Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students, the Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions provides leadership and oversight for the development, implementation, and management of recruitment initiatives and operations related to the enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students within the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. The position is responsible for all areas of student recruitment, including lead generation, yield strategy and communications, admissions operations, and the management of admissions staff. The Associate Director is a highly visible role within the Sam Fox School and collaborates regularly with academic directors and program chairs to develop, execute, and assess enrollment initiatives and tactics. The position also develops and manages recruitment communications that align with school marketing plans. This position routinely analyzes and reports return on investment for strategies/initiatives as well as recruitment funnel key performance indicators. The position requires some evening and weekend work, flexible hours, and seasonal travel.
The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis is a unique collaboration in architecture, art, and design education within the context of an internationally recognized research university. Comprising the College of Architecture and Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design, the College and Graduate School of Art, and the Mildred Lane Kemper Museum, the Sam Fox School offers a depth of professional education in conjunction with one of the premier university art museums. The School has a strong commitment to social justice, environmental justice, and community-based work. The Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions supports a diverse population of approximately 530 undergraduate and 225 graduate students in the School, and candidates should demonstrate a commitment to creating and sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Recruitment Planning and Implementation

• Collaborates closely with associate deans, academic directors, and program chairs to develop comprehensive enrollment plans for both undergraduate and graduate programs, and implement and assess recruitment strategies to meet/exceed the objectives of those plans.
• Partners with faculty and program chairs on all aspects of the recruitment, admission, and yield process, featuring faculty prominently in all stages of the process, ensuring a broad understanding of each respective program.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for directors and program chairs. This includes, maintaining a proactive line of communication regarding regular admission updates, data reviews, website changes, and responses to specific student inquiries.
• Collaborates with academic leadership on the development and implementation of recruitment strategies for new academic programs.
• Maintains an understanding of the competitive landscape for Sam Fox School graduate programs to include knowledge of key competitor and aspirant program offerings; and recruitment and messaging tactics; developing recommendations to maintain and enhance the market competitiveness and relevance of Sam Fox graduate programs.

Outreach and Cultivation

• Develops strategic partnerships with faculty, academic directors, administrative offices, alumni, business and industry leaders in order to develop and execute pipeline building to advance enrollment success.
• Represent the Sam Fox School at regional, national, and international recruiting events, both physical and virtual.
• Works with the Sam Fox School communications team and program chairs to contribute to the development of personalized marketing collateral, web content, and targeted social media advertising campaigns in support of student recruitment and yield.
• Coordinate with the Sam Fox School communications team and external vendors for design and purchase of promotional items and marketing materials.

Oversight of Admissions Operations

• Manages all aspects of the admissions office operations, including development of policies, processes, and procedures related to recruitment and enrollment, such as data management, application processing, use of recruitment databases, etc.
• Ensures accurate application file and review movement across multiple reviewers resulting in timely release of applicant decisions in order to meet application through enrollment targets. Consistently review funnel conversion rates to remain on target to meet enrollment objectives.
• Responsible for the implementation and oversight of technology for the admissions process and serves as the school’s liaison with the University Slate team. Optimize the use of the Slate CRM system for efficient, customer focused communication and application processing.
• Reviews and develops business practices and organizational changes to improve processes and workflow.
• Routinely analyze and report ROI for strategies/initiatives and recruitment funnel key performance indicators; measure and monitor conversion rates, application rates, yield, etc.
• Monitors admissions budgets and expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility and adherence to University policies.
• Provides input to the Scholarship/Fellowship Committee regarding financial aid allocations.

Supervision and Volunteer Coordination

• Recruits, trains, and supervises core recruiting and admissions staff members.
• Role model best practices for communication, supervision, and program management for direct and indirect supervisees.
• Ensures quality customer service to all internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinates volunteers assisting with recruitment efforts both on-campus and offsite. Volunteers may include faculty members, students, alumni, and other friends of the Sam Fox School.

Additional Responsibilities

• Serves on school or university committees as requested to further recruitment and enrollment efforts.
• Represents the Sam Fox School at meetings with the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment using office equipment.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required by job.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as necessary.
• Ability to travel to on- and off-campus locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Six to eight years admission leadership experience.
• Understanding and knowledge of the fields of art, architecture, and/or design.
• High level of experience with public speaking and presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of people and nurture an equitable and inclusive work and learning environment.
• Experience as a designated school official (DSO) and previous work with international students is beneficial.
• Demonstrated people and project management experience.
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication and organizational skills.
• Experience with or knowledge of best practices related to admissions and enrollment related to both domestic and international recruitment.
• Ability to be efficient and effective in a high-pressure environment and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of autonomy, using strategic skills in planning, prioritization, and problem solving.
• Proven ability to handle multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail.
• Strong supervision and people management skills.
• Ability to identify and establish professional connection on behalf of the School and maintain ongoing relationships with key national and international contacts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn new platforms as needed to complete the essential functions of the position.
• Ability to travel as needed during recruitment and yield seasons; some evening and weekend work required related to recruitment activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Five years of relevant work experience.

Grade

G12

Salary Range

$58,400.00 - $99,700.00 / AnnuallyThe salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Want to Live Near Your Work and/or improve your commute? Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees. We also offer a forgivable home loan of up to $12,500 for closing costs and a down payment for homes in eligible neighborhoods.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO/AA Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement

Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.