Job description

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) seeks a strategic, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as its inaugural Vice Provost for Enrollment Management (VPEM). This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of enrollment management at one of the nation’s leading public research universities. With strong support from the Chancellor, Provost, Board of Trustees, and campus leadership, the VPEM will help define how Illinois attracts, enrolls, supports, and graduates future generations of students while advancing the University’s ambitious goals for excellence, access, and student success.

Reporting directly to the Provost and partnering closely with the Chancellor, deans, and senior leaders across campus, the VPEM will serve as the University’s chief enrollment strategist. This leader will develop and advance a comprehensive enrollment vision that aligns institutional enrollment goals with Illinois’ land-grant mission, academic priorities, student success agenda, and long-term strategic objectives. The VPEM will provide executive oversight for admissions, financial aid, the registrar, enrollment communications, scholarship administration, and enrollment systems, bringing together recruitment, access, affordability, retention, and graduation efforts within a cohesive institutional framework.

The VPEM will join the University at a time of significant opportunity. Building on Illinois’ exceptional reputation, strong enrollment demand, and forward-looking vision, this leader will strengthen alignment across a highly collaborative and decentralized institution, leverage data and emerging technologies to inform strategy, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. As the University advances its ambitious new strategic plan, Illinois Leads, the VPEM will play a critical role in supporting institutional priorities related to access, excellence, student success, and global impact through a comprehensive and future-focused enrollment strategy. The successful candidate will play a central role in positioning Illinois as a national leader in enrollment management and ensuring the University remains agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

Responsibilities

The Vice Provost for Enrollment Management will serve as a key member of the Provost’s leadership team and provide vision and executive oversight for the University’s comprehensive enrollment enterprise. Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, institution-wide enrollment strategy that integrates recruitment, financial aid, retention, student success, and enrollment planning and aligns these efforts with the University’s academic priorities, land-grant mission, financial sustainability, and long-term strategic goals.
• Provide executive leadership and oversight for Undergraduate Admissions, Student Financial Aid, the Office of the Registrar, Communications for Enrollment Management, Data Analysis and Systems Services, scholarship programs, and other enrollment-related functions.
• Advise the Provost, Chancellor, deans, and other senior leaders on enrollment priorities, trends, opportunities, and strategies.
• Establish enrollment goals and strategies that balance academic capacity, access and affordability, student success, financial considerations, and the University’s commitment to serving Illinois students while maintaining a strong national and international presence.
• Work with the vice provost for global engagement, the vice provost for graduate education, and academic colleges to develop and implement an international student enrollment strategy that strengthens recruitment, broadens geographic representation, and supports students from admission through degree completion. Align these efforts with the University’s academic priorities and global engagement goals.
• Leverage enrollment analytics, forecasting, market intelligence, financial modeling, predictive analytics, and emerging technologies to inform institutional planning and decision-making.
• Strengthen coordination and collaboration among colleges, academic leaders, student affairs professionals, enrollment units, and other campus partners whose work contributes to recruitment, retention, and student success.
• Assess and strengthen organizational structures, processes, systems, and resources across the enrollment enterprise to support effective, coordinated, and data-informed operations.
• Build and lead a high-performing enrollment organization characterized by collaboration, accountability, innovation, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a highly visible and engaged University leader, cultivating strong relationships across a complex and decentralized institution and building shared understanding and ownership of Illinois’ enrollment goals.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in enrollment management, higher education administration, student affairs, academic administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive enrollment strategies that integrate recruitment, financial aid, retention, and student success objectives and align with institutional priorities, capacity, and long-term sustainability.
• Experience using enrollment analytics, forecasting, market research, and financial modeling to inform institutional decision-making and enrollment planning.
• Experience building collaborative relationships and working across a complex organization to advance institution-wide initiatives and decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctorate.
• Experience serving in a senior enrollment leadership role at a large public research university or similarly complex institution.
• Demonstrated success overseeing multiple enrollment management functions, including admissions, financial aid, registrar services, enrollment communications, enrollment systems, and scholarship programs.
• Experience developing enrollment targets, tuition revenue projections, financial aid leveraging strategies, and enrollment-related scenario analyses that support institutional planning and financial sustainability.
• Experience working effectively with senior academic leaders, faculty governance bodies, and administrative partners to advance institution-wide strategic initiatives.

Appointment & Salary Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible following the conclusion of the search. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

The budgeted salary range for this position is $300,000 – $350,000 annually. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The University strives to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements.

Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For full consideration, materials should be provided by November 18, 2026; however, materials will be considered until the position is filled. Electronic submission of materials is required. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, including a curriculum vitae and cover letter, should be submitted through the Isaacson, Miller website for the search.

Micah Pierce, Partner Lehman Robinson, Senior Associate Marlyn Desire, Senior Search Coordinator Isaacson, Miller

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – the state’s flagship public university and one of the world’s leading research institutions – every staff member helps shape what’s next. Founded in 1867, Illinois is home to a vibrant community of 59,000 students from all 50 states and 129 countries, supported by 15 colleges and instructional units, more than 20 research institutes, and one of the most comprehensive student service ecosystems in the nation. Whether you’re empowering first-generation students, fueling breakthrough innovation, or strengthening communities across Illinois and beyond, your work here has a far-reaching and deeply meaningful impact. The university offers a highly competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and financial security. Join a top 10 public university that has launched over 330 startups and continues to redefine excellence – where the Illinois Value Proposition ensures that your contributions are recognized, your potential is nurtured, and your career can thrive.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [email protected].

Requisition ID: req18234

Job Category: Professional and Administrative

How to apply

Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. The administration, faculty and staff embrace diversity and are committed to attracting qualified candidates who also embrace and value diversity and inclusivity.