Senior Manager of Conservatory Admissions - UMKC Conservatory

Job ID 61315 Location Kansas City Full/Part Time Full-Time Hiring Department UMKC Conservatory - Office of the Dean Job Description The UMKC Conservatory Admissions Office seeks a Senior Manager of Admissions to lead recruitment, admissions, and scholarship strategy for one of the nation’s comprehensive performing arts schools, with programs in music, dance, and theatre. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, the Senior Manager plans and executes the annual recruitment and audition cycle, sets enrollment targets with faculty and Division Chairs, builds and allocates a scholarship budget of roughly $6 million a year, owns the unit’s Slate CRM configuration and its operating budget, and supervises the Manager of Admissions and Outreach and Scholarship Coordinator. The position also serves as the Conservatory’s strategic partner to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and to the Director of Development on donor-funded awards. This is the management layer of a three-person professional admissions team supported by scholarship-funded student ambassadors. The right candidate is equally comfortable in a Slate query, a budget spreadsheet, a faculty scholarship deliberation, and an audition-day welcome for two hundred families. Duties and Responsibilities Strategic recruitment and enrollment planning Set annual enrollment targets by studio and area, balancing historical data, ensemble needs, and faculty loads. Select and plan the Roo+Conservatory visit calendar for fall and spring with the UMKC Welcome Center; plan and attend fall recruitment travel (NMEA, KMEA, MMEA, dance and music therapy conferences). Meet with new faculty each fall about recruitment and build a recruitment component into activities faculty already do: masterclasses, guest lectures, tours, and ensemble festivals. Assess each recruitment year against goals with the Associate Dean and plan corrections. Scholarship strategy and allocation Establish the internal scholarship budget each fall from prior-year waiver and hard-dollar spend, and divide it across music, dance, and theatre for the Dean’s decision. Reconcile faculty scholarship recommendations against enrollment targets and division allotments; attend every scholarship allocation meeting in the week after the final audition day to settle budget questions and disputes alongside the Division Chair. Develop scholarship, assistantship, and fellowship copy for print, web, and social media in coordination with the Manager of Admissions and Outreach and Communications Coordinator. Supervision and team leadership Directly supervise the Manager of Admissions and Outreach and Scholarship Coordinator: bi-weekly one-on-ones, mid-year and annual performance reviews, PTO and flex-time approval, hiring and onboarding. Convene the full admissions team three to four times a year at the cycle’s turning points, and lead the annual June update of the Conservatory Admissions Admin Manual and activity calendar. Budget ownership Draft the annual Admissions and Recruiting budget request by March 15; approve purchases up to the OneCard single-transaction limit; maintain the shared budget-tracking ledger; plan for recurring large items. Slate CRM administration Refresh the recruitment-year query library each August; manage faculty and staff Slate access through the Slate Service Request Form; lead the annual undergraduate and graduate cycle-prep meetings and the November audition-day planning meeting with the UMKC CRM team; build, send, and secure CRM review of Slate mailings. Audition cycle leadership Distribute prescreen lists to faculty by December 1; schedule auditions after the December 15 deadline with the Manager of Admissions and Outreach; set the staff schedule and schedule of events for all three audition days; present the morning welcome meeting and oversee Grant Hall logistics; enter undergraduate admit decisions in Slate within seven to ten business days of each audition day. Marketing collateral, website, and communications Oversee the viewbook, degree-sheet, audition-poster, and general-presentation cycle with UMKC Marketing and Communications; maintain the Conservatory admissions web pages, repertoire sheets, and GA/GTA and large-ensemble audition information in the CMS; run the placement-exam mailing sequence and track exam status in Slate. Other Serve on search committees and Conservatory committees as assigned. Some evening and weekend work is required, including three Saturday or holiday audition days, fall conference travel, and recruitment events. Other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in music, dance, theatre, arts administration, higher education, or a related field. Three or more years in college admissions, enrollment management, or scholarship administration, preferably in a performing arts or conservatory setting. Experience supervising professional staff and student employees. Working knowledge of Technolutions Slate or a comparable CRM, including query building and communication campaigns. Experience building and managing an operating budget and a scholarship or financial-aid allocation. Familiarity with audition-based admissions, prescreening, and studio-level enrollment planning across music, dance, and theatre. Experience with donor-funded or endowed award administration and reporting. Demonstrated data literacy: reading enrollment and yield reports and turning them into award and recruitment decisions. Anticipated Hiring Range The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $61,000- $70,000 annually Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements. Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Grade: Salary Plan # 11 University Title: Senior Program Manager Student Support Services To review the University of Missouri’s Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR. Application Deadline Job posting will remain open until filled. For best consideration apply by November 1, 2026. Sponsorship Information Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Community Information Kansas City offers the best of both worlds-a vibrant, urban community with Midwestern appeal. The city’s rich history and its modern-day, innovative thinking come together to create an eclectic group of neighborhoods that offer a little something for everyone. From thriving arts districts, an energetic downtown nightlife, casual to upscale shopping and champion sports teams, you will have no problem making yourself at home. Of course, one of Kansas City’s biggest claims to fame is its food, especially its world-famous barbecue. Foodies will delight in the culinary scene found throughout the city. Ranging from award-winning chefs to cozy pizza joints, Kansas City definitely is not lacking any flavor. UMKC’s campuses are conveniently nestled in the middle of all the action. Volker Campus is just minutes from the legendary Country Club Plaza, perfect for shopping or restaurants for lunch or after-work happy hours. Surrounded by hip neighborhoods and eateries, the Health Sciences Campus is located downtown near University Health Truman Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital. UMKC is proud to be "Kansas City’s university," and the campus and its people celebrate all the characteristics of the surrounding community. To learn more about life in Kansas City and find more resources, visit VisitKC.com. Benefit Eligibility This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at Equal Employment Opportunity The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at View phone number on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr University of Missouri-Kansas City