Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations

Job Description:

Empire State University invites applications for the position of Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations within the Office of Enrollment Management.

The Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations provides strategic leadership for the university's admissions and enrollment functions, overseeing both Admissions Operations and Admissions Counseling across undergraduate and graduate programs. This role is responsible for developing and sustaining a scalable, compliant, and student-centered enrollment organization that effectively guides prospective students from initial inquiry through first enrollment, with a strong emphasis on growth and innovation.

The position ensures alignment among systems, processes, personnel, and performance, and serves as the primary steward of the university's admissions enrollment funnel.

Through the integration of people, processes, and systems, the Senior Director of Admissions and Enrollment Operations plays a critical role in advancing organizational effectiveness, institutional growth, regulatory compliance, and student success.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Provide vision and leadership for the admissions and enrollment operation
• Develop and execute enrollment strategies aligned with institutional goals
• Own enrollment funnel performance, including conversion, yield, and time-to-enroll
• Balance growth, compliance, operational efficiency, and student experience

Oversight of Admissions Operations

• Lead the admissions operations to ensure effective processing, compliance, CRM ownership, and communications infrastructure
• Ensure admissions workflows are scalable, compliant, and continuously assessed and improving
• Oversee funnel reporting, analytics, and data-informed decision-making
• Ensure audit readiness and regulatory alignment across admissions processes

Oversight of Admissions Counseling

• Lead the Director of Admissions Counselors to drive consistent counselor performance and high-quality student engagement
• Ensure counselors are effectively supported by systems, training, and clear priorities
• Establish performance expectations and accountability for enrollment outcomes
• Promote ethical, student-centered recruitment practices

Funnel & Performance Management

• Monitor enrollment metrics across programs and modalities
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the enrollment funnel
• Use data and insights to drive improvements in process, outreach, and conversion
• Report enrollment performance updates to vice president

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with marketing on lead generation, inquiry quality, and messaging alignment
• Collaborate with financial aid, advising, registrar, IT, and compliance teams
• Ensure smooth handoffs from admissions to student support functions
• Serve as a key stakeholder in enrollment-related initiatives and system enhancements

People & Culture Leadership

• Build and maintain a high-performing admissions leadership team
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Coach and develop direct reports and emerging leaders
• Promote equity, access, and student success through enrollment practices

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in admissions and enrollment management leadership
• Demonstrated experience leading both operational and student-facing teams
• Strong understanding of admissions compliance and regulatory environments
• Experience managing enrollment funnels, CRMs, and performance metrics
• Experience scaling enrollment operations or leading organizational change

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Experience in online, adult, or nontraditional higher education environments
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills
• Ability to balance strategy with hands-on execution

Special Information:

• This position is eligible for remote work. However, incumbent employees are expected to travel periodically to the University's primary campus in Saratoga Springs, New York, several times annually to support institutional operations, attend meetings, and participate in campus events.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• This title is listed in Appendix A of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees. Accordingly, individuals appointed to this title are not eligible for permanent appointment.

Additional Information:

Rank/Salary: Director of Admissions, SL5 / $110,000-$115,000, dependent on experience and qualifications.

We are pleased to offer our employees an excellent benefit package which includes NYS health insurance, free dental and vision, competitive retirement options, and generous vacation, sick and holiday accruals; and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. We also offer professional-development activities for professionals and support staff.

SUNY Empire is an AA/EEO/ADA employer. The University actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with a disability, members of underrepresented groups or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the University. SUNY Empire is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the university community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

SUNY Empire provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, veterans, or wounded warriors where appropriate. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io.


In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of our crime statistics is available upon request by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io. It can also be viewed online at our Safety and Security website.



Application Instructions:

Applications Due By: Applications accepted until position is filled.


If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit the following documents, which are required for consideration by clicking on the APPLY NOW button:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Name and contact information of three professional reference

See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Returning Applicants - Please click here to login to your Empire State University Employment Account to check your completed application or to update your account.