Director of Admission

Director of Admission

McMinnville Campus - McMinnville, OR 97128

Overview

Salary Range $95,000.00 - $115,000.00 Salary/year Position Type Full-Time

Position Summary

The Director of Admission provides strategic leadership and day-to-day oversight of the undergraduate admissions operation for a small, private institution. This role is responsible for achieving enrollment goals through intentional communication planning, personalized student engagement, data-informed recruitment strategies, and effective staff leadership. The Director leads a team of admission professionals, ensures a high-touch and timely experience for prospective students and families, and works collaboratively across campus to support institutional enrollment priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Enrollment Strategy & Goal Management

• Lead the development and execution of annual recruitment and enrollment strategies to meet or exceed institutional enrollment targets.
• Establish clear enrollment goals and performance metrics for the admission team, including individual counselor goals aligned with institutional priorities.
• Monitor application, admit, deposit, and yield trends and adjust strategies in real time.
• Provide regular reporting and analysis to enrollment leadership.

Communication Planning & Student Experience

• Oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive admission communication plan across email, text, print, phone, and other digital platforms.
• Ensure communications are timely, accurate, personal, and reflective of the institution's mission and values.
• Champion a fast, high-touch, student-centered communication approach throughout the recruitment and decision-making process.
• Partner with Marketing and other campus offices to ensure message alignment and brand consistency.

Staff Leadership & Management

• Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development for a staff of approximately 14 admission professionals.
• Set expectations, coach performance, and conduct regular evaluations to support accountability and growth.
• Foster a collaborative, student-focused, and results-oriented team culture.
• Support recruitment training, territory management, and ongoing staff development.

Recruitment Operations & Policy Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain admission policies, procedures, and workflows that support efficiency, consistency, and equity.
• Oversee territory management, travel strategy, event planning, and on-campus visit experiences.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, ethical recruitment standards, and applicable regulations.

Search, Name Buy & CRM Management

• Manage the name buy and student search process, including vendor relationships, search strategy, and ROI evaluation.
• Collaborate with Institutional Research, Marketing, and IT to optimize CRM usage and data integrity.
• Use data and analytics to inform prospect identification, segmentation, and communication strategies.

Collaboration & Campus Partnerships

• Work collaboratively with Financial Aid, Marketing, Athletics, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to support recruitment and yield efforts.
• Serve as a key contributor to enrollment planning discussions and cross-functional initiatives.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• BA or BS degree required: Master's degree preferred.
• Five years of experience in the management and supervision of staff and operating budgets.
• Demonstrated experience working within a CRM, preferably Slate.
• Deep knowledge of admission policy, demographic trends, and admission planning and management to meet enrollment goals and develop effective, aggressive plans to recruit and enroll high school seniors and transfer students.
• Advanced knowledge of student search and recruitment best practices in a liberal arts institution, preferably in the West Coast.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrable experience working to recruit and enroll students historically excluded from higher education.
• Systematic and organized approach to work, and excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to create a productive work environment by developing an innovative approach to problem solving and team building.

Linfield University participates in E-Verify to verify the identity and work eligibility of all new employees.