Director of Admissions

Director of Admissions

The Montana State University (MSU) Division of Student Success invites applications and nominations for a director of admissions. Reporting to the vice president for student success, the director oversees the Office of Admissions by leading the ongoing development and implementation of a strategic admissions plan designed to achieve an incoming class that is inclusive, optimal in number, and representative of Montana State University’s historic land-grant mission. The director oversees a talented and highly successful team of admissions’ colleagues in the context of a team-of-teams approach to divisional leadership and campus partnerships.  This position directs the admissions process from inquiry through enrollment, working with internal and external campus partners and campus leadership to meet enrollment objectives.

Required Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in related field; five to seven years of professional experience in an admissions or enrollment management functional area with an emphasis on a broad scope of administrative experience;
2. Proven experience in undergraduate pipeline development and recruitment strategies;
3. Experience in project management: creating long- and short-term plans, including setting targets for milestones, adhering to deadlines, and allocating resources;
4. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills;
5. Experience utilizing data and analysis for strategic decision making;
6. Experience in overseeing and managing a multi-million-dollar budget;

1. The ability to engage in meaningful exchange and present new ideas and possibilities to university leadership in regard to new undergraduate enrollment;
2. Superior communication skills, well developed analytical skills, the wherewithal to be a superior strategist, and a collaborative leadership style; and
3. Proven success at building diverse and inclusive new student classes along with meeting or exceeding institutional enrollment goals. 

Preferred Qualifications

1. Proven ability to bring together a unit with diverse responsibilities. Ability to further develop and support the admissions staff to maximize the team’s capacities and ability to be innovative, responsive, analytical, energetic, optimistic, results oriented and student centered;
2. Proven ability to meet yearly enrollment targets and continue MSU’s new undergraduate recruitment success trajectory;
3. Proven ability to continuously innovate and bring new ideas which foster success;
4. Ability to shape and deliver MSU’s future student body within the context of university goals; entrepreneurial and adaptive leadership style; proven effectiveness and expertise in change management; ability to build and motivate a team and to inspire joy in one’s work; affinity for developing complex recruitment strategies;
5. Ability to assess the effectiveness of how recruitment funds are employed and to produce regular and systematic comparative reports that detail progress toward enrollment goals; willingness to engage in continuous dialogue about admissions with the vice president for student success and university leadership; proven skills in strategic thinking, problem resolution, organization, and project management;
6. Proven success in innovative thinking; excellent execution of both complex and routine marketing strategies; a record of taking programs to new levels of success; ability to think creatively, and to leverage technology;
7. Possession of dynamic speaking and strong writing skills to communicate effectively with all constituencies, including prospective students and their families, the admissions staff, faculty, staff, and the general public;
8. Demonstration of a sense of urgency and engagement; ability to work in a fast paced and data driven environment; strong leadership capabilities; hard work; a joy in one’s work; optimism, confidence, and excitement about change; a genuine interest in forming a team with divisional staff and university partners; a personal presence that is active and inclusive; demonstrated skill to promote and enhance diversity; and
9. Seasoned admissions/enrollment professional with a passion for marketing higher education, specifically Montana State University’s mission of access and excellence.

Salary

The position is a full-time, 12-month administrative position with an excellent benefits package.  Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

How to Apply

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC is assisting Montana State University in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. For a full application package, please provide a cover letter, CV, and list of five references. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:

Betty Turner Asher

Founder, Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC

Vice President & Managing Partner, Kelly

E-mail: bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com

Ann Bailey

Senior Executive Search Consultant

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC

E-mail: annbailey@greenwoodsearch.com

For more information about the position, please visit: https://www.greenwoodsearch.com/montana-state-university-director-of-admissions.

For more information about Montana State University, please visit: https://www.montana.edu/.

Montana State University is dedicated to ensuring an environment of non-discrimination and equal opportunity in its education programs and employment opportunities in compliance with state and federal laws.  The Office of Institutional Equity supports the University’s goals by promoting an inclusive, diverse and supportive environment for external members of the campus community and our employees and students to excel regardless of their race, color, national origin (ancestry), sex, sexual preference/orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, marital or parental status, age, creed, religion or political beliefs, mental or physical disability, genetic information or status as a veteran.