About the Job
The Opportunity
The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) seeks an innovative and
collaborative leader to serve as its Executive Director of
Admissions during a period of significant institutional opportunity
and transformation.
The successful candidate will join a university that views
enrollment as a strategic driver of institutional vitality,
academic innovation, financial sustainability, and student success.
This leader will play a central role in advancing recruitment
strategies, strengthening student conversion, cultivating
meaningful partnerships, and positioning UMD for continued success
in an increasingly competitive higher education landscape.
This is an opportunity to inherit a talented admissions team and
lead the continued evolution of admissions through innovation,
collaboration, and thoughtful leadership.
Executive Search Information
To learn more about this executive leadership opportunity, the
University of Minnesota Duluth, and the search process, please
visit the Executive Director of Admissions search
website .
Position Summary
The Executive Director of Admissions serves as the university's
senior admissions leader, providing strategic leadership for the
admissions enterprise. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for
Strategic Enrollment Management, the Executive Director leads
first-year, transfer, and international recruitment while providing
executive oversight for admissions strategy, operations,
partnerships, and organizational effectiveness.
Working collaboratively with academic and administrative leaders
across the university, the Executive Director develops and
implements recruitment strategies, strengthens the prospective
student experience, advances data-informed decision-making, fosters
innovation across the admissions enterprise, and cultivates a
high-performing admissions organization that advances institutional
enrollment priorities.
In collaboration with graduate education and program leadership,
this position serves as a strategic thought partner by identifying
opportunities to strengthen graduate recruitment strategies and
build organizational capacity for future enrollment growth.
Leadership Opportunities
The Executive Director will have the opportunity to:
Lead Strategic Recruitment
Lead the university's admissions recruitment strategy by helping
UMD respond to demographic change, evolving student expectations,
and increasing competition. Expand market reach, diversify
recruitment pathways, and advance institutional enrollment
priorities while helping guide the integration of Postsecondary
Enrollment Options (PSEO), College in the Schools, and related
outreach initiatives into Admissions.
Advance Student Conversion
Champion an integrated recruitment and conversion strategy that
helps prospective students confidently choose UMD. Elevate visitor
experiences, personalized engagement, faculty, alumni, and student
connections, and other touchpoints that influence enrollment
decisions while creating a seamless transition from first inquiry
through enrollment and the beginning of the student
experience.
Strengthen Academic Partnerships
Partner with colleges, faculty, and academic leadership to align
recruitment strategies with evolving student interests, workforce
needs, market opportunities, academic modalities, and future
program development. Support the continued evolution of graduate
recruitment through collaborative partnerships with graduate
programs and academic leadership.
Modernize the Admissions Enterprise
Lead the continued evolution of the admissions enterprise by
enhancing organizational effectiveness, operational processes,
policies and procedures, territory management, CRM capabilities,
and data-informed decision making while thoughtfully integrating
emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Cultivate
a university-wide culture where recruitment is viewed as a shared
responsibility and continuous improvement is embedded throughout
the organization.
Represent UMD Beyond Campus
Serve as a visible ambassador for the university by cultivating
relationships with schools, counselors, community organizations,
alumni, employers, regional partners, and civic leaders. Advance
partnerships that strengthen UMD's visibility, reputation,
educational access, workforce development, and long-term enrollment
success.
Location and Work environment: Primarily in-person on the
University of Minnesota Duluth campus. May be some flexibility for
hybrid work.
Work Schedule: Typical business hours, Monday through Friday.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Admissions Strategy and Planning (20%)
- Lead the development and implementation of admissions and
recruitment strategies aligned with institutional enrollment
priorities
Translate Strategic Enrollment Management priorities into
actionable recruitment plans and measurable outcomes.
Advise university leadership on enrollment trends, demographic
shifts, market conditions, recruitment performance, and competitor
activity to inform institutional decision-making
Facilitate the development, communication, and assessment of
undergraduate enrollment targets in partnership with academic
leadership and campus stakeholders
Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Research, the
budget & analysis office, and external partners to develop
enrollment projections, scenario modeling, tuition revenue
analysis, and long-range enrollment planning
Lead enrollment analysis related to recruitment performance,
student behavior, market trends, and enrollment funnel outcomes to
support strategic planning and financial sustainability
Contribute to institutional discussions related to enrollment
strategy, academic planning, resource allocation, and long-term
university priorities
Recruitment and Student Conversion (20%)
- Lead recruitment strategy for first-year, transfer, and
international student populations through territory management,
market expansion, lead generation, and outreach initiatives
- Develop strategies that strengthen application generation,
student conversion, yield, and enrollment outcomes
- Partner with Enrollment Marketing and Communications to align
recruitment strategy, communications, market positioning, and
prospective student engagement
- Collaborate with Financial Aid and Scholarships to inform
financial aid leveraging and optimization strategies in
consultation with the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment
Management and the budget & analysis office
- Coordinate cross-functional recruitment efforts with strategic
enrollment management, academic, student life, and other campus
partners to strengthen enrollment outcomes and the prospective
student experience
- Provide strategic oversight of international recruitment in
partnership with International Programs and Services, and
collaborate with graduate and professional programs to strengthen
recruitment strategies and advance enrollment growth across student
populations
- Partner with University Marketing and Public Relations to
ensure alignment between recruitment strategy, institutional
messaging, and brand positioning
Partnerships and Pathways (20%)
- Develop and strengthen partnerships with school districts,
community colleges, community organizations, and other external
partners to support recruitment, educational access, and enrollment
goals
- Advance transfer pathways, articulation agreements, and other
partnership models that strengthen long-term enrollment
opportunities
- Provide strategic leadership for the integration of
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), College in the Schools,
and related outreach initiatives as organizational responsibilities
evolve
- Align campus outreach, youth engagement, and pathway
initiatives with institutional enrollment priorities to strengthen
long-term recruitment pipelines and institutional awareness
- Partner with academic leadership to align recruitment
strategies with workforce needs, evolving student interests,
academic program priorities, and future program development
Enterprise Modernization and Operational Excellence
(20%)
- Provide strategic leadership for undergraduate admissions
operations, including recruitment operations, application
processing, analysis, territory management, and visit programs
- Lead modernization of admissions systems, operational
processes, policies, communication strategies, and organizational
workflows to improve effectiveness and scalability
- Ensure effective use of CRM systems, enrollment technologies,
data infrastructure, and performance metrics to support strategic
decision-making and continuous improvement
- Utilize data analysis and enrollment insights to evaluate
recruitment effectiveness, identify opportunities, and improve
organizational performance across the enrollment funnel
- Lead process improvement initiatives and evaluate emerging
technologies, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen
recruitment strategy, operational effectiveness, and the
prospective student experience
- Manage budgets, staffing models, and resource allocation to
support organizational priorities and enrollment outcomes
Organizational Leadership and Talent Development (10%)
- Provide strategic leadership and organizational direction
across the admissions enterprise
- Recruit, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing
admissions team while fostering collaboration, accountability,
innovation, and continuous improvement
- Establish a distributed leadership model with clear ownership
and decision-making across functional areas
- Assess organizational structure and recommend improvements that
enhance effectiveness, scalability, succession planning, and future
organizational capacity
Community and External Engagement (10%)
- Represent the university in regional, state, and national
organizations, professional associations, and strategic
partnerships
- Serve as a spokesperson for admissions, enrollment, and
recruitment initiatives through media interviews, public
communications, and community engagement
- Represent the university in public discussions related to
admissions strategy, student access, and institutional enrollment
growth
- Strengthen relationships with school counselors, school and
district leaders, employers, alumni, civic leaders, community
organizations, and educational partners to advance the university's
visibility, recruitment efforts, and strategic partnerships
Other Duties
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission,
goals, and strategic priorities of the unit, division, and
university.
Please include a resume and cover letter to be considered.
Application review will begin immediately and continue until the
position is filled. For best consideration, apply by August 24,
2026.
Please note that this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green
Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training
program.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree plus at least 12 years of relevant
experience, or master's degree plus at least 10 years of relevant
experience
- Progressive leadership experience in admissions, enrollment
management, recruitment, student services, or related higher
education functions
- Experience leading strategic initiatives, operational planning,
or organizational projects within a complex organization
- Experience leading professional staff, teams, or cross
functional initiatives.
- Strong communication, presentation, and relationship building
skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in higher education, business, public
administration/policy, or a related field
- Experience serving as the chief admissions officer, Director of
Admissions, or in an equivalent senior leadership role leading
undergraduate admissions
- Experience leading enrollment growth initiatives and improving
net tuition revenue outcomes
- Experience developing enrollment projections, scenario
modeling, or long range enrollment planning in collaboration with
institutional partners
- Experience with international recruitment strategy and global
enrollment initiatives
- Experience developing strategies that strengthen application
generation, student conversion, yield, and enrollment outcomes
- Experience facilitating undergraduate enrollment target
development in partnership with academic leadership and campus
stakeholders
- Experience partnering with graduate and professional program
leaders to support recruitment strategy or enrollment growth
- Experience overseeing dual enrollment, College in the
Schools/PSEO, or other early pipeline initiatives
- Experience developing strategic partnerships with employers,
community organizations, or regional partners
- Experience leading organizational modernization, process
improvement, change management, or implementation of data informed
technologies, including CRM systems and AI supported tools, to
improve organizational effectiveness and strategic decision
making
- Experience representing an institution through public
presentations, media interactions, or external partnership
settings
About the Department
The Office of Admissions is part of the University of Minnesota
Duluth's Division of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) and
leads the university's admissions enterprise. The office is
responsible for undergraduate recruitment, including first-year,
transfer, international, and specialized recruitment populations;
admissions operations and processing; campus visits and guest
relations; admissions analytics; CRM strategy and management;
enrollment pathways; and strategic partnerships that support
student recruitment and enrollment. Through a talented team of
approximately 20 professional and student employees, Admissions
serves as one of the university's primary points of connection with
prospective students and their families, creating personalized
experiences that help students discover, choose, and enroll at
UMD.
Strategic Enrollment Management is an integrated division that
partners across the university to advance enrollment, student
success, and institutional vitality. Guided by commitments to
access, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, SEM
brings together Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships,
Enrollment Marketing and Communications, Institutional Research,
the Office of the Registrar, and the Bulldog Resource Center/One
Stop Student Services to support students from their first
interaction with UMD through graduation. Through data-informed
decision-making, innovative technologies, strategic partnerships,
and student-centered services, SEM works collaboratively with
academic and administrative leaders to strengthen enrollment,
enhance the student experience, and support the university's
long-term success.
Pay and Benefits
Pay Range: $106,000 per year – $130,000 per year; depending
on education/qualifications/experience
Time Appointment: 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
While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to
note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This
approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of
each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our
commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to
incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.
How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this
position, please click the Apply button and follow the
instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online
application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume
or CV.
This position will remain open until filled.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please
e-mail
employ@umn.edu or call
(612) 624-8647.
Diversity
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
Employment Requirements
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.
About University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD)
The University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) consistently ranks among
the top Midwestern, regional universities in U.S. News and World
Report's "America's Best Colleges" issue.
Overlooking Lake Superior, UMD provides an alternative to both
large research and small liberal arts environments and attracts
students looking for a personalized learning experience on a
medium-sized campus of a major university. A firm liberal arts
foundation anchors a variety of traditional degree programs, as
well as professional and graduate students that draw on UMD's many
research institutes and labs.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by
Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer
for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026,
we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards
recognition for employee appreciation and work-life
flexibility.