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Cedar Crest College invites inquiries, applications and nominations for the position of Director of Admissions.

About Cedar Crest College

Founded in 1867, Cedar Crest College is one of the first women’s colleges in the nation. Today it remains an independent, comprehensive liberal arts college for women that combines excellence in scholarship and undergraduate education with an extensive Lifelong Learning program and growing graduate programs that serve women and men in the surrounding region. The College enrolls approximately 1900 undergraduate and graduate students and is nestled on a beautiful 84-acre campus in the western residential section of Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 55 miles from Philadelphia and 90 miles from New York City.

About the Position

Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Director will oversee a staff of 7 full time professional staff, including 3 direct reports, and is responsible for coordinating and supervising all activities of the Admissions Office. The unit’s operating budget is $2.4M including personnel. The new Director has an important and exciting opportunity to create a vision for the future that maximizes the potential of admissions in developing strong partnerships with senior administration, faculty, students and staff to foster a collaborative and service-oriented approach in support of the mission of the institution.

Major areas of responsibility include:

• Provide the oversight and advisement of applicants on admission requirements and the ability to implement creative approaches to the recruitment and enrollment of traditional and nontraditional students.
• Setting priorities, developing goals, and formulation of admissions standards and enrollment targets.
• Participate in cooperative and collaborative relationships that help improve the overall efficiency of the department and provide for superior customer service while ensuring effective and professional communications with prospects, applicants, and their families.
• Prepare and present comprehensive reports and data analyses related to admissions trends and demographics.
• Oversee and implement all marketing, recruitment, communication strategies, and outreach activities that lead to growth in enrollment.
• Develop strategies for enhancement of social media recruitment and communication initiatives.
• Provide direction for the planning, development and oversight for the management of the Admissions staff.
• Responsible for participation in orientations, graduations, open houses, or related recruiting events. Serve as the office spokesperson for the various alumni gatherings and current student events.
• Ability to evaluate the electronic service-delivery tools that the office uses to serve its various constituents. Coordinate the development and leveraging of technical enhancements to these tools.

Qualifications of the successful candidate must include:

• Innovative, resourceful, high-energy professional who is an exceptional communicator, an effective agent of organizational change, and a team builder and collaborator.
• Show evidence of being a successful student-centered professional who is knowledgeable about best practices in the profession and critical current student issues
• Knowledge of and demonstrated organizational, managerial, budgetary, and financial management skills.
• Strong commitment to customer service and a collaborative approach to problem solving.
• Ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Flexibility, dedication, initiative, and confidentiality, are critically important.

Requirements

Minimum educational and experience qualifications are a master’s degree and a record of successful experiences in admissions that reflect increasing responsibilities over time. Preferred knowledge and experience must include a history of success in admissions and recruitment management in higher education settings. Candidates will demonstrate a record of success in the development and implementation of enrollment and marketing plans that yield stronger applicant pools and greater yields.   Exceptional platform skills are a must, as are skills in statistical analysis and the ability to write clear, succinct reports related to admissions trends and demographics. The incumbent will have exceptional skills in the area of marketing and will be particularly proficient in the use of marketing information technology and web-based strategies. Experience with Jenzabar is preferred.

How to Apply

Interested individuals should send a letter of application that relates the applicant’s skills and experiences to the qualifications for the position, resume that includes notable achievements, and contact information including mailing and email addresses and telephone numbers for five references who are able to speak to the candidate’s qualifications as they relate to this position.  The packet should be sent electronically (Microsoft Word attachments preferred) to leadership@wspelman.com.  The subject line in email should be DACCC.  Confidential inquiries will be received at (585) 366-4329.

Documents that must be mailed should be sent to William Spelman Executive Search at 667 Midship Circle, Webster, NY 14580.  Confidentiality will be maintained, and references will not be contacted without prior knowledge or approval of the candidate. Review of applications will begin on April 2, 2012 and continue until the position is filled.  The anticipated starting date is July 1, 2012.