Posting Details (Default Section)
Posting Number:20254456SPosition Title:Assistant Director of Admissions - College of Liberal Arts & SciencesPosition Type:StaffLocation:Villanova, PARecruitment Type:Internal/External ApplicantsWork Schedule:full-time/12-monthsAvg Hours WeekDepartment:981 - Internal Online Prog MgmtPosition Summary:
The Assistant Director of Admissions works with prospective students interested in Villanova’s campus and online graduate degrees and certificates, assisting with the yield of high-caliber students. This role supports admissions and recruitment for the multi-modal graduate programs in Human Resource Development and Public Administration, though the program portfolio could expand in the future. The Assistant Director reports to the Associate Director of Admissions, Online Programs and spends the majority of time co-located with the team members of the program they are designated to support. In conjunction with program leadership, the Assistant Director ensures that the target enrollment and revenue streams for these respective programs are achieved. They quickly develop and continually refine an expert understanding of the graduate and the respective combined master’s/bachelor’s programs in the Office of Graduate Studies’ portfolio with an emphasis on a designated multimodal program (currently Human Resource Development or Public Administration), to ensure compelling, consistent, and accurate communications with prospective students across a variety of channels. They are responsible for generating and assessing prospective candidate leads and building and maintaining relationships with candidates that span across the enrollment timeline, from inquiry to registration. They work closely with the central marketing team to promptly follow up via phone, email and text with digitally generated inquiries and provide feedback on the quality of such leads from specific campaigns. They conduct information sessions, presentations and represent the programs at various events/conferences online and in person regionally and nationally to impact and increase the admissions pipeline. They work closely with the Assistant Directors of Student Services to create and maintain a seamless process as students transition from prospective students to enrolled students. They also seek to create and maintain feeder school and pipeline relationships with other institutions and businesses. In all types of communications, they serve as an ambassador of the University and the graduate and the respective combined graduate master’s/bachelor’s programs in accordance with its brand and its values.
The Assistant Director uses technology to effectively manage inquiry, admissions, and enrollment pipelines, generating metrics and reports to track progress toward enrollment goals. They are responsible for managing the data throughout the admissions process that is required for various rankings, accreditation, and other industry reports as well as that required to provide timely enrollment updates to leadership. They work collaboratively with the members of their designated program, the Office of Graduate Studies, the digital marketing team in the central Office of University Communication and Marketing as well as those in the central Office of Online Programs.
Why work at Villanova?
- Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
- Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.
Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.
Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Student Recruitment and Yield Strategy
Develops and implements recruiting and yield strategies for graduate multi-modality programs with the explicit goals of generating awareness for the programs, recruiting target students, and increasing enrollments/yields for the graduate and the respective combined master’s/bachelor’s programs. Leads information sessions. Manages program scholarship initiatives. Creates and maintains feeder school and pipeline relationships with institutions and businesses. Coordinates the development of marketing and communication plans to assist in developing relationships and nurturing students along the application process. Manages the logistics of the recruiting schedule. Inputs and manages inquiry and application information in the customer relationship management system.
Prospective Student Engagement
Follows-up and engages prospective students promptly in their preferred manner of communication for the multi-modality graduate programs, assessing qualifications, counseling candidates about respective program features and outcomes, and maintaining an active set of star candidates. Assists prospective students in making an informed decision as to whether the program is a right fit for their professional goals based on their expert understanding of the graduate portfolio. Helps prospective students through the application process, interviews candidates (if needed) and recommends admissions decisions to admissions committee. Ensures prospective students are shepherded through each stage of the process, following up as needed to increase conversion rates and ultimately yield. Frequently reports on progress to stated enrollment goals to leadership. Works collaboratively with the student services team to transition admitted students who intend to enroll and are moving into the registration stage.
Admissions Project and Event Support
Leads and/or facilitates projects related to the admissions goals and objectives of the Office of Graduate Studies. Represents the Office at industry and professional organization events and leverages relationships to impact and increase the admissions pipeline.
Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Formal Education:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
Work Experience:
- Minimum of three (3) years of relevant and applicable work experience in a professional environment required. Must have demonstrated experience executing admissions or recruiting strategies/tactics. Must have demonstrated presentation skills and experience. Experience developing targeted, compelling, and effective communications messages to prospective students or recruits; managing projects, deadlines, and priorities; planning, coordinating, and executing events; managing relationships with various constituents; analyzing and interpreting analytics; and working on teams required.
Specific Job Knowledge: (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area):
- Must be accustomed to working toward demanding admissions/recruitment/ communication goals, tracking recruiting metrics/analytics and translating results into reports for leadership.
- Proficiency in all standard computer applications, including Microsoft Office products, particularly, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Work Skills: (e.g., written, and verbal communication skills)
- Must have excellent written, oral communication, facilitation, interpersonal and collaborative skills. Must convey a highly professional demeanor and be a team player. Strong organization skills, the ability to handle a fast-paced environment and manage mutiple projects/tasks with varied deadlines required. Must be poised with strong customer-service skills and be able to work independently under general supervision. Must be comfortable working with various stakeholders across functional areas. Able to quickly learn and stay abreast of detailed curricular and program features in the degree portfolio.
Equipment Knowledge:
Other:
- This position works closely with the team members of the academic program to which they are assigned for day-to-day operations including co-locating in the program’s office location on certain days of the week. This position reports to the Associate Director of Admissions, Online Programs in the Office of Graduate Studies and will spend some time working in this office as well.
Preferred Qualifications:
Formal Education
- Master’s degree is a plus.
Work Experience
- Direct experience in admissions and recruiting at an institution of higher education, preferably at the graduate school level for both online and campus programs or experience recruiting in an organization/corporation (preferably for remote and onsite positions) is preferred.
- Knowledge of learning or working in a remote environment and understanding of the associated benefits and challenges is preferred.
Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)
- Knowledge of Slate is a plus.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and travel as the demands of the job dictate.
Special Message to Applicants:Posting Date:08/08/2025Closing Date (11:59pm ET):Salary Posting Information:
This position falls within salaried grade 13 and the range for this position is $51,000-63,800. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.
Salary Band:13Job Classification:exempt
