Assistant Vice President Admissions at Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Jan, 26

Salary

160000.0

Posted On

09 Oct, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Leadership, Communication, Analytical Skills, Team Building, Data Management, Recruitment Strategies, Performance Evaluation, Budget Management, Strategic Planning, Collaboration, Event Coordination, Policy Development, Talent Management, Community Engagement, Brand Development, Stakeholder Engagement

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications, and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop. Columbia College Chicago is a private urban institution of approximately 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business is currently searching for an Assistant Vice President of Admissions. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Enrollment Strategy and Student Success, the Assistant Vice President of Admissions drives the strategic vision, execution, and continuous optimization of all domestic and international undergraduate recruitment and admission initiatives. This leader is accountable for delivering measurable admissions outcomes aligned with institutional enrollment goals by directing and scaling high-impact recruitment strategies that increase applications, improve yield, and attract a diverse and academically strong student body, leading the development and implementation of data-informed admissions policies, practices, and territory management strategies to maximize conversion at every stage of the enrollment funnel, overseeing the creation of compelling recruitment materials and communication plans that resonate with target audiences and elevate the college’s brand and building strong internal and external partnerships to enhance pipeline development, community engagement, and institutional visibility. This role ensures ongoing assessment and innovation within the admissions function, positioning Columbia College Chicago as a first-choice institution for prospective students. Duties & Responsibilities Directly supervise admissions leadership ensuring strategic alignment, collaboration, and accountability across all functional areas Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Visitor Experience, Enrollment Systems and Data, and Enrollment Marketing and Communications. Oversee new and existing recruitment programs like Summer at Columbia, Summer Bridge, and Realize, and Parent’s Weekend ensuring their successful execution, alignment with institutional goals, and impact on prospective student engagement and yield. Lead the strategic planning and execution of all admissions funnel initiatives, including targeted name purchases, ROI-driven recruitment campaigns, scholarship leveraging, and data-informed decisions to attract, engage, and convert best-fit students aligned with institutional enrollment goals. Establish ambitious, data-driven annual admission targets in partnership with the Senior Vice President and drive the team to consistently meet or exceed individual and collective performance benchmarks. Direct and develop a high-performing, diverse admissions team, overseeing all aspects of talent management including recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance evaluation, and succession planning to build a culture of accountability and results. In conjunction with the Senior Vice President, manage and optimize a multi-faceted undergraduate admissions budget, ensuring strategic allocation of resources across national, local, transfer, and international recruitment efforts, and achieving measurable return on investment for all initiatives. Continuously assess and refine admissions policies, systems, and workflows to ensure efficiency, equity, and compliance. Provide strategic oversight of the CRM system (Slate) to maximize data integrity, communication effectiveness, and user adoption. Design and implement internal communication and knowledge-sharing systems to ensure staff are aligned with evolving strategies, recruitment tactics, academic programs, and student life offerings. In conjunction with the Senior Vice President, lead the design and delivery of comprehensive staff training programs that elevate team performance, reinforce strategic objectives, and ensure consistent messaging across all touchpoints. Serve as a senior representative of Columbia College Chicago at high-impact local, national, and international recruitment events, strengthening the institution's visibility and competitive position in the higher education landscape. Maintain in-depth knowledge of Columbia’s academic portfolio and enrollment processes, ensuring accurate and compelling messaging to prospective students and influencers. Deliver regular, actionable admissions reports to inform strategic planning and institutional decision-making in conjunction with the Senior Vice President. In conjunction with the Senior Vice President, coordinate and lead high-impact campus recruitment events and stakeholder meetings, driving engagement and conversion across the prospective student pipeline. Take ownership of special projects and other assignments as needed or required, ensuring timely, high-quality outcomes aligned with organizational priorities. Perform other related duties and/or responsibilities as assigned or required. Master's degree required. Minimum seven (7) years of progressive leadership experience in admissions or enrollment management. Proven ability to manage, direct and guide staff to meet performance expectations. Strong understanding of the territory management model of recruitment and top of funnel development. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Highly analytic and experienced in developing and achieving measurable outcomes. Strong ability to use enrollment trend data in establishing priorities and developing strategy and objectives. Outstanding organizational, leadership, and team-building skills. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with executive leadership, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and prospective students and their advocates. Ability to represent Columbia College Chicago to important influencers and key internal and external constituents with integrity and enthusiasm. Ability and willingness to travel extensively. APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION WILL CLOSE ON OCTOBER 17, 2025. Position Minimum Hourly Rate or Annual Salary: $133,000 Position Maximum Hourly Rate or Annual Salary: $160,000 The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including department budget. At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life, and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits. Click here for more information. We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement, and real-world experiences. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Position subject to a background screening This is a non-union position This is a full-time position This position is overtime ineligible Cover letter is required Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.

Responsibilities

The Assistant Vice President of Admissions drives the strategic vision and execution of all domestic and international undergraduate recruitment and admission initiatives. This role ensures ongoing assessment and innovation within the admissions function to position Columbia College Chicago as a first-choice institution for prospective students.