Assistant Vice Provost, Undergraduate Admissions

About the Role

The Assistant Vice Provost for Undergraduate Admissions leads the full undergraduate admissions operation and sets the strategy for recruiting and enrolling each entering class. This position directs about thirty staff across recruitment, transfer, international, campus engagement, and operations, manages the recruitment and visit budgets, and carries a central share of responsibility for net tuition revenue, the largest single part of the operating budget. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, the Assistant Vice Provost provides the analytics, technology, and yield leadership that recruitment now requires in a contracting market, and works as a peer with the academic deans, the marketing office, and the financial aid office.

About Us

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI.

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One—the first university-based quantum computer in the world.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute a comprehensive recruitment and yield strategy for first-year and transfer classes.
• Lead the functional areas of the office, including first-year recruitment, transfer recruitment, international recruitment and global partnerships, campus engagement and visit experience, and operations.
• Direct the use of predictive and prescriptive analytics to guide territory management, communication strategies, financial aid leveraging, and yield decisions.
• Manage recruitment and campus visit budgets while ensuring responsible stewardship of net tuition revenue.
• Oversee the customer relationship management (CRM) system and related enrollment technologies, including artificial intelligence tools and financial aid optimization platforms.
• Partner with academic deans, marketing, financial aid, and student affairs to align recruitment strategies with institutional goals.
• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing, multifunctional team while guiding the office through organizational, structural, and process improvements.
• Represent Undergraduate Admissions to institutional leadership and external partners.

Requirements

• Master's degree required.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in undergraduate admissions, enrollment management, or a related higher education field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience leading professional staff and strategic enrollment initiatives.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing enrollment strategies that achieve recruitment, admission, and enrollment goals.
• Relevant combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working at an R1 research university, preferably with a strong science and technology focus.
• Experience leading or supporting transfer and international student recruitment, as well as developing and managing campus visit, admissions event, and yield programs designed to support enrollment goals.

Skills

• Knowledge of enrollment management principles, including recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and student success strategies.
• Knowledge of higher education policies, regulations, and best practices related to enrollment and student services.
• Strong leadership and personnel management skills, with the ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate staff across multifunctional teams.
• Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and effectively manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Strong budget development, fiscal management, and resource allocation skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in data analytics, including predictive and prescriptive modeling, statistical analysis, and data visualization to support enrollment strategy and institutional decision-making.
• Ability to interpret complex data and translate findings into actionable recommendations for executive leadership.
• Excellent strategic planning, project management, and organizational skills.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills with academic departments, administrative units, and external stakeholders.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and build consensus across diverse constituencies.
• Proficiency with student information systems (SIS), customer relationship management (CRM) systems, enrollment management technologies, and business intelligence/reporting tools.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive student and institutional information.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, student-centered environment and promoting continuous improvement through innovation and data-informed practices.

Schedule

This position primarily works standard business hours, Monday through Friday. Periodic evening and weekend hours are required to support recruitment events, campus visit programs, open houses, admitted student programs, yield activities, and other institutional events. Additional hours may be required during peak recruitment and enrollment periods.

Travel

Periodic overnight travel (up to 25%) is required to represent the Institute at recruitment events, college fairs, high schools, community colleges, professional conferences, and other enrollment-related activities. Travel may include local, regional, national, and occasional international recruitment, as well as visits to partner organizations and institutions. Overnight, evening, and weekend travel may be required during peak recruitment cycles. Incidental driving possible, but not required.

Pay

Expected hiring range: $170,000 - $210,000. The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education, and other job-related credentials.

Benefits

Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources.