Executive Director of Admissions

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as an Executive Director of Admissions. Under the direct supervision of the Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM), the Executive Director of Admissions is responsible for leading the admissions and operations enterprise at Bemidji State University (BSU). The director will play a central role in the development of the VPEM’s comprehensive recruitment strategy; will implement and manage the recruitment of both in-state and out-of-state recruiting of first-year, transfer, and graduate students; and will collaborate closely with colleagues responsible for international undergraduate recruiting. The Executive Director will provide expertise and advice to the VPEM and other BSU leadership, as well as to appropriate Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System officers, regarding recruitment goals and trends. The Executive Director is responsible for the performance of the Admissions Office staff, providing leadership, direction, problem-solving, staff development and team building. The Executive Director of Admissions represents BSU to prospective students, families and various communities within Minnesota and beyond. The Executive Director also represents BSU with Minnesota State and other associated professional organizations assigned by the VPEM.
 
Responsibilities of the Executive Director of Admissions include: 

• Leading and administering the functions of the Admissions Office. (80%)

  • Demonstrating self-awareness of one’s own cultural beliefs, perspectives, and privileges as a part of one’s orientation toward leadership
  • Providing leadership, supervision, and performance management of the Associate Director, Assistant Directors, Admissions Representatives, Operations staff members and support staff.  Providing development, growth and leadership opportunities for Admissions and Operations staff, encouraging and influencing all staff to provide the highest level of customer service.
  • Developing and managing the office budgets.
  • Responsible for managing and appropriating scholarship budgets and resources consistent with strategic initiatives and enrollment goals.
  • Supporting and continuously improving the development of Slate (CRM), and enhancement of existing and new computer systems used to perform various functions of the Admissions Office; overseeing and troubleshooting using of all such systems by Admissions staff.
  • Recommending and supporting the VPEM’s development and interpretation of both University/College and Minnesota State policies regarding undergraduate admission (including transfer evaluation, residency, and reciprocity).  Distributing all forms of admissions information and records in a manner consistent with Minnesota State, state and federal regulations including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Minnesota Data Practices Act, and overseeing the implementation of such polices by Admissions staff.
  • Implementing and evaluating all university and college recruitment strategies; directing mail campaigns, phone-athon efforts, special visit days, including on-campus, off-campus, high schools, colleges, and community partners. 
  • Working with Institutional Research and Effectiveness to assess demographics and research pertaining to recruitment efforts to ensure that enrollment goals are met or exceeded.
  • Recommending and supporting the VPEM’s design and development of recruitment strategies in collaboration with the other members of the Enrollment Management team.
  • Implementing and overseeing the first-year segment of the VPEM’s multi-year recruitment plan to meet or exceed established enrollment goals.
  • Providing direction for all admissions communications and events to undergraduate and graduate students, high school counselors, college counselors, parents, community partners and faculty/staff/alumni of the institutions.
  • Evaluating all Admissions Office functions to identify areas of improvement and recommending changes to the VPEM.
• Serving on internal and external committees and providing leadership on issues of student recruitment and admission, as assigned by the VPEM. (10%)
  • Serving as the Strategic Enrollment Management Committee.
  • Representing the Admissions office on the Enrollment Management Leadership Team.
  • Serving as a representative and providing leadership in various state and national professional organizations {i.e. ACT, National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), as well as statewide organizations for MN, WI, IA and the Dakotas}.

• Developing strong and open lines of communication with other offices, specifically Financial Aid, Housing and Residence Life, Records and Registration, Advising Success Center, Career Services, International Program Center and the Office of Communications and Marketing.  Developing strong and open lines of communication with the Deans to ensure proper promotion of academic programs. (10%)  

Minimum qualifications for this position include:

• Master’s degree plus five (5) years of professional work experience in Admissions, Recruitment, or Student Affairs-Related setting, or a closely related field, OR Bachelor’s degree plus six (6) years of professional work experience in Admissions, Recruitment, or Student Affairs-Related setting, or a closely related field, OR equivalent combination of post-secondary training, education, and/or professional experience. 
• Experience with both in-state and out-of-state recruiting.
• Familiarity with current national issues in higher education and awareness of their implications.
• Capacity to think strategically and to work creatively, and the skills and discipline to bring initiatives to fruition.
• Experience leading and supporting the development of professional staff and-or teams.
• Ability to foster intercultural competence, advance equity, and inclusion, and create a diverse, inclusive work environment; success recruiting a diverse student body.

Preferred qualifications include: 

• Master’s degree and 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in Admissions, Recruitment, or Student Affairs-Related setting. Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, interrupt oppressive structures and practices, and create an institutional culture that is equitable, inclusive, and just.

TO APPLY:
External Applicants: Apply for Vacancy Posting JR0000001745, on our career site:  https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Minnesota_State_Careers or at https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Minnesota_State_Careers/job/Bemidji/Executive-Director-of-Admissions_JR0000001745-1.
 
Internal Applicants: All current employees will need to log in to the career site in Workday to apply for the position. Employees will search for “Browse Jobs – Employees” in Workday via the search bar at the top to view open positions.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Miller at mary.miller@bemidjistate.edu