Associate Vice President of Enrollment

Title: Associate Vice President of Enrollment

Department/Location: Office of Admissions for Principia College

Position Type: Full-time, 12-month

Organizational Relationships: Reports to the College President. Sits on the Senior Leadership Team, Cabinet, Strategic Enrollment Coordinating Team, President's Council, and the IMPACT team. The Dean of Admissions, Director of Marketing & Communication, and the Office Manager report to this position.

Summary

The Associate Vice President of Enrollment (AVPE) advances Principia College by shaping and leading a strategic, cohesive, results-oriented and mission-aligned approach to recruitment, admissions, marketing, communications, and strategic enrollment management. Reporting to the College President and serving as a key member of cross-institution teams, this role plays a critical part in stewarding enrollment health, strengthening Principia's brand and story, and building meaningful relationships with prospective students, families, alumni, and partners.

Working in close partnership with the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Athletic Director, Director of Community and Belonging, Director of Spiritual Life, and the Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, the AVPE ensures that enrollment strategies reflect Principia's academic vision, values, and commitment to belonging. Success in this role draws on strategic thinking, clear communication, strong collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and strong relationship building across campus and constituencies.

The AVPE provides inspirational leadership to an energetic and engaged team and is skilled at relationship-building across campus and across constituencies. This position will also be expected to present regularly to the Education Committee of the Board of Trustees and coordinate with the Principia School campus Admissions team.

Who We Are

At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education-blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia's team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends.

At Principia College, our globally-focused curriculum honors diverse perspectives and develops creative changemakers who use their academic skills for good in service to themselves, their communities, and the world. In-depth study meets real-world experience through study abroad programs, internships, capstone projects, and a robust slate of student activities, including a world-renowned mediation team, top-ranked solar car team, and the nation's oldest student-run public affairs conference.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow's leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Enrollment Management

• Promotes the purpose, operational mission, and learning outcomes of Principia College
• Maintains a strong command of data analytics and enrollment trends to inform the recruitment plan and enrollment goals for the institution
• Oversees the use of market analyses and forward-thinking strategies to lead the recruitment teams into effective territory management and student recruitment
• Ensures that the communications plan is well managed by our Customer Relations Management (CRM) system (Slate) to ensure that print, digital content, and social media support the recruitment effort
• Creates an atmosphere that welcomes creative and innovative thinking in partnership development, campus engagement, and strategic enrollment management
• Oversees funnel management strategies and application review and selection functions to ensure a values-forward approach that aligns with institutional enrollment goals

Data Analytics and Technology

• Supports team's mastery of data analytics and its work with technology to support best practices in recruitment and yield activities
• Holds team accountable for distributing and developing routine, user-friendly reports and analyses for the Trustees, Chief Executive, College President, Senior Leadership Team, and Executive Team stakeholders

Communication and Marketing Oversight

• Guides an integrated enrollment marketing and communications strategy, aligning messaging and plans with institutional priorities and key campus partners
• Guides strategic leadership for strategy around brand messaging and safeguards content that promotes Principia College's purpose, mission, and values proposition
• Ensures team's capacity to strategically use market research and enrollment analytics to shape messaging and campaigns

Team Management

• Leads a results-oriented admissions and operations staff through open communications, transparency, feedback, and goal setting
• Guides hiring and performance management processes to guarantee that staff are well-trained and have relevant professional development opportunities
• Stewards an environment of mutual trust, respect, support, and camaraderie within the admissions and marketing teams

Professional and Personal Development Expectations

• Serves as a bridge-builder across campus and across the Principia Corporation, including the School and Shared Services
• Spearheads collaborative partnerships within the institution so that teams serving current and prospective students work closely and effectively together
• Carries out the essential duties of a leader at the College, including attendance and participation at convocation, commencement, and honors ceremonies; service on assigned committees and task forces; attendance and participation at committee, staff, informational, and professional meetings

Core Competencies

Principia values the unique strengths each employee brings to their role. The following competencies are especially important for success at Principia:

• Continuous Learning & Expertise: Demonstrates mastery in your area of responsibility and seeks opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Accountability & Results Orientation: Manages time and priorities effectively, meets commitments, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Approaches challenges thoughtfully, considers multiple perspectives, and makes sound, timely decisions that support institutional goals.
• Proactivity & Ownership: Takes initiative, anticipates needs, and drives projects forward with minimal supervision while taking responsibility for outcomes.
• Excellence & Attention to Detail: Produces accurate, polished, and high-quality work; continuously finds ways to improve systems, processes, and results.
• Service Orientation: Builds positive, supportive relationships and responds promptly and professionally to the needs of students, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Collegiality: Works cooperatively across departments and teams; values input from others and contributes to a positive, respectful environment.
• Communication: Shares information clearly and concisely; listens carefully to others and adjusts communication style for different audiences and situations.
• Inclusion & Belonging: Demonstrates respect for all people; values diverse perspectives and fosters a culture of inclusion, belonging, and mutual respect.
• Leadership: Inspires and guides others with clarity, compassion, and accountability; supports individual and team growth in alignment with Principia's mission and goals.
• Culture & Team Building: Fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and open communication; demonstrates genuine care for team members' well-being and development.
• Resource Stewardship: Manages budgets, time, and resources responsibly and strategically to achieve departmental and institutional objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Supportive of Principia's guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements
• Master's degree in related field; doctorate preferred
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in admissions, enrollment, recruiting, marketing, or communication
• Strategic planning and budget development experience
• Excellent technology skills required, particularly with student systems, reporting and database management, Customer Relations Management programs, social networks, communication management, Windows, MS Office, online registration services, and others
• Sensitivity to multicultural issues, international experience, and an appreciation of differences in secondary school backgrounds

Preferred Qualifications

• Student of Christian Science
• Over five years of strategic enrollment management with a nuanced mastery of the admission process
• Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations related to admissions and compliance required, including international admissions, enrollment, and transcript evaluation services and FERPA
• Experience developing marketing publications and communication plans
• Experience ensuring brand integrity and brand management
• Knowledge of college admissions policies and procedures, particularly as they relate to special admissions programs, international student admissions
• Knowledge of key national organizations and publications and best practices such as NACAC, NACADA, NAFSA, ACE, as well as knowledge of latest student success initiatives including Guided Pathways

The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a competitive starting salary range for this position: $130,000 - $149,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Equal Opportunity

Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.

In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia-as an institution with a religious mission-gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.