bank, our campus sits at the crossroads of global decision-making. We offer distinguished graduate degrees spanning security policy, global communication, international development, and regional studies. As the Director, you will shape how prospective students first encounter this community—recruiting exceptional scholars, diplomats, and practitioners who come to GW to translate knowledge into action and shape global policy.
About the Role
Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Director serves as the primary strategist and operational leader for the Elliott School’s graduate enrollment management unit. In this role, you will direct day-to-day admissions operations, design and execute short- and long-term recruitment strategies, manage international institutional exchange agreements, and lead application review processes.
Working closely with school leadership, academic program directors, and university offices, you will translate enrollment goals into effective recruitment tactics and deliver a high-touch prospective student experience.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Operations
- Directly supervise, train, and mentor a team of admissions professionals.
- Manage daily operations, assign project tasks, balance staff workloads, and maintain accurate position descriptions.
- Hire, coach, and develop staff; establish goals and expectations; manage performance; and assess future staffing needs.
- Prepare, monitor, and manage the operational and recruitment budgets for assigned work units.
Strategic Recruitment & Academic Collaboration
- Partner closely with academic program directors to clarify enrollment priorities, establish rigorous admissions standards, and align on the qualities sought in prospective students.
- Educate program directors and faculty on university admissions policies, establish clear process timelines, and manage expectations around recruitment cycles and decision deadlines.
- Develop and implement short- and long-term recruitment plans to meet target enrollment goals across all on-campus and online graduate programs.
- Coordinate with program directors, Graduate Student Services, and Undergraduate advising on combined degree programs.
- Analyze internal funnel metrics and external market trends to build effective territory management strategies and expand target applicant pools.
- Collaborate with academic program directors to evaluate recruitment strategy for existing degrees and support go-to-market plans for new program offerings.
- Work with the Assistant Dean for Executive Education and Special Initiatives to support marketing, recruitment, and admissions to executive education programs.
- Work closely with the Director, Communications and Marketing on marketing campaigns.
Admissions Operations & Cross-Functional Partnerships
- Lead key aspects of the application evaluation lifecycle, including reading files, managing review workflows, and chairing admissions committees.
- Conduct on- and off-campus presentations, information sessions, and prospective student interviews to represent the Elliott School globally and domestically.
- Partner seamlessly with Graduate Student Services to ensure a cohesive student experience from pre-enrollment to orientation, retention, and student success.
- Collaborate with University Financial Aid, University Advancement, Student Accounts, and the Registrar to streamline yield, fellowship allocation, and student onboarding processes.
Global Partnerships & International Alliances
- Manage the operational workflow of international academic partnerships, MOUs, and institutional exchange agreements with foreign universities, and research institutes.
- Coordinate with university offices to ensure international partner agreements remain compliant with university policy and deliver mutual value.
Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.
This is a hybrid position with at least three days in the office in Washington, DC and up to two days remote. Travel approximately 10-15%
Organization
George Washington University is a top nationally recognized institution and is currently the largest employer of higher education in the District of Columbia with students and faculty from all 50 states and more than 120 countries. Our community is as diverse as the many backgrounds and occupations we represent. Enrichment, opportunities, and work/life balance are just some of the rewards of joining our learning community. The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
The George Washington University is a dynamic institution located in the heart of Washington, D.C. As the largest institution of higher education in the nation’s capital, GW is able to draw upon a rich array of resources to enhance its educational endeavors and generate creative energy. Through its diverse students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the university contributes talent and knowledge to improve the DC area and the world.
Located four blocks from the White House, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs.
The George Washington University dedicates itself to furthering human well-being. We value a dynamic, student-focused community stimulated by cultural and intellectual diversity and built upon a foundation of integrity, creativity, and openness to the exploration of new ideas. A diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, D.C, and more than 130 countries enroll at GW each year.
To promote the process of lifelong learning from both global and integrative perspectives, the university provides a stimulating intellectual environment for its diverse students and faculty. By fostering excellence in teaching, GW offers outstanding learning experiences for full-time and part-time students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in D.C., the nation, and abroad. The university acts as a catalyst for creativity in the arts, the sciences, and the professions by encouraging interaction among its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the communities it serves.
What Makes GW a Great Place to Work
Working at GW is an experience that allows each individual an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Our community includes individuals of diverse and unique backgrounds whose individual contributions build the momentum to make GW a great university and indeed, a great place to work. As a top employer, we want to do all we can to attract the best people who connect to our mission of excellent teaching, research, and community engagement. Those who are here are “Proud to be GW.”
GW is committed to offering its employees a comprehensive benefits package including health and welfare plans such as medical, prescription, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts and life and disability insurance as well as retirement and tuition programs. Free wellness programs include exercise classes, walking clubs, smoking cessation benefits, free flu vaccinations, GW’s Healthy Pregnancy Program, a faculty and staff summer softball league, and much more.
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