Closing Date:
Job Duties: The Director of Admissions serves as the chief architect of Athens State University’s admissions strategy and is charged with building, scaling, and sustaining a modern enrollment enterprise. This executive-level role carries responsibility for creating new enrollment streams, accelerating growth, and positioning the University for long-term success in an increasingly competitive higher education landscape, with particular emphasis on transfer students, adult learners,…
military-affiliated students, and other nontraditional populations.
Reporting to the Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services, the Director of Admissions offers a rare and compelling opportunity to reimagine admissions from the ground up——aligning people, processes, partnerships, and technology into a cohesive, high-performing operation. The Director of Admissions will assess current structures, lead strategic redesign where needed and build strong, empowered admissions team capable of executing at a high level and adapting to evolving market demands.
This role is designed for a transformational enrollment leader with a builder’s mindset—-someone who thrives in environments requiring vision, change leadership, and measurable impact. The Director of Admissions will operate as a strategic partner across the institution, working closely with academic leadership, marketing, student services, and external stakeholders to expand access, strengthen pathways, and deliver an admissions experience that supports enrollment growth and student success.
WHY ATHENS STATE UNIVERSITY:
Athens State University offers a distinctive and compelling leadership opportunity for enrollment professionals seeking to make a lasting institutional impact. As Alabama’s only upper-division university, Athens State serves a mission-driven population of transfer students and adult learners and is uniquely positioned for enrollment growth through innovation, partnership, and access-focused strategy.
The Director of Admissions will join the University at a pivotal moment -when enrollment strategy, market opportunity, and institutional commitment are aligned for transformation. With strong executive support and the ability to shape admissions structure, staffing, and strategy, this role provides uncommon latitude to build something new: modern transfer pathways, employer- and workforce-aligned pipelines, military and adult learner enrollment streams, and a best-in-class admissions experience tailored to today’s students. For the right leader, Athens State offers the opportunity to leave a clear legacy —expanding access, strengthening partnerships, empowering a high-performing admissions team, and positioning the University for long-term enrollment strength and student success.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Strategic Leadership and Enrollment Growth
• Provide vision and leadership for a comprehensive admissions strategy that creates new and sustainable enrollment streams aligned with institutional priorities.
• Develop, implement, and continuously refine multi-year and annual enrollment plans with a strong focus on transfer students, adult learners, and other growth populations.
• Analyze market trends, competitive positioning, and institutional data to identify opportunities for enrollment expansion and improved conversion.
• Serve as a senior advisor on admissions and enrollment strategy to enrollment management leadership.
Admissions Operations and Team Leadership
• Lead, develop, and manage a robust admissions organization, including hiring, training, mentoring, supervising, and evaluating professional and support staff.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and student-centered service within the admissions team.
• Oversee day-to-day admissions operations, including application processing, file review, territory management, communications workflows, and recruitment activities.
• Ensure admissions practices are efficient, scalable, and aligned with best practices for adult and transfer student recruitment.
Transfer and Adult Learner Focus
• Design and strengthen transfer pathways, articulation relationships, and partnerships with community colleges, universities, employers, and military installations.
• Advance recruitment strategies tailored to adult learners, including flexible entry points, streamlined processes, and clear communication of degree completion pathways.
• Collaborate with academic units to align admissions practices with program capacity, workforce needs, and student success outcomes.
Collaboration, Compliance, and Systems
• Maintain strong collaborative relationships with marketing, academic departments, student services, off-campus centers, and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the effective use of TargetX CRM and application systems to support recruitment, communication, and reporting.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and institutional admissions policies and regulations.
Assessment, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for recruitment, admissions, and enrollment yield.
• Prepare and disseminate regular enrollment reports to inform leadership and campus partners.
• Identify opportunities for improve admissions processes, policies, and staffing models and lead implementation of viable solutions.
• Maintain “open door”, service-oriented approach with internal and external constituents.
• Complete other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
• Bachelor’s Degree Required, Master’s Degree preferred.
• Seven to ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in college or university admissions and enrollment management, including senior-level leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success building or transforming admissions and recruitment operations and delivering sustained enrollment growth.
• Significant experience leading organizational change, developing teams, and aligning strategy with execution.
• Proven results recruiting transfer students, adult learners, or other nontraditional populations in competitive markets.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to translate data into strategic action.
• Exceptional communication, influence, and relationship-building skills at the executive level.
• Experience leveraging CRM systems and application platforms to scale recruitment and improve performance; Banner experience preferred.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to set strategic direction and translate vision into operational execution.
• Strong change-management skills and comfort leading organizational transformation.
• Ability to work effectively across divisions and with senior leadership.
• Commitment to access, student success, and a high-quality admissions experience
PREFERRED COMPETENCIES:
• Demonstrated experience as a builder and change agent, including designing new enrollment models, restructuring teams, or launching growth initiatives.
• Deep expertise in market expansion, including identifying untapped markets, developing new enrollment streams, and repositioning admissions strategies to meet emerging demand.
• Proven ability to establish and grow high-impact partnerships with community colleges, employers, military installations, universities, and workforce or industry organizations.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives that integrate admissions, marketing, academic affairs, and student services.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to articulate vision, inspire teams, and influence senior leaders and external partners.
• Results-oriented mindset with a track record of setting ambitious goals and delivering measurable enrollment outcomes.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position such as standing and/or sitting for up to 65% of the time
• Occasionally tasked with duties that require low postures such as crouching, kneeling, and/or stooping
• Must be able to occasionally adjust or move objects up to 20 pounds in all directions.
• Job frequently requires communication with others to exchange information
• Occasionally operates a motor vehicle for off-campus job related duties
• Frequently uses hands/fingers to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as copier, printer, etc.
• Frequently uses near vision for use of computers and reading small print
• Occasionally works outdoors
Salary Schedule:
Salary Band: A50
To view salary schedules, visit: https://www.athens.edu/about/offices/human-resources/salary-schedule-tables/
Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Unofficial transcripts should be from the college or university which verifies qualifications for the position.
Note: Credential evaluations are needed for all transcripts obtained outside the U.S. before uploading and submitting an application. (Credential evaluators should provide course-by-course evaluations and transcribed in English.)
Upon an offer of employment, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted. Continued employment is contingent upon receipt of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://apptrkr.com/6921405
About Athens State University
Located in historic Athens, Alabama, Athens State University offers junior and senior-level coursework to community college graduates and transfer students holding sufficient credits from other institutions. Presently, over 3,100 students have selected Athens State because of its neighborly environment where 50 majors and degree programs are offered, with courses taught by a supportive and exceptional faculty. Approximately 80% of the students are enrolled in at least one online course. The typical student is a working adult who commutes. Recently, the University was featured in the 2015 Best Value Online College Rankings by OnlineU.org for four online programs including computer science, accounting, education and human resources. The University offers undergraduate degree programs in Liberal Arts, Teacher Preparation, and Business. The University employs more than 350 full and part-time employees with approximately 90 full-time faculty members in three colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and College of Education. Seventy-five percent of the full-time faculty members hold a terminal degree. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Athens, Alabama is located in north Alabama equidistant between Nashville, TN and Birmingham, AL. Athens is home to several events and festivals that have been featured as the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” including the Athens Storytelling Festival and the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention.