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Director of Admissions and Recruitment

Motlow, Columbia, TN, United States


The Director of Admissions

provides visionary, data-informed, and student-centered leadership for all admissions and recruitment functions of the College. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Services, the Director serves as the institution’s chief admissions strategist and operational leader, responsible for shaping, executing, and continuously improving comprehensive admissions and recruitment strategies that advance enrollment growth, student access, and student success.

The Director of Admissions leads a multi-campus admissions operation, including recruitment, application processing, One-Stop services, dual enrollment, and international admissions. The Director ensures a seamless, equitable, and high-quality experience for prospective students from inquiry through enrollment while maintaining compliance with all institutional, state, and federal requirements.

Essential Functions

Provide leadership for admissions and recruitment strategy aligned with institutional enrollment goals, access priorities, and student success outcomes.

Design, implement, assess, and continuously refine admissions and recruitment models using data analytics, market trends, and yield analysis.

Serve as a key advisor to the AVP, Enrollment Services on enrollment planning, forecasting, policy development, and operational effectiveness.

Monitor enrollment performance through point-in-time data and predictive indicators; develop and lead corrective action strategies as needed.

Direct and coordinate all recruitment initiatives to meet enrollment targets across student populations, including traditional-age, adult, veteran, dual enrollment, and international students.

Provide final oversight and accountability for admission decisions, including residency determination and compliance with admissions policies.

Lead and continuously improve application processing, document management, and admissions workflows to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness.

Ensure consistency, standardization, and service excellence in admissions processes across all campus locations.

Provide direct leadership, supervision, and performance management for recruitment staff, processing personnel, One-Stop staff, and student employees.

Build a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and professional excellence through coaching, training, and professional development.

Establish clear performance expectations and outcomes aligned with enrollment goals and customer service standards.

Lead international student admissions, ensuring institutional compliance with immigration regulations and serving as the College’s representative for VISA and SEVIS-related matters.

Ensure timely, accurate reporting and compliance with all federal, state, and accrediting requirements related to admissions.

In partnership with the Assistant Director of Admissions Systems, ensure optimal utilization of the CRM, chatbot, and student information systems to support recruitment, communication, and yield management.

Establish and enforce data integrity standards and analytics practices to inform decision-making and continuous process improvement.

Oversee admissions-related web content and recruitment publications, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with institutional branding in collaboration with Communications

Lead the development and continuous improvement of campus tour programs across all locations.

Collaborate with campus directors, academic deans, counselors, and external partners to strengthen recruitment pipelines and enrollment outcomes.

Represent the College at on-campus and off-site events, schools, and community engagements as needed.

Supervise, direct, and evaluate admissions employees and recommend to the AVP in hiring and performance evaluation processes personnel to be employed, promoted, sanctioned or terminated.

Oversee the development of and administration of budgets in enrollment services.

Provide development, oversight of programs and services that result in enrollment, progression, retention and graduation growth for the service area.

Supplemental Functions

Serve on college-wide leadership and standing committees.

Provide leadership support to enrollment services personnel across campuses as needed.

Perform other duties consistent with a senior admissions leadership role.

Education, Training, and Experience

Master's Degree required

Minimum of Five years of progressive responsibility and experience in admissions or related student services field required

Demonstrated leadership experience supervising professional staff.

Experience as a recruiter preferred

Experience in a community college strongly preferred

Experience with Banner highly preferred

Experience with SLATE or comparable CRM strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and public relations skills.

Self- motivated and ability to work as part of a team

Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-campus admissions operations.

Ability to work with diverse populations.

Proficiency in student information systems, CRM platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

Strong strategic planning, data analysis, and decision-making skills.

High ethical standards and commitment to equity, access, and student success.

Working Conditions

Heavy use of computer

Flexible scheduling including evening and weekend hours

Normal standing, sitting, and walking

Lifting of boxes weighing approximately 40 lbs.

Requires some travel using personal vehicle to campuses and schools in the nine-county service area and to other locations for meetings and job-related activities.

Titles Supervised

Enrollment Services Recruiters (2)

Enrollment Services Processing Clerks (3)

Customer Service Clerk

Student workers

Hiring Salary Range :

$63,400- $79,250

This position is based at the Columbia, TN Campus.

About Columbia State Community College As Tennessee’s first community college (established in 1966), Columbia State is committed to student success both in and out of the classroom, as well as economic and community development in our nine-county service area. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Benefits

Vacation and Sick Leave

14 paid holidays

Medical, dental, vision and life insurance

Retirement plans

Optional 401K and 403B Deferred Compensation Plans

Educational benefits for the employee and their spouse and dependents

Columbia State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulations and by Tennessee Board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. Executive Director of Human Resources humanresources@columbiastate.edu 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia, TN 38401 931-540-2501

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