Director of Admissions in Columbia, Missouri at Stephens College

The Director of Admissions leads the day-to-day operations of the admissions recruitment team and is responsible for implementing recruitment strategies, supervising admissions counselors, overseeing recruitment territories and initiatives, and supporting the achievement of enrollment goals. The Director partners closely with the Vice President for Enrollment Management to execute recruitment initiatives and provide an outstanding experience for prospective students and families.

Position Responsibilities:

I. Build and sustain a high-performing recruitment team by providing effective leadership, clear communication, and accountability for enrollment goals.

• Lead and manage the Admissions Counselors and student ambassadors to ensure exceptional service and achievement of enrollment goals.
• Lead, supervise, and evaluate recruitment staff by setting clear performance expectations, providing ongoing coaching and feedback, conducting performance reviews, and taking appropriate corrective action as needed to support accountability, professional growth, and achievement of admissions goals.
• Train and coach recruitment staff on relationship-building, admissions processes, financial aid, cost of attendance, and institutional messaging.
• Lead, coach, and support the recruitment team in executing recruitment strategies that achieve institutional enrollment goals.
• Monitor counselor performance, territory activity, and recruitment outcomes, providing coaching and accountability to support individual and team enrollment goals.

II. Increase enrollment through effective recruitment, relationship-building, funnel management, and yield strategies so that Stephens College can continue to grow a diverse, engaged, and academically prepared student body.

• Oversee the full admissions funnel, including inquiry generation, prospect cultivation, application review, admissions decisions, yield activities, and enrollment conversion.
• Manage recruitment territory, including travel, relationship development, and prospect cultivation.
• Recruit and support first-year, transfer, international, graduate, and underrepresented students.
• Review applications as part of the recruitment and admissions process.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications on recruitment messaging, campaigns, digital outreach, and admissions materials.

III. Create a clear, supportive, and responsive admissions experience for prospective students and families so that students feel informed, welcomed, and confident in choosing Stephens College.

• Communicate clearly and effectively with prospective students and families about tuition, fees, financial aid, scholarships, and overall cost of attendance.
• Plan and oversee admissions events, including open houses, campus visits, information sessions, admitted student events, virtual visit days, and enrollment days.
• Conduct all activities within FERPA guidelines.

IV. Expand institutional visibility and recruitment reach through internal and external collaborative efforts.

• Represent the institution at recruitment events, community meetings, conferences, and partner organizations.
• Collaborate with academic departments and campus partners to support program-specific recruitment and enrollment goals.

V. Use admissions data and recruitment metrics to monitor progress, evaluate recruitment efforts, and recommend operational improvements.

• Monitor admissions data and funnel to identify trends, assess effectiveness, and recommend improvements.
• Support admissions policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure consistency, equity, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Work closely with the Vice President for Enrollment Management to implement recruitment initiatives, support enrollment planning, and achieve enrollment goals.
• Take an active role in professional organizations.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in admissions, enrollment management, student recruitment, higher education, or related field.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience or evidence of leadership potential.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and execute recruitment plans that support enrollment goals.
• Strong knowledge of admissions processes, recruitment strategies, CRM systems, and enrollment funnel management.
• Demonstrated ability to use admissions data and recruitment metrics to monitor progress and improve recruitment outcomes.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with prospective students and families about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and the overall cost of attendance.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel as needed.
• Ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Slate, Salesforce, Ellucian, or another CRM.
• Experience developing recruitment plans and managing yield initiatives.
• Experience talking with families about financial aid and cost of attendance.
• Experience in one or more of the following: first-year student admissions, transfer admissions, graduate admissions, and international admissions.

Founded in 1833, Stephens College is the second-oldest women's college in the United States, dedicated to providing innovative, experiential, and career-focused education across various disciplines. Located in Columbia, Missouri, Stephens College continues to be a leader in women's education, fostering a community where students are empowered to lead, innovate, and excel. The college also provides flexible, co-educational master’s degrees and certificates for working professionals, and is home to the co-educational Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College.

Ranked (over and over again) as one of the best college towns in America, Columbia, Missouri, is home to 36,000+ college students and 118,000 residents. Columbia — conveniently located approximately 100 miles from both Kansas City and St. Louis — has it all: big-time college sports, film, music and arts festivals, a high-energy arts community, amazing recreation, and a great downtown with lots of places to eat, shop, snack and check out the latest bands. The Columbia community offers outstanding health care options, as well as excellent educational opportunities for every level of student (including our own Children’s School).

Stephens is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will recruit and employ qualified personnel without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or status as a veteran.