Job Description
The Associate Director leads undergraduate admissions recruitment, mainly for first-time freshmen in Nebraska and across the country. This role coordinates high school visits, college fairs, and outreach with counselors and educators under the direction of the Executive Director of Admissions. The Office of Admissions is a unit within the Academic Services and Enrollment Management (ASEM) division. As part of the Admissions Leadership Team, the Associate Director will work collaboratively with peers throughout the division, using data to guide recruitment and provide leadership to achieve enrollment goals. The Associate Director oversees a team of recruitment staff and directly supervises Assistant Directors. They guide teams to meet enrollment goals and report to the Executive Director of Admissions, sharing regular updates on progress. Key duties include training staff in territory management, monitoring performance, and supporting staff growth. This role plans and runs yield activities and territory strategies to convert prospects to enrollments. The Associate Director reviews recruitment data and territory results, making data-driven changes to improve strategies and market share. Working with the Executive Director, Admissions Leadership, and campus partners, this job creates reports and plans that help set strategy and meet enrollment targets. The Associate Director exercises independent judgment in interpreting admissions policies, making recruitment decisions, and overseeing functional initiatives aligned with strategic priorities. The position also collaborates with units within ASEM and across campus to align recruitment objectives with university initiatives. The Associate Director will also collaborate with Visitor Experience to ensure effective resource allocation for recruitment events and activities. The Associate Director also builds and maintains relationships with high school counselors, community contacts, and key influencer to increase student access and support recruitment efforts. As needed, this position provides leadership support to the broader admissions team and may serve as a proxy for the Executive Director of Admissions. Regular travel, including evenings and weekends, is required during peak recruitment periods. The position is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. As an EO employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/ Minimum Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of professional experience in recruitment, enrollment management, admissions, enrollment marketing, or other related fields Demonstrated experience in public speaking and delivering presentations Experience supervising professional staff, including responsibility for performance management and team development Experience using Salesforce or another customer relationship management (CRM)system to inform strategy and track outcomes Ability to analyze and interpret recruitment or enrollment data to inform strategic decisions Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports and present information to stakeholders Knowledge of first-time freshmen and transfer admissions operations and procedures Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with a variety of stakeholders Event planning and coordination skills Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision or administrative support Willingness to travel Must have a valid driver’s license and meet University driver eligibility requirements. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree preferred. Demonstrated leadership of cross-departmental recruitment initiatives or strategic enrollment projects Track record of achieving or exceeding enrollment targets at a mid- to large-size public university Proficiency in territory management and yield strategy within an admissions setting Skill in organizing or facilitating large-scale recruitment events or outreach programs Strong background in training and mentoring professional staff in admissions recruitment Knowledge of the state of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Understanding of the challenges facing underrepresented student populations in higher education Familiarity with UNL’s high school and college relations operations and procedures