Western Washington University · 15 hours ago
Executive Director of Admissions
Bellingham, WA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$138K/yr - $179K/yr
8+ years expWestern Washington University is a nationally recognized institution with over 15,000 students, dedicated to academic excellence and inclusive success. They are seeking an Executive Director of Admissions to lead the admissions and recruitment strategies, manage a team, and foster relationships across campus to attract a diverse undergraduate student body.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Develop and implement a comprehensive and data-informed recruitment strategy including segmented recruitment plans, utilizing market data and enrollment trends to target prospective students effectively
Manage the day-to-day operations of the admissions office, including application processing, review, and the final decision-making process
Build and lead a high-performing admissions team, cultivating a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous professional growth
Oversee the planning and coordination of on-campus recruitment events, including campus tours, information sessions, group events, fall preview events, and admitted student days. Also, guide the work of coordinating participation in events such as college fairs, high school visits, receptions and all outreach and events that promote the institution to prospective students and their families
Collaborate with University Marketing to develop and distribute effective promotional materials and communication strategies across various channels (print, web, email, text, social media)
Collect, analyze, and interpret enrollment data to evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment strategies, identify trends, and provide regular reports to senior leadership
Leverage deep expertise in Slate CRM and a strong understanding of the enrollment management lifecycle to enhance systems and processes. Collaborate with IT, institutional research, and administrative units to optimize outcomes
Work closely with other university departments, including Financial Aid, Academic Advising, Orientation & Transition, University Residences, the Registrar’s Office, academic units, and Athletics, to ensure a seamless and supportive experience for new students
Provide recommendations and guidance in the development of state and university policy. Develop, implement, and enforce admissions policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations as well as institutional rules and policies
Plan, develop, and control the departmental budget, ensuring effective utilization of financial resources
Qualification
Required
Master's degree
Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in college recruitment and admissions
Minimum of 5 years' experience supervising professional staff in higher education admissions
Preferred
Demonstrated knowledge of the admission process, including recruitment/yield, application review, application processing, and applicant communication strategies
Knowledge of higher education recruitment landscape
Fluency in best practices for college recruitment
Demonstrated leadership supporting diversity and multiculturalism and sensitivity to academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of applicants
Excellent communication skills
Understanding of innovative technology and media in recruitment and admissions processes, including knowledge and effective integration of CRM, student information systems such as BANNER, Parchment, etc
Demonstrated budget management experience
Demonstrated understanding of the role of scholarships and other financial aid in achieving enrollment goals
Demonstrated ability to establish collegial relationships with students, family members, faculty, administrators, staff and the community
Experience analyzing and interpreting data to support decision making for building recruitment strategies
Strong record of successful team-building and management of staff
Company
Western Washington University
One of Washington’s six state-funded, four-year institutions of higher education, Western Washington University is state’s third-largest university.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Western Washington University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (21)
2024 (21)
2023 (20)
2022 (18)
2021 (15)
2020 (16)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Kim O'Neill
CEO of The Foundation for WWU & Alumni and Vice President of University Advancement
Chuck Lanham, MBA
VP Information Technology / CIO
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