Associate Director of Admission, Visit Experience and Outreach Strategy
Ithaca College
Application
Details
Posted: 18-May-23
Location: Ithaca, New York
Type: Full Time
Salary: 72,000-74,000
Categories:
Postsecondary College/University
Preferred Education:
4 Year Degree
The Associate Director provides critical leadership within the Admission Office in developing, managing, and coordinating all aspects of the visit experience and outreach/communication efforts. The Associate Director is responsible for collaborating with the Executive Director and management team colleagues on strategies for continued and increased success of the admission effort at Ithaca College and other admissions-related initiatives for meeting the College’s overall enrollment goals.
The Associate Director will lead the office by providing strategy for the prospective student visit experience in both daily programming and larger-scale events that occur through the prospective student life cycle. The Associate Director will also develop prospective student outreach strategies, identify way to continually assess their effectiveness, lead process improvements, and be knowledgeable about the budget.
This position works in collaboration with the Admission Office senior management team, deans, program directors/coordinators, event management team and other staff and administrators designing and implementing the colleges prospective student visit experience ensuring that the communication coming from our office utilizes a diverse set of methods and channels.
The Associate Director plays a critical liaison role between the Admission and Marketing & Communication (M/C) and Constituent Engagement Strategy (CES) teams to ensure a collaborative approach to communicating and delivering a cohesive message and brand in all public-facing modes of communication, including through the campus visit experience.
The Associate Director represents the College at recruitment and admission events and at various venues and will review applications, advise prospective students and applicants throughout the admission process, and ensure timely admission decisions.
The successful candidate must:
Demonstrate strong leadership ability—must truly lead and inspire rather than merely manage others; build resilient staff teams able to adapt to changing needs.
Have a passion for professional excellence in visit experience
Couple vision with strong analytical and data-driven skills, having the ability to measure progress against stated objectives
Highly collaborative in decision-making and relationship building as a consensus builder.
Be able to work with many stakeholders and enjoy the human dimension of creating and building relationships across campus
Understand current and future best practices with regards to admissions and enrollment communications in a complex higher education institution
Be a facilitator of change with the capacity to build alliances and bring others on board with new initiatives
Possess excellent communication and empathetic active listening skills
Practice strong time management skills
Have experience managing projects
In addition, the successful candidate must be able to work well with all levels of employees and be flexible in nature and have an appreciation of the challenges faced by a diverse student population and their parents/supporters who are approaching the admission process from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds.
SUPERVISION:
The position reports to the Executive Director of Admission and will oversee a team of Admission professionals associated with Visit and Outreach/Communication experience. The Associate Director is a critical liaison role between the Admission and Marketing & Communication (MarComm) and Constituent Engagement Strategy (CES) teams.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Effectively communicates the Ithaca College brand, programs, and value proposition; analyzes institutional and external data and trends and advises the Executive Director and Vice President for Enrollment Strategy on initiatives and best practices for on-campus visit programs and communications and for the populations the College seeks to enroll; plans, implements, executes and assesses a well-researched, data driven communications strategy; works closely with Recruitment Strategy team as part of an overall enrollment plan; ensures that the campus visit experience is accessible, of the highest quality and fully integrates and represents IC’s brand into all aspects of the experience; works with the Executive Director to develop and manage the office’s communications and on-campus events and visit budget; provides timely and relevant reports to inform office and institutional practices and use of resources; actively contributes to a positive work environment. Some evening and weekend hours required.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Serve as a member of the Admission Office Leadership Team and other appropriate working groups and committees.
Lead, supervise, and develop the Communications and Visit Experience Team in identifying and achieving goals. This includes professional staff as well as a large cohort of student employees, our Admission Hosts.
Work with the Executive Director of Admission, Admission senior management team, and the Vice President for Enrollment Strategy in setting appropriate goals and objectives for on-campus recruitment and yield experiences and admission communications and ; develop and maintain knowledge of best practices and leverage data and other information to develop overall outreach and visit strategies to achieve enrollment goals; assess effectiveness of activities in relation to goals; develop key performance indicators and report regularly on progress toward achieving goals and objectives; integrate visit and communications strategies with other recruitment efforts.
Develop and implement strategies to yield admitted students in partnership with associate directors for recruitment strategy, the executive director, the marketing/communications team, and where appropriate, external partners. Evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts and offer recommendations for revamping or changing programs to meet established goals and objectives.
Collaborate directly, regularly, and effectively with Marketing/Communications team to ensure a holistic, integrated approach to communications and the visit experience and ensure the IC brand is consistent across all admission communication platforms; act as the liaison between the Admissions Office and the Marketing/Communications team, including the director of enrollment marketing, maintaining constant communication between the two offices.
Work with the Admissions, Marketing/Communications, and CES teams to strategically develop, implement, and assess data-informed communications strategies for prospective students including international, transfer, POC, and graduate students as well as engagement of key influencers (e.g., secondary school counselors, community-based organizations, independent counselors); anticipate needs of prospective students and build campaigns to address their concerns; target and engage new prospective students toward meeting institutional enrollment goals; develop and implement new communication streams for all relevant populations, including influencers and the University community.
Manage a team that writes, edits, manages, builds, and executes all Admission email, text, portal, and social media campaigns using the Admissions CRM (Slate), partnering closely with MarComm and Constituent Engagement Strategy teams. This includes both empowering team members and performing the functions directly.
In partnership with MarComm, develop and implement methods to analyze the success of all Admission-related communication, marketing, and advertising campaigns to determine effectiveness, identify weaknesses/areas where improvement is needed, and potential opportunity for future efforts; make recommendations for future improvements, partnerships, and campaigns, based on analysis and research of newly emerging technologies; explore new ways to develop and deliver content and attend conferences and webinars to stay informed of new trends and opportunities.
Work with staff from Philanthropy & Engagement to identify and coordinate opportunities for involvement of alumni and parents of current students in targeted visit and communications strategies.
Provide advice and support to faculty, student financial services staff, and other campus constituents on prospective student engagement initiatives relative to visit and communications.
Engage in recruitment events representing the College at professional meetings, high schools, fairs, college programs and special recruiting functions; prepare and deliver presentations to a variety of audiences in various formats; perform territory management functions for a small territory.
Maintain related process documentation and provide analytical, statistical and other reports; recommend methods to improve efficiency of processes; implement approved changes.
Develop a full working knowledge of Ithaca College - the curriculum, resources, and student experiences, and stay informed on new developments at the college.
Recommend various personnel actions including, but not limited to hiring, merit, vacation schedules, and performance evaluations.
Execute responsibilities in a manner consistent with the service philosophy and orientation of the Admission Office.
Functional area leadership: the ability to keep both the big and operational details at the forefront; ability to manage and motivate an enthusiastic and dynamic staff, develop strategy, set clear direction, and articulate goals and expectations for excellence and success.
Change Management: an understanding of the tools and technologies that can be used to advance the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization in connecting with prospective students and their key influencers.
Leadership & Management: a commitment to professional development of oneself and one’s team; a strong partner to the Executive Director, Vice President, and senior management team colleagues in strategic planning and execution; the inclination to seek out and integrate the input and reactions of others; and the ability to question and seek to evolve relevant Admission Office policies and practices.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in college or university admission; excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to represent the College effectively to various audiences; proven leadership abilities and previous supervisory experience preferred; highly effective skills in collaboration within and across organizations; demonstrated commitment to and success in working with a diverse population of students and parents/supporters; demonstrated ability to manage the communications and visit processes and experiences and leverage data in decision-making; an understanding of the higher education and enrollment landscapes and prospective student markets; sense of humor, innovative thinking, and a data-informed orientation; familiarity with marketing email and social platforms and the design and execution of drip-marketing campaigns; experience leveraging event management tools, and an understanding of how customer data integrates with an institutional CRM; experience using Technolutions Slate CRM is strongly preferred.
HIRING RANGE: Up to $72,000-$74,000
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Most of the work of the incumbent is carried out within a generally accessible, safe, indoor environment. The incumbent will be required to operate a personal computer and associated equipment such as computer printers as well as other office equipment used in day-to-day operations. The incumbent may be required to visit other offices, or work sites on and off campus. The incumbent will be required to travel to assigned regions and attend various recruitment events during and after normal business hours.
ABOUT ITHACA COLLEGE
As an employee at Ithaca College, you’ll get much more than a competitive salary and the traditional advantages. We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees with the most comprehensive benefits possible, including work/life balance, generous paid time off policies, career-enhancing trainings, employee and dependent tuition assistance, and opportunities to give back to the community. Beyond benefits, you’ll enjoy the kind of uniquely rewarding work environment that can only be found in a vibrant college community.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
To apply, please submit cover letter, resume and list of three professional references.
Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.
Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.
About Us
At Ithaca College, a comprehensive residential campus community of 6,500 students, we strive to be at the forefront of the higher education landscape. We offer a distinct integrative learning experience that makes students ready for the personal, professional, and global challenges of our age.
We seek candidates who embrace integrative learning and want to be a part of this exciting time in Ithaca College history. We encourage creative collaboration and innovation in our faculty and staff, providing support and resources for them to grow in their fields and lead students to their own innovative ideas and achievements.
We welcome different ways of thinking and look for candidates with unique points of view and life experiences. We are inclusive of individuals with a wide range of cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds, talents, and skills. Our campus is a vibrant and rewarding community where diverse minds can learn, succeed, and excel.
When reviewing candidates, we are looking for indicators of a number of core competencies. Prospective candidates must be adaptable, collaborative, inclusive, respectful, responsive, results driven, and sustainable. They must communicate effectively, demonstrate leadership, exhibit professional integrity and ethics, take initiative, value personal and professional development, and show that they will engage in the college.
Nestled in the heart of New York State’s scenic Finger Lakes region, Ithaca College sits atop South Hill overlooking picturesque Cayuga Lake and is just minutes away from the city center. Combining small town warmth and charm with the vibrancy of a college community, the thriving and culturally diverse city of Ithaca has been rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States.
A Welcoming Community
Located in one of America’s top college towns, Ithaca College boasts a lively and sophisticated residential community that takes full advantage of its stunning natural backdrop—lake, waterfalls, and gorges—and a local community rich in arts and culture. As an employee at Ithaca College, you’ll get much more than a competitive salary and the traditional advantages. We pride ourselves on providing our employees with the most comprehensive benefits possible. Beyond benefits, you’ll enjoy the kind of uniquely rewarding work environment that can only be found in a vibrant college community. We encourage and contribute to the personal and professional development of our faculty and staff. We understand that it’s the people who work here that make Ithaca College special, and we strive to be an employer of choice in our region.
