Vice President of Enrollment Management, Communication and Marketing – 38964

FLSA EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Salaried; Exempt; Administrative; 12 months

DEPARTMENT: Admissions, Communication and Marketing

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the President of Alma College and serving on the cabinet, the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Communication and Marketing (VPEMCM) will lead the advancement of the college’s enrollment, communication, and marketing efforts through the continued implementation and refinement of goal-driven strategies. The VPEMCM will provide direct leadership and supervision for 20 employees across the following offices: 1) Undergraduate Admissions, 2) Financial Aid, 3) International, Transfer, and Graduate Admissions, and 4) Communications and Marketing.

The VPEMCM will be responsible for building a sustained, relational recruitment strategy within Michigan high schools and community colleges while also developing data-driven recruitment strategies for out-of-state undergraduates, graduate, and international students.

Additionally, the VPEMCM will lead the execution of a comprehensive, collaborative marketing strategy that supports Alma College’s mission, branding, and communication efforts, ensuring effective representation to prospective students and maintaining consistent messaging across all channels. Under the leadership of the VPEMCM, teams will strengthen the internal campus community by amplifying brand awareness and ensuring clear, impactful communication with alumni, donors, prospective students, current students, and other key external stakeholders. This includes overseeing official presidential communications to ensure alignment with institutional goals and enhancing the college’s overall narrative.

The ideal candidate will work closely with the Alma College community, senior leaders, and other campus stakeholders to further the college’s commitment to belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a key change agent, the VPEMCM will contribute to adapting the institution to meet the evolving needs and interests of students in a competitive marketplace, striving to make Alma College a model of “student-ready, student-first” pedagogies and practices.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive enrollment management strategy to achieve the college’s enrollment goals, mission, and objectives. Lead recruitment efforts with optimism and energy, focusing on increasing student enrollment and fostering long-term relationships with prospective students.
• Utilize data analytics to inform enrollment projections, recruitment strategies, and financial aid decisions. Continuously assess the effectiveness of recruitment activities and scholarship programs, refining strategies to proactively respond to market trends.
• Leverage financial aid and scholarship funds to support recruitment and retention goals, ensuring timely, efficient, and compliant fund distribution that aligns with the college’s mission.
• Oversee the management, optimization, and evolution of the college’s website to ensure an engaging, user-friendly experience for prospective students. Support search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to increase the website’s visibility, optimize content, and drive organic traffic.
• Guide the team that collaborates with the college president and senior leadership to craft and deliver key institutional messages. Coordinate high-profile communications, including presidential speeches, publications, strategic announcements, and important messages to internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor, and supervise a diverse team, including admissions, marketing, communications, and event planning professionals. Foster a high-performance, student-centered environment focused on continuous improvement in processes, customer service, and engagement.
• Identify target market segments and create effective, data-informed marketing strategies. Oversee the development of recruitment materials and monitor the performance of integrated marketing and recruitment plans.
• Implement strategies to increase brand awareness through visual and multi-media design and promotion of the college’s narrative to prospective students, alumni, faculty, donors, and other key stakeholders, both locally and nationally.
• Facilitate the development and execution of social media and digital marketing strategies, including organic content creation, paid advertising, and engagement on emerging platforms, ensuring alignment with recruitment goals.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, alumni, counselors, and prospective students and families. Represent the college at on- and off-campus events, including speaking engagements and parent/student programs.
• Formulate and manage the sector’s annual budget, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and financial obligations.
• Demonstrated experience in the strategic planning and executing of integrated marketing and communications campaigns.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in enrollment management and/or communication and marketing or related fields (e.g., recruitment, admissions, financial aid, communication and marketing, etc.)
• Proven record of accomplishments in achieving enrollment and strategic marketing goals.
• Experience in leading and mentoring a diverse cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to work with diverse constituencies with the ability to serve as an ambassador for the College; ability to engage effectively with prospective students and families, current students and families, high school counselors, faculty, staff, alumni, and external audiences on behalf of the College.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to lead presentations and group discussions, assist with public relations, and foster interpersonal relationships.
• Ability to collaborate closely with students, faculty, staff, and senior administrators in Institutional Advancement, Academic & Student Affairs, and Finance-related areas, along with other senior leaders across campus.
• Excellent management, human relations, budget management, and problem-solving skills, as well as a sophisticated understanding of current trends in enrollment and marketing in higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, lead, and empower staff.
• Demonstrated collaboration skills to involve faculty, staff, and current students in recruitment.
• Analytical, data-informed, and results-oriented.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, Pell-eligible, and diverse populations
  
  

SALARY: $180,000-$200,000 depending upon qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits package.

Other Key Characteristics/Attributes

• Ability to serve as a strong advocate, promoting the strengths and qualities of Alma College
• Strong project and resource management abilities
• Strength in statistical research and analytical capacity, strong data acumen and the ability to use data to understand issues and develop effective strategies
• An open, collaborative, and non-competitive leadership style that promotes partnerships and builds trust and strong relationships across the organization
• Ability to work in and leverage the Slate CRM system
• The ability to communicate effectively to engage students, parents, and alumni of Alma College and to explain complex concepts, ideas, and issues to a broad range of campus constituents.
  
  

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit the Alma College application, letter of interest, and a resume via the apply now button below. Applications will be accepted until March 30, 2025.

Alma College is classified as a selective Baccalaureate College: Diverse Fields by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Committed to academic excellence and development of responsible leaders, Alma’s students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body.

Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. For more information about the College, visit www.alma.edu.

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