Vice President of Enrollment

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

The Vice President of Enrollment at Ave Maria University leads the strategic planning and execution of all enrollment-related activities, driving initiatives to attract, engage, and enroll students who align with the Ave Maria University’s mission and values. This role is responsible for managing the entire enrollment pipeline, from prospect generation to matriculation, with a strong emphasis on growing leads, recruitment, viable applications, closing applicants, and ensuring a seamless transition to the University.

This leader works closely with academics, marketing, financial aid, and other departments to ensure a student-centered enrollment process and meets the University's enrollment goals through effective recruitment strategies and operational excellence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Continue refining and improving the current enrollment management strategy to meet application and enrollment goals. Build on existing successful practices and implement new strategies in areas requiring improvement.
• Set clear, measurable objectives for each stage of the enrollment process, from prospective students to final enrollment, and ensure effective execution to achieve desired outcomes.
• Evaluate enrollment trends and analyze competitor approaches to identify opportunities for growth and enhance performance.

Admissions Operations and Team Leadership

• Oversee and streamline all admissions processes, including application review, interview process, decision-making, and timely communication with applicants, ensuring efficiency and a positive experience for prospective students.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to enhance the effectiveness and consistency of admissions operations.
• Provide leadership, training, and mentorship to the admissions team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and results-driven culture.
• Establish clear and measurable performance metrics for admissions counselors, ensuring accountability and alignment with enrollment and institutional goals.
• Monitor and analyze admissions trends, data, and outcomes to inform decision-making and adjust strategies as needed.
• Collaborate with financial aid to ensure seamless integration of admissions and scholarship processes, optimizing financial aid packaging for prospective students.
• Implement technology solutions and CRM tools to enhance admissions efficiency and communication strategies.
• Lead professional development initiatives for the admissions team to ensure continuous growth and adaptability to evolving trends in higher education recruitment.

Recruitment

• Develop, oversee, and expand outreach strategies, including high school visits, college fairs, on-campus and virtual events, and partnerships with external organizations to attract prospective students.
• Utilize data analytics to identify and prioritize high-impact target markets, with a focus on high-potential regions and key demographic groups.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to implement effective lead generation initiatives and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective students.
• Represent the institution at recruitment events, requiring up to 30% travel.

Closing Applicants

• Develop and execute yield strategies to convert admitted students into enrolled students.
• Coordinate and oversee admitted student events, campus visits, and virtual experiences to maximize applicant engagement.
• Collaborate with financial aid to ensure prospective students and families have a clear understanding of their options, addressing concerns proactively to reduce barriers to enrollment.

Pipeline Management and Reporting

• Monitor the enrollment funnel closely, identifying bottlenecks or drop-off points and implementing corrective actions.
• Use CRM tools and data analytics to track progress at each stage of the enrollment process, producing actionable insights and reports for leadership.
• Regularly assess and refine operational processes to ensure a seamless and efficient applicant experience.

Collaboration Across Departments

• Partner with financial aid, student affairs, and academic departments to ensure a smooth transition for incoming students.
• Collaborate with the marketing department to provide input on recruitment-focused campaigns, while maintaining primary accountability for enrollment outcomes.
• Work with student affairs and academic departments to support retention and ensure a smooth transition for first-year students.
• Collaborate with advancement teams, especially for scholarship programs and donor-funded initiatives.
• Very close collaboration with Athletics and The Institute (Strategy) throughout the enrollment process

Operational Oversight and Institutional Representation

• Manage budgets, schedules, and travel logistics.
• Represent the Enrollment department at key events and on committees.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to support institutional advancement initiatives.
• Oversee compliance with federal policies, gender equity standards, and other regulations.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to develop and execute strategies that significantly grow applications and drive enrollment.
• Possess long-term sales training and management skills to develop the admissions counselors gifts
• Expertise in managing the entire enrollment funnel, with a strong focus on yield strategies and applicant conversion.
• Strong knowledge of enrollment technologies and CRM platforms (e.g., Slate).
• Excellent analytical, organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to motivate and manage a high-performing team, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.

Personal Characteristics

• Deep commitment to the mission and values of Ave Maria University and its Catholic identity.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to driving results.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, particularly with students and families.

EXPERIENCE: Demonstrated leadership experience in enrollment and higher education, or a related field.

Proven expertise in team supervision.

7-10 years experience in sales, sales training, and recruitment, with a track record of achieving goals.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: (WRITE BASED on job needs)

Skills and Competencies

• Proven ability to develop and execute strategies that significantly grow applications and drive enrollment.
• Extensive experience in sales, sales training, and recruitment
• Expertise in managing the entire enrollment funnel, with a strong focus on yield strategies and applicant conversion.
• Strong knowledge of enrollment technologies and CRM platforms (e.g., Slate).
• Excellent analytical, organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to motivate and manage a high-performing team, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.

Personal Characteristics

• Deep commitment to the mission and values of Ave Maria University and its Catholic identity.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to driving results.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, particularly with students and families.
• Must support the University’s Catholic mission