Vice Dean of Admissions

Union College, a nationally recognized, distinguished liberal arts college, seeks an exceptional Vice Dean of Admissions to oversee critical elements of the recruitment and admission process and provide general leadership within the Office of Admissions. This is a full-time, regionally-based position in California.

About the role

Reporting to the Associate Vice President & Dean of Admissions with general guidance from the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Vice Dean has personal responsibility for managing a major portion of student recruitment on the West Coast. Most duties are conducted remotely from the Vice Dean’s home base in California, but the Vice Dean will periodically travel to campus for leadership meetings, admissions programs, and planning retreats.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior member of the Admissions leadership team, influencing strategy, mentoring colleagues, leading major operational initiatives, and serving as a trusted advisor to the AVP & Dean of Admissions and Vice President for Enrollment Management.
• Strengthen Union College’s presence on the West Coast by increasing visibility and developing long-term relationships with schools, counselors, and communities while shaping the college’s national recruitment strategy.
• Leadership:
  • Exercise exceptional leadership to foster camaraderie among the admissions team.
  • Mentor colleagues and contribute to professional development through coaching, training, and sharing best practices.
  • Optimize the Admissions Office budget through resourcefulness and staff strengths.
  • Represent Union at panels, conferences, and professional organizations.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity and promoting a sense of belonging for all students.
• Strategic Enrollment and Marketing:
  • Manage admission recruitment, selection, and yield initiatives, market analysis, and travel/outreach approaches.
  • Advise on vendor management and assessment, identifying new student sources and opportunities.
  • Evaluate admission market and enrollment trends with an innovative mindset.
  • Collaborate with key partners in Enrollment Management, including Financial Aid, Enrollment Systems & Operations, and Senior Associate Deans.
• Partnership, Collaboration, and Communication:
  • Foster collaboration and build partnerships on and off campus.
  • Represent Union’s Admissions Office to the college counseling community through forums, panels, and outreach.
  • Serve as the primary admissions partner for athletics recruitment, collaborating with coaches, faculty, and enrollment leaders.
  • Engage with faculty, staff, students, and alumni through committee work and relationship-building.
• Operations, Analytics, and Data:
  • Ensure objective data reporting, analysis, and evaluation of admission initiatives.
  • Utilize data-driven analyses to inform recruitment activities.
  • Leverage technology to align systems and processes for effective communication and evaluation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in selective college admissions, including significant experience recruiting students throughout California and the broader West Coast.
• Experience managing a selective application review process and athletics admission process for a successful athletics program.
• Proficiency in using Slate for recruitment strategy, communication, and data-informed decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor others with outstanding communication skills, innovative thinking, a data-driven mindset, and positive energy.

Pay

The annual salary range for this position is $140,000–$150,000. The final salary will be set based on departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, and other relevant factors. This range reflects the regionally-based position being located in California.

Benefits

• Generous vacation, sick, and personal time, plus a winter recess break in addition to paid holidays.
• Healthcare: Medical (PPO & HDHP), dental, and vision insurance, with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts.
• Free on-campus fitness facility access and discounts for wellness programs.
• Pre- and post-tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan.
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of disability.
• Tuition exchange and assistance programs.

For more details, visit Union College’s benefits page.