Director of Undergraduate Admissions

Department

Admissions

Status

Full-Time

Time Period

40 hours/12 months

Available

August 20, 2026

Description

The Director of Undergraduate Admissions leads the University’s traditional undergraduate recruitment efforts and is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing strategies that support institutional enrollment goals. The director provides strategic and operational leadership for undergraduate admissions, guides the recruitment team, and collaborates across the University to recruit and enroll students who are well suited to CIU’s mission and academic programs.

Responsibilities

Develop and direct an annual strategic recruitment plan for traditional undergraduate enrollment, including measurable goals, recruitment priorities, market strategies, and tactics aligned with the University’s mission and institutional enrollment objectives.
Establish undergraduate enrollment projections and monitor progress throughout the recruitment cycle. Analyze funnel performance, historical trends, market conditions, and return on investment to identify opportunities, address risks, and inform decision-making.
Oversee the recruitment and counseling of prospective and admitted undergraduate students, including on-campus and off-campus recruitment, campus visit experiences, yield initiatives, and other events designed to move students from inquiry through enrollment.
Lead, supervise, train, and evaluate the undergraduate admissions team. Establish clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching and professional development, and cultivate a collaborative, student-centered, and results-oriented culture.
Develop and manage the undergraduate admissions budget. Recommend resource allocations, monitor expenditures, evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment investments, and adjust strategies as needed to support enrollment goals.
Partner with academic leaders and other University areas to establish recruitment goals and strategies for undergraduate degree, dual enrollment, non-degree, and certificate programs, including targeted initiatives for priority programs and populations.
Build and strengthen relationships with high schools, churches, community organizations, alumni, and other partners to increase awareness of CIU, expand prospective student pipelines, and support enrollment growth.
Collaborate closely with Financial Aid to guide the strategic use of institutional aid for new undergraduate students and to ensure awarding practices align with approved budgets, policies, enrollment objectives, and student needs.
Collaborate with Enrollment Marketing to develop and execute integrated communication and marketing strategies across print, email, web, text messaging, digital advertising, and other channels. Ensure recruitment messaging is accurate, timely, consistent, and aligned with the CIU brand.
Maintain the accuracy, relevance, and recruitment effectiveness of undergraduate admissions and program web content in coordination with Enrollment Marketing, academic departments, and University Communications.
Evaluate undergraduate admissions services, policies, procedures, and technologies. Recommend improvements that strengthen the prospective student experience, operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and achievement of enrollment goals.
Provide regular enrollment reports and strategic updates to the Vice President for Enrollment and other University leaders. Prepare annual plans, budget proposals, Board reports, tuition and room-and-board recommendations, and other analyses as assigned.
Represent Undergraduate Admissions in University planning and committee work, maintain current knowledge of enrollment management trends and best practices, and travel or work outside regular business hours as recruitment activities require.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the University’s mission and enrollment priorities.

Qualifications

Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in undergraduate admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, or a closely related field; supervisory experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic recruitment plans, establish enrollment goals, analyze results, and adjust strategies based on data and market conditions.
Strong leadership and team-management skills, including experience hiring, training, coaching, evaluating, and directing the work of others.
Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with prospective students, families, colleagues, and external partners.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex projects, meet deadlines under pressure, exercise sound judgment, and work with a high degree of independence and accountability.
Experience developing and managing budgets and evaluating the return on investment of recruitment activities and services.
Working knowledge of financial aid strategy, admissions policies and practices, student recruitment communications, and relevant regulatory and ethical expectations.
Proficiency with standard office technology and experience using a student information system, admissions CRM, document-management tools, and digital communication platforms; experience with Jenzabar and Salesforce-based systems is preferred.
Ability and willingness to travel and to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of recruitment events and enrollment priorities.
Commitment to CIU’s mission, biblical worldview, and standards of professional and personal conduct.
Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in higher education, enrollment management, business, marketing, communications, or a related field preferred.

Benefits

CIU provides a benefits package that includes:

Health Plan;
401(k) plan with match opportunity;
Employer provided group life insurance;
Long term disability insurance;
Vacation days, holidays, sick leave, family leave;
Educational benefits: tuition reduction for PreK3-Graduate.