Job description
SUMMARY AND SCOPE OF POSITION:
The Vice President for Enrollment Management serves as the College’s chief enrollment strategist, providing visionary leadership for undergraduate and graduate recruitment, financial aid, enrollment operations, and identifying new markets to attract learners (master’s, micro credentials, hybrid learners, etc).
Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President is responsible for developing and executing innovative, data-informed strategies that strengthen enrollment, optimize net tuition revenue, and support the long-term financial sustainability of the institution.
The successful candidate will possess an entrepreneurial mindset and a demonstrated ability to stabilize and/or grow traditional undergraduate enrollment while identifying and developing new markets and pathways for learners. Working collaboratively across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Athletics, Marketing and Communications, and Finance, the Vice President will advance student success and institutional goals through strategic enrollment planning and financial aid leveraging.
This leader will play a critical role in aligning enrollment strategy with Ursinus College’s mission, distinctive value proposition, and APEX initiative.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Enrollment Leadership
- Serve as the College’s chief enrollment strategist and provide visionary leadership for all enrollment management functions, including admissions, financial aid, enrollment operations, and strategic enrollment planning.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive enrollment strategy that advances Ursinus College’s mission, strengthens institutional sustainability, and supports long-term growth.
- Establish measurable enrollment goals and key performance indicators related to recruitment, net tuition revenue, and discount rate.
- Advise the President and senior leadership team on enrollment trends, demographic shifts, market conditions, and emerging opportunities.
- Must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and demonstrate a willingness to challenge conventional enrollment models.
Enrollment Growth & Market Development
- Lead efforts to stabilize and/or grow undergraduate enrollment through innovative recruitment, outreach, and yield strategies in the region, nationally, and internationally.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive graduate enrollment strategy, including the creation of enrollment processes, recruitment infrastructure, market analysis, and student support pathways necessary to successfully launch, grow, and sustain graduate and professional programs.
- Identify, evaluate, and develop new enrollment opportunities, including transfer students, adult learners, certificates, partnerships, and other emerging learner populations.
- Collaborate with academic leadership to align academic offerings with student demand, workforce needs, and market opportunities.
- Advance enrollment initiatives that support the College’s strategic priorities and strengthen its competitive position in the higher education marketplace.
- Champion APEX at Ursinus and work closely with the Marketing and Communication team to leverage the college’s unique value proposition.
- Work closely with Athletics to optimize student-athlete population with an understanding of the return on investment
Financial Aid Strategy & Revenue Optimization
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive financial aid leveraging strategy that balances access, affordability, enrollment growth, and institutional financial sustainability.
- Advocate for the college’s participation in the American Talent Initiative and support of Pell-eligible students.
- Utilize data analytics and predictive modeling to optimize scholarships, discount rate management, and net tuition revenue.
- Partner closely with Finance to develop enrollment forecasts, revenue projections, and multi-year enrollment scenarios.
- Evaluate and implement innovative pricing, packaging, and financial aid strategies designed to improve enrollment outcomes and student persistence.
- Work closely with Advancement to ensure scholarships are awarded in a timely manner and donor impact reporting is sufficient.
Student Success & Retention
- Collaborate with Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to create a seamless student experience that supports recruitment, retention, and graduation.
- Develop strategies to improve first-year retention, student engagement, and long-term student success.
- Utilize student success data to identify barriers to persistence and implement evidence-based interventions.
- Foster a culture that views enrollment management as a shared institutional responsibility and one that supports the student throughout their four-year Ursinus journey.
Data Analytics & Enrollment Operations
- Promote a culture of data-informed decision making across all enrollment functions.
- Oversee enrollment analytics, market research, forecasting, CRM strategy, and enrollment technologies.
- Ensure the effective use of data to drive recruitment, financial aid, retention, and operational decisions.
- Monitor key performance indicators and regularly communicate progress to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees as appropriate.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing enrollment management team focused on accountability, innovation, collaboration, and results.
- Recruit, retain, and support talented professionals who reflect the College’s commitment to student success and inclusive excellence.
- Establish a culture of continuous improvement and professional development throughout the division.
- Foster an entrepreneurial mindset that encourages creativity, innovation, and responsible risk-taking.
- Set measurable goals and create performance standards.
Campus Collaboration & Institutional Leadership
- Serve as a member of the President’s Council and contribute to institution-wide planning, decision making, and strategic initiatives.
- Partner closely with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Advancement, Marketing and Communications, Athletics, and Finance to advance institutional priorities.
- Support and advance the College’s APEX initiative by aligning enrollment strategies with experiential learning, career readiness, and student outcomes.
- Build strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and external partners.
External Relations & Representation
- Represent Ursinus College at professional organizations, conferences, internal and external events, and enrollment-related partnerships.
- Build and maintain relationships with secondary schools, community colleges, counselors, employers, and other strategic partners.
- Monitor national trends and best practices in enrollment management and identify opportunities to strengthen the College’s enrollment strategy.
- Serve as a visible advocate for Ursinus College and its distinctive value proposition.
Other Duties:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Job responsibilities and activities may be modified or changed at any time with or without notice. Job descriptions will be audited periodically by the Ursinus Human Resources department to ensure they are up-to-date and reflect the essential responsibilities and duties of the job.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree required.
- Significant, documented, progressively responsible management experience in enrollment management is required
- Firm understanding of the Philadelphia region and the challenges inherent in the field
- Experienced in the art and science of enrollment management, supporting a personalized approach to recruitment enhanced by the best use of technology and social media to enhance efforts
- Demonstrated ability to motivate and encourage talented staff and to serve as their advocate, mentor, and leader
- Demonstrated ability to reach across campus and work collaboratively
- Understanding of current trends in enrollment management and willingness to take calculated risks in new programming and recruitment
- A strategic thinker and data-driven decision maker
- Entrepreneurial mindset
