Director of Admission in Palo Alto, California at Palo Alto University

Director of Admissions

Position Summary

The Director of Admissions provides strategic and operational leadership for Palo Alto University’s Office of Admissions. The Director leads recruitment, admissions operations, team performance, enrollment pipeline management, systems and data integrity, and continuous improvement from inquiry through acceptance, while partnering with Student Success and academic programs through matriculation. The role works closely with academic leaders, Marketing, the Registrar, and other University partners to advance enrollment goals, support program-specific needs, maintain high standards of service and compliance, and deliver a responsive, equitable applicant experience.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Enrollment Strategy

• Lead, coach, and develop the Admissions team, setting clear expectations for performance, service, accountability, and professional growth.

• Develop and execute data-informed recruitment and admissions strategies aligned with University enrollment priorities and academic program goals.

• Partner with academic leaders to establish enrollment targets, align admissions practices with program standards, and respond to emerging needs.

• Monitor key performance indicators, enrollment forecasts, service standards, and regular reporting, and lead continuous improvement across the admissions function.

Recruitment and Pipeline Development

• Lead the annual recruitment plan, including outreach, travel, information sessions, fairs, conferences, University-hosted events, and strategic partnerships.

• Build relationships with schools, agencies, professional associations, community partners, and other referral sources to expand qualified applicant pipelines.

• Collaborate with Marketing and Creative Services on recruitment campaigns, communications, collateral, event promotion, and program-specific messaging.

• Use funnel, source, and yield data to assess performance, refine recruitment strategies, and improve movement from inquiry through enrollment.

Admissions Operations and Applicant Experience

• Oversee recruitment, advising, and application processing, ensuring timely, accurate, consistent, and student-centered execution across programs.

• Ensure effective inquiry management, prospective student communications, application review support, and resolution of complex or escalated admissions issues.

• Maintain a coordinated annual admissions calendar and ensure program deadlines, events, cycle milestones, and end-of-cycle activities are executed effectively.

• Partner with Student Success, academic programs, and the Registrar to ensure clear handoffs from acceptance through matriculation and accurate transfer of student records.

Systems, Data, Compliance, and Process Management

• Provide leadership for admissions technology and data management across CRM, application, and student information systems, including HubSpot, Liaison/PsyCAS, Jenzabar, and related platforms.

• Ensure data integrity, accurate attribution, reliable reporting, effective workflows, and appropriate quality controls across admissions systems and processes.

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, training resources, documentation, audit practices, and process improvements that strengthen efficiency and accountability.

• Ensure admissions practices align with University policies, applicable requirements, academic standards, and program-specific processes, and represent Admissions on relevant University committees and initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Seven or more years of progressive experience in higher education admissions, including at least three years in a leadership or people-management role.

• Demonstrated success leading admissions or recruitment operations and meeting or advancing enrollment goals.

• Experience with graduate and/or doctoral admissions, preferably within psychology, counseling, social work, behavioral science, or related academic environments.

• Strong knowledge of admissions operations, CRM and application-management systems, data analysis, enrollment forecasting, and process improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage change, solve complex problems, build cross-functional relationships, and communicate effectively with varied audiences.

Preferred Experience and Attributes

• Experience in a private or specialized higher education environment with multiple undergraduate, graduate, and/or doctoral programs.

• Hands-on experience with HubSpot, Liaison/PsyCAS, Jenzabar, or comparable higher education admissions platforms.

• Strategic, analytical, collaborative, and service-oriented leadership style, with strong judgment, integrity, adaptability, and the ability to build enthusiasm for PAU and its programs.