"Senior Director of First-Year Admission"

Primary Purpose: The Senior Director of First-Year Admission is a visionary enrollment leader who is responsible for shaping the University of the Pacific's incoming undergraduate class. Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment Strategy, this role oversees the first-year admission team, driving innovative recruitment strategies that attract academically talented, diverse, and mission-aligned students.

This leader will partner with University executives, academic deans, marketing teams, and community stakeholders to deliver best-in-class recruitment practices, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement in all aspects of the admission process.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership

• Design and execute a comprehensive first-year recruitment strategy aligned with university enrollment goals.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Strategy leadership and academic deans to set enrollment projections, class profiles, and targeted growth strategies.
• Use data analytics and CRM systems to evaluate progress, inform decision-making, and optimize recruitment outcomes.
• Provide strategic insight as the first-year admission expert, managing vendor relationships and driving innovative recruitment initiatives such as direct admission.

Recruitment Initiatives

• Build and manage a robust high school territory management program with measurable results.
• Increase admission applications from a variety of geographic locations.
• Partner with Enrollment Marketing and Strategic Communications to develop creative, targeted outreach campaigns.

Admissions

• Lead the holistic application review process, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the team.
• Oversee waitlist management and decision release processes.

Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and coach a high-performing admission team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
• Set clear expectations, provide ongoing professional development, and align team strengths to meet institutional goals.

Collaboration & Outreach

• Serve as the primary lead within the Division of Enrollment Strategy for all first-year recruitment partnership opportunities across campus, representing First-Year Admission on university committees and in cross-departmental initiatives.
• Work closely with directors across Enrollment Strategy, campus visit programs, and transfer admission to achieve shared goals.
• Partner with academic and administrative units to market new programs and expand recruitment pipelines.
• Partner with the regional and national professional organizations for college admission counseling (WACAC and NACAC).
• Develop and maintain communications and relationships with college counselors from high schools in the Western states and other areas in the United States.

University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum six (6) years in college admission, enrollment management, or related experience with progressive leadership responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Slate CRM and enterprise-wide student information systems.
• Demonstrated success leading teams toward measurable enrollment goals.
• Proven track record in innovative recruitment strategies and creative marketing initiatives.
• Strong data analysis skills with the ability to link budgets to measurable outcomes.
• Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strategic vision and the ability to balance big-picture planning with tactical execution.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all recruitment efforts.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills grounded in data analysis.
• Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
• Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive 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 the essential functions.

Duties require frequent sitting, repetitive use of hands and wrists while using computer keyboard and phone. Occasional walking, standing and simple grasping. Infrequent climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling or reaching. May be requested to lift up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment/Work Week/Travel: Primarily office-based with standard business hours; occasional evenings and weekends required. Some local and overnight travel- approximately 4-6 weeks per year. Valid driver's license required. Incumbent must also be able to meet the University's fleet rules and be eligible to drive for University business. The University and its insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record.

Hiring Range:

$110,000 - $130,000; We consider factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Background Check Statement:

All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.

AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

University of the Pacific complies with California Assembly Bill 810, requiring candidates accepting conditional job offers to disclose any final administrative or judicial findings, ongoing proceedings, allegations, resignations under investigation, or appeals related to sexual harassment or misconduct within the past seven years.

To apply, visit https://pacific.peopleadmin.com/postings/31266