Director of Admissions and Strategic Enrollment Initiatives bei IONA UNIVERSITY

Description

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

1. Develop and implement recruitment strategies that support the University’s strategic plan and enrollment targets.
2. Partner with internal stakeholders and external partners to strengthen pipelines and brand presence.
3. Collaborate with the Vice President of Undergraduate Admission on long-term enrollment planning and market diversification.
4. Represent Iona University at internal and external meetings as a thought leader in strategic recruitment and cohort development.

Recruitment and Cohort Oversight

1. Lead targeted recruitment initiatives for priority cohorts, including performing arts, club sports, academic honors, and other specialized groups.
2. Build pipelines with high schools and community partners, with particular emphasis on schools, strong public programs, and key Northeast markets.
3. Collaborate with internal partners in the design and execution of audition events, showcase days, competitions, and other cohort-specific recruitment activities.
4. Use data-driven insights to evaluate market performance, yield gaps, and return on investment for cohort recruitment efforts.

Team Supervision and Development

1. Directly supervise and mentor a team of admission counselors
2. Set clear goals, monitor progress, and evaluate counselor performance with attention to recruitment outcomes and professional growth.
3. Provide training and guidance on cohort-specific recruitment strategies, ensuring consistent messaging and execution across the team.

Data and Strategy

1. Regularly analyze recruitment data to identify opportunities for co-curricular, academic, and geographic expansion.
2. Monitor FAFSA completion, visit rates, and application-to-deposit conversion within cohorts.
3. Adjust strategies based on data to ensure efficient use of travel budgets, events, and resources.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in undergraduate admission, enrollment management, or related higher education field.
• Demonstrated success in recruitment planning, cohort development, or external partnerships.
• Strong supervisory experience with a record of team leadership and staff development.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Data fluency with experience using CRM systems (Slate preferred), enrollment reports, and market analysis tools.

About Iona University/EEO language

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top colleges for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide.

Iona offers a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program (EAP); tuition remission; and generous time off. For more information on our benefits and working at Iona visit the Human Resources section of our website.

Iona University values and celebrates diversity and is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our employees and does not tolerate discrimination based on any legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws. As an equal opportunity employer, Iona University encourages applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.