Executive Director of Admissions – UMN Duluth

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is a student-centered medium-sized public research university integrating liberal education, public engagement, and sustainability. Overlooking Lake Superior, UMD provides professional programs, hands-on discovery, and robust campus life within the vibrant port city of Duluth.

Learn more about UMN Duluth

Admissions Strategy and Planning (20%)

• Lead the development and implementation of admissions and recruitment strategies aligned with institutional enrollment priorities
• Translate Strategic Enrollment Management priorities into actionable recruitment plans and measurable outcomes.
• Advise university leadership on enrollment trends, demographic shifts, market conditions, recruitment performance, and competitor activity to inform institutional decision-making
• Facilitate the development, communication, and assessment of undergraduate enrollment targets in partnership with academic leadership and campus stakeholders
• Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Research, the budget & analysis office, and external partners to develop enrollment projections, scenario modeling, tuition revenue analysis, and long-range enrollment planning
• Lead enrollment analysis related to recruitment performance, student behavior, market trends, and enrollment funnel outcomes to support strategic planning and financial sustainability
• Contribute to institutional discussions related to enrollment strategy, academic planning, resource allocation, and long-term university priorities

Recruitment and Student Conversion (20%)

• Lead recruitment strategy for first-year, transfer, and international student populations through territory management, market expansion, lead generation, and outreach initiatives
• Develop strategies that strengthen application generation, student conversion, yield, and enrollment outcomes
• Partner with Enrollment Marketing and Communications to align recruitment strategy, communications, market positioning, and prospective student engagement
• Collaborate with Financial Aid and Scholarships to inform financial aid leveraging and optimization strategies in consultation with the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management and the budget & analysis office
• Coordinate cross-functional recruitment efforts with strategic enrollment management, academic, student life, and other campus partners to strengthen enrollment outcomes and the prospective student experience
• Provide strategic oversight of international recruitment in partnership with International Programs and Services, and collaborate with graduate and professional programs to strengthen recruitment strategies and advance enrollment growth across student populations
• Partner with University Marketing and Public Relations to ensure alignment between recruitment strategy, institutional messaging, and brand positioning

Partnerships and Pathways (20%)

• Develop and strengthen partnerships with school districts, community colleges, community organizations, and other external partners to support recruitment, educational access, and enrollment goals
• Advance transfer pathways, articulation agreements, and other partnership models that strengthen long-term enrollment opportunities
• Provide strategic leadership for the integration of Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), College in the Schools, and related outreach initiatives as organizational responsibilities evolve
• Align campus outreach, youth engagement, and pathway initiatives with institutional enrollment priorities to strengthen long-term recruitment pipelines and institutional awareness
• Partner with academic leadership to align recruitment strategies with workforce needs, evolving student interests, academic program priorities, and future program development

Enterprise Modernization and Operational Excellence (20%)

• Provide strategic leadership for undergraduate admissions operations, including recruitment operations, application processing, analysis, territory management, and visit programs
• Lead modernization of admissions systems, operational processes, policies, communication strategies, and organizational workflows to improve effectiveness and scalability
• Ensure effective use of customer relationship management (CRM) systems, enrollment technologies, data infrastructure, and performance metrics to support strategic decision-making and continuous improvement
• Utilize data analysis and enrollment insights to evaluate recruitment effectiveness, identify opportunities, and improve organizational performance across the enrollment funnel
• Lead process improvement initiatives and evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to strengthen recruitment strategy, operational effectiveness, and the prospective student experience
• Manage budgets, staffing models, and resource allocation to support organizational priorities and enrollment outcomes

Organizational Leadership and Talent Development (10%)

• Provide strategic leadership and organizational direction across the admissions enterprise
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing admissions team while fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Establish a distributed leadership model with clear ownership and decision-making across functional areas
• Assess organizational structure and recommend improvements that enhance effectiveness, scalability, succession planning, and future organizational capacity

Community and External Engagement (10%)

• Represent the university in regional, state, and national organizations, professional associations, and strategic partnerships
• Serve as a spokesperson for admissions, enrollment, and recruitment initiatives through media interviews, public communications, and community engagement
• Represent the university in public discussions related to admissions strategy, student access, and institutional enrollment growth
• Strengthen relationships with school counselors, school and district leaders, employers, alumni, civic leaders, community organizations, and educational partners to advance the university's visibility, recruitment efforts, and strategic partnerships

Other Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission, goals, and strategic priorities of the unit, division, and university.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus at least 12 years of relevant experience, or master's degree plus at least 10 years of relevant experience
• Progressive leadership experience in admissions, enrollment management, recruitment, student services, or related higher education functions
• Experience leading strategic initiatives, operational planning, or organizational projects within a complex organization
• Experience leading professional staff, teams, or cross functional initiatives.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship building skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, business, public administration/policy, or a related field
• Experience serving as the chief admissions officer, Director of Admissions, or in an equivalent senior leadership role leading undergraduate admissions
• Experience leading enrollment growth initiatives and improving net tuition revenue outcomes
• Experience developing enrollment projections, scenario modeling, or long range enrollment planning in collaboration with institutional partners
• Experience with international recruitment strategy and global enrollment initiatives
• Experience developing strategies that strengthen application generation, student conversion, yield, and enrollment outcomes
• Experience facilitating undergraduate enrollment target development in partnership with academic leadership and campus stakeholders
• Experience partnering with graduate and professional program leaders to support recruitment strategy or enrollment growth
• Experience overseeing dual enrollment, College in the Schools/PSEO, or other early pipeline initiatives
• Experience developing strategic partnerships with employers, community organizations, or regional partners
• Experience leading organizational modernization, process improvement, change management, or implementation of data informed technologies, including CRM systems and AI supported tools, to improve organizational effectiveness and strategic decision making
• Experience representing an institution through public presentations, media interactions, or external partnership settings

Starting salary range: $106,000–$130,000 annually

Benefits: As a Professional and Administrative (P&A) employee, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with low-cost health coverage, professional development opportunities, and retirement plan with 10% employer contribution. (See our benefits page for more information.) 

Please submit both a cover letter and a resume (or CV).

Apply here

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, apply by September 21, 2026. 

Search Advisory Committee

• Adam Burke, Chair – Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Engagement and Wellbeing
• Anne Stevens – Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• Erik Brown – Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education and Research
• Chrissie Faupel – Director of International Affairs
• Susana Pelayo-Woodward – Director, Office of Diversity & Inclusion and Women's Resource and Action Center
• Marti Fasteland – Interim Director, Office of Admissions
• Jeremy Belanger – Director of Advising and Academic Services, Labovitz School of Business and Economics
• Bryan Martinez Mejia – UMD Student Body President