Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations

Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations

Empire State University invites applications for the position of Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations within the Office of Enrollment Management.

The Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations provides strategic leadership for the university's admissions and enrollment functions, overseeing both Admissions Operations and Admissions Counseling across undergraduate and graduate programs. This role is responsible for developing and sustaining a scalable, compliant, and student-centered enrollment organization that effectively guides prospective students from initial inquiry through first enrollment, with a strong emphasis on growth and innovation.

The position ensures alignment among systems, processes, personnel, and performance, and serves as the primary steward of the university's admissions enrollment funnel.

Through the integration of people, processes, and systems, the Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations plays a critical role in advancing organizational effectiveness, institutional growth, regulatory compliance, and student success.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Provide vision and leadership for the admissions and enrollment operation
• Develop and execute enrollment strategies aligned with institutional goals
• Own enrollment funnel performance, including conversion, yield, and time-to-enroll
• Balance growth, compliance, operational efficiency, and student experience

Oversight of Admissions Operations

• Lead the admissions operations to ensure effective processing, compliance, CRM ownership, and communications infrastructure
• Ensure admissions workflows are scalable, compliant, and continuously assessed and improving
• Oversee funnel reporting, analytics, and data-informed decision-making
• Ensure audit readiness and regulatory alignment across admissions processes

Oversight of Admissions Counseling

• Lead the Director of Admissions Counselors to drive consistent counselor performance and high-quality student engagement
• Ensure counselors are effectively supported by systems, training, and clear priorities
• Establish performance expectations and accountability for enrollment outcomes
• Promote ethical, student-centered recruitment practices

Funnel & Performance Management

• Monitor enrollment metrics across programs and modalities
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the enrollment funnel
• Use data and insights to drive improvements in process, outreach, and conversion
• Report enrollment performance updates to vice president

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing on lead generation, inquiry quality, and messaging alignment
• Collaborate with financial aid, advising, registrar, IT, and compliance teams
• Ensure smooth handoffs from admissions to student support functions
• Serve as a key stakeholder in enrollment-related initiatives and system enhancements

People & Culture Leadership

• Build and maintain a high-performing admissions leadership team
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Coach and develop direct reports and emerging leaders
• Promote equity, access, and student success through enrollment practices

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in admissions and enrollment management leadership
• Demonstrated experience leading both operational and student-facing teams
• Strong understanding of admissions compliance and regulatory environments
• Experience managing enrollment funnels, CRMs, and performance metrics
• Experience scaling enrollment operations or leading organizational change

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Experience in online, adult, or nontraditional higher education environments
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills
• Ability to balance strategy with hands-on execution

Special Information:

• This position is located in Saratoga Springs, NY.
• Occasional travel may be required to fulfill department and university-wide commitments.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• SUNY Empire provides employees with robust remote and flexible work options to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff in a dispersed work environment.
• This title is listed in Appendix A of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees. Accordingly, individuals appointed to this title are not eligible for permanent appointment.

Additional Information:

Rank/Salary: Director of Admissions, SL5 / $110,000-$115,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.

We are pleased to offer our employees an excellent benefit package which includes NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options, and generous vacation, sick and holiday accruals; and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. We also offer professional-development activities for professionals and support staff.