Director of Admissions

About Salem Academy and College

Salem Academy and College is the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country.  Since 1772, the institution has engaged in transformational change to innovate women’s education. Founded with the mission of making education accessible to all, Salem has a rich 251-year-old history and a long-standing track record of educating students who are prepared to make a bold impact locally, nationally and globally through liberal arts education. Our graduates are committed to making the world a better, healthier and more equitable place. Salem College is the nation’s only liberal arts college exclusively dedicated to developing the next generation of health leaders.

Position Summary
 

The Director of Admissions provides leadership and strategic oversight for the College Admissions Office, including the management and supervision of the admissions recruitment staff, campus visit operations, and enrollment conversion initiatives. Working closely with the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Director oversees recruitment strategy development, application review processes, yield conversion, and campus visitation efforts designed to strengthen enrollment outcomes and enhance the prospective student experience. The Director also collaborates on the implementation of CRM communication plans, telephone outreach, and digital marketing strategies that support inquiry generation, application conversion, and event registration. In addition, the position is responsible for evaluating and optimizing recruitment strategies, while maintaining an active recruitment territory through student outreach, school visits, relationship cultivation, and engagement with prospective first-year and transfer students regarding Salem’s mission, culture, academic opportunities, and campus community.

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Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 

• Manages the College Admissions’ recruitment team to include the counselors, assistant directors, and welcome center/visit coordinator.
• Develop and oversee the training of the recruitment team in areas including (but not limited to) admissions travel, visitation events, prospective student/family follow-up.
• Works closely with the VP of Enrollment Management to envision and implement a consistent, on-brand digital and written communication plan and marketing strategies in alignment with the prospective first year and transfer student enrollment goals.
• Attends communication meetings and relevant planning sessions with the VP.
• Expands and enhances the Office of Admissions’ tactics for engaging with the prospective student population.
• Evaluates admissions conversion data to develop communication campaigns to impact conversion rates and show rates at campus events.
• Assists in the creation, copywriting, evaluation, and execution of Admissions email campaigns through Slate. Assists in the development of strategies to integrate social media and other web efforts into the broader communication plan for the Office of Admissions.
• Responds to inquiries from prospective students regarding the application process, financial aid, learning experience and other related inquiries.
• Counsels and communicates with prospective students, parents, and guidance counselors through one-on-one interviews, group presentations, open houses, receptions, and other recruitment events.
• Schedules visits to high schools and community colleges and participates in college fairs, and other recruitment events, including virtual events, to communicate the educational opportunities available at Salem to external populations, i.e., prospective students, parents, alumni, community college transfer students and adult learners.
• Hosts and assists with planning on-campus and virtual events.
• Communicate with prospective students, school administrators, guidance and/or college counselors and other vital decision makers in the college planning process in person, via phone calls, written and electronic communication, or through current technology to develop and nurture relationships to encourage enrollment and attendance at Salem.
• Oversee the first-year undergraduate student application process.
• Identify and foster partnerships between Salem Academy & College and local stakeholders and partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications
 

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s Degree preferred;
• Working knowledge of the admissions process, including recruitment/yield strategies, territory management, customer relationship management (CRM) software, and admissions cycles;
• Demonstrated understanding of innovative uses of technology and media in the recruitment and admissions process;
• Superior communication, organizational and interpersonal skills; must possess the skills to collaborate, communicate and cooperatively work with faculty, staff and administration as well as internal and external stakeholders;
• Strong computer skills to include proficiency with Google suite, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and the ability to conduct Internet research;
• Strong written and presentation skills;
• Commitment to the values and environment of an educational institution and its mission and goals
• Ability to develop and implement data-driven metrics to assess the effectiveness of media campaigns;
• Ability to prepare and analyze statistical information for tracking and reporting;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise effective independent judgment;
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail; professionalism, and problem solving skills;
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with fluctuating priorities and deadlines;
• Ability to deal effectively with confidential information;
• Ability to work extended hours (nights and weekends), as needed;
• Ability to travel extensively; must have a valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record.

Physical Functions

While performing the responsibilities of the Director of Admissions, the employee is required to sit for varying lengths of time; bend, reach, lift, push, and pull up to 40 pounds; occasionally stand, walk, and kneel and regularly ascend/descend stairs; use hands and fingers to handle or feel and manipulate keys on a keyboard; perform extended periods of work at a computer workstation, view a computer monitor; perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and receive detailed information through oral communication; express and exchange ideas by means of spoken word; and work in an office setting.

Salem Academy and College is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices.

For questions, please contact Matt Munsey, Vice President of Enrollment Management at matthew.munsey@salem.edu.