Director of Admissions

Director of Admissions - Bethel University

Bethel University is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Director of Admissions to lead the Traditional Enrollment admissions team. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Traditional Enrollment or an appointed acting leader and supervises a team of four. The Director plays a key role in supporting the University's mission and achieving strategic enrollment goals.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership

1. Serve as a model of professionalism, fostering strong relationships through timely and consistent communication with prospective students.
2. Oversee the application review process to ensure admission decisions are made efficiently, thoroughly, and on schedule.
3. Provide oversight into on-campus international student recruitment initiatives.
4. Conduct staff performance evaluations and develop individualized professional growth plans.
5. Stay current on trends and changes in higher education, particularly those influencing admissions and marketing.
6. Ensure ongoing training and development that supports a data-driven, ethically responsible admissions team.
7. Build strong partnerships across campus by integrating Student Affairs, Athletics, Financial Aid, Alumni Relations, and academic departments into recruitment efforts.

Strategy

1. Use data-informed practices to achieve freshman and transfer enrollment targets.
2. Ensure effective, goal-oriented territory management and recruitment travel.
3. Coordinate the annual student search process in collaboration with admissions operations, marketing, and third-party partners.
4. Oversee the planning and execution of major recruitment events-including open houses, accepted student days, and other visit experiences-ensuring they deliver a memorable, high-quality impression. Align the admissions calendar with the academic calendar.
5. Support the development and communication of the University's value proposition, including financial literacy conversations with students and families.
6. Assist in creating an integrated marketing strategy in partnership with relevant departments.

Planning

1. Collaborate with admissions operations staff to develop and implement recruitment processes, including communication flows, counselor outreach, and supporting marketing materials.
2. Work with the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment to execute the enrollment research agenda.
3. Track, analyze, and report enrollment metrics; participate in forecasting and goal-setting.

Activity

1. Represent the University through recruitment travel and participation in college-related events.
2. Actively participate in campus committees.
3. Manage the admissions budget responsibly and effectively.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
2. 5-10 years of admissions experience, including 3-5 years in a leadership role managing staff, enrollment strategies, marketing initiatives, and related activities-particularly those involving new media and digital communication.
3. Excellent verbal, written, and public speaking communication skills.
4. Demonstrated ability to provide strategic vision, leadership, and team development.

About Bethel University

The mission of Bethel University, affiliated with the Missionary Church denomination, is to be a community of learners building lives of commitment for leadership in the Church and world. Bethel's liberating academic programs challenge the mind, enlarge the vision, and equip the whole person for lifelong service.

Launched in 1947, Bethel is urban situated in the northern Indiana region hosting 250,000 residents, seven colleges (including Notre Dame), the 2nd largest shopping district in the state of Indiana, 15,000 businesses, 50 parks, and beautiful riverwalk developments in South Bend and Mishawaka. Resort venues on Lake Michigan are 45 minutes away. The university community is composed of about 1,500 traditional and adult/graduate students from 35 states, 90 students born outside the United States, and 225 full-time employees. Bethel also hosts more than 8,000 guests annually to arts productions, 25,000 annually in conference services, and many thousands of community members in support of 40 national athletic championships.

Bethel's 20,000 alumni occupy 49 states and 64 world areas and enjoy a medical school acceptance rate double the national average, 100% job placement rate in Nursing whose program was ranked No. 7 in the United States, a Top 4% finish nationally in competitive math performance tests, and 100% pass rate every year on the national performance standard for a unique academic major in American Sign Language.

For more information visit our website at www.bethelunviersity.edu

Bethel University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal laws. In keeping with the mission of the institution, Bethel University seeks applicants with a strong commitment to the values and lifestyle of evangelical Christianity and who profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a Christian institution, we require faculty and staff to adhere to the University's Lifestyle Covenant and to enforce a religiously based statement of responsibilities for all University employees. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Bethel University, as an educational institution operating under the auspices of the Missionary Church, reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Sections 702-703, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended).