Executive Director Of Admission

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.

WittKieffer is assisting Rice University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 28, 2024.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal (click on Become a Candidate-Register) https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login?returnUrl=%2Fdescription%3FjobID%3D25569

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Shelley Arakawa, J.D., and Ashlee Winters Musser
RiceEDAdmission@wittkieffer.com

Position Summary
Reporting to the vice president for enrollment, the Executive Director of Admission will lead the Office of Admission for Rice University, a highly-selective research institution located in the heart of Houston, Texas. The director will serve as a key member of the enrollment leadership team working with the vice president for enrollment and Executive Directors to develop strategies and initiatives to secure and strengthen Rice’s market position as a leading undergraduate institution to prospective students, families, and school educators. Substantial experience with contemporary enrollment management practices and deep knowledge of market trends in higher education is essential.

The Executive Director of Admission will develop policies and procedures to ensure the successful recruitment, selection, and enrollment of talented students to the seven undergraduate schools at Rice. The director will manage and develop a team of highly skilled admission professionals and ensure their development as managers of the various work functions required to run a modern admission office. The Executive Director will engage with multiple constituents across the university and ensure close collaboration with the seven undergraduate schools at Rice, serve as a thought leader in the admission profession, and represent the university as a higher education enrollment leader to the public. Strong analytic skills and familiarity with enrollment reporting is required. Familiarity with a CRM is required, Slate by Technolutions is preferred. Knowledge of Rice University and/or experience in a higher education environment is desired.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• 6+ years experience
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted

Skills Required

• Familiarity with the multiple work areas of a modern admissions office including CRM systems, reporting and analytics, recruitment, evaluation and selection, marketing including social media, access and inclusion, on-campus programming, staff

training, budget management, and staff development.

• Strong process and project management skills required. Proven ability to develop these skills in staff members so that they can manage work areas independently with appropriate levels of leadership input.

• Ability to develop and implement innovative solutions and processes that respond to the ever-changing field of Admission and information consumption of the undergraduate prospective student market.

• Strong staff management skills are required, including leading staff through change management is highly desired

• Ability to delegate projects and processes with an appropriate level of oversight.

• Experience managing a budget and identifying cost-savings opportunities.

• High level of proficiency in MS Office suite including Excel and Access.

• Demonstrated strong leadership, communication, marketing, planning, and public speaking skills highly desired.

• Excellent communication and customer service skills.

• Process oriented; experience documenting systems and workflow processes.

• Must possess strong time, people- and project-management skills, possess the ability to exercise independent judgment, strong data presentation skills and excellent communication skills.

Essential Functions

• Leads the admission team in the development and implementation of strategic plans, including the creation of actionable goals aligned to the goals of Rice University and the

enrollment division’s short- and long-term strategy.

• Serves as a key member of the Enrollment leadership team working with the vice president for enrollment to develop strategies and initiatives to secure and strengthen Rice’s market position as a leading undergraduate institution to prospective

students, families, school educators, and community-based organizations.

• Directs the evaluation and selection processes together with the admission operations team to ensure that every application is evaluated through a contextual review process that utilizes modern admission practices and upholds the policies established by Rice University faculty.

• Manages a team of highly skilled admission professionals and ensures their development as managers of the various work functions required to run a modern admission office, including the development of process and project management skills, strategic planning, budget management, measurement and accountability,

admissions practices and policies, and constituent communications.

• Liaises with numerous constituents across the university to collaborate on opportunities to promote and articulate the benefits of a Rice undergraduate education and ensure a smooth transition of the admitted class to the university.

• Manages the admission budget and seeks to propose increased efficiencies and effectiveness in the use of staff and financial resources

• Ensures compliance with federal and state laws regarding college admission, FERPA, and affirmative action

• Performs all other duties as assigned
  

Rice University HR | Benefits

https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID-19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies