Director of Admissions Operations and Systems

LIM College - The Business of Fashion & Lifestyle is currently seeking candidates for the position of Director of Admissions Operations and Systems.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Founded in 1939 and located in midtown Manhattan, LIM College is a female-led and owned institution focused on the global business of fashion and lifestyle. Offering master's, bachelor's and associate degree programs, LIM prepares students for career success via an immersive approach grounded in real-world experience and learning by doing required internships. LIM College's commitment to excellence in business education ensures graduates are sought after by a wide range of employers, as evidenced by a Career Outcomes Rate of 96% for the Class of 2022. Alumni excel throughout all areas of fashion and lifestyle and have gone on to work for companies such as Chanel, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Ross Stores, The Financial Times, Ulta Beauty, Google, Saks Fifth Avenue, Cannabis Creative, and The National Football League.

SALARY RANGE: $90,000 - $100,000/Annually

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Director of Admissions Operations and Systems role serves as the Slate Captain (the lead for the Technolutions Slate CRM system), ensuring seamless operations and strategic alignment across the admissions process. This role oversees critical functions related to admissions processes, systems, and efficiencies, ensuring seamless operations that support institutional enrollment goals. The Director works closely with the Vice President to assess application trends, optimize workflows, and make data-driven decisions to improve the applicant experience. This role collaborates with admissions leadership to ensure that recruitment strategies are effectively supported by operational processes and that key enrollment metrics are closely monitored throughout the cycle. Additionally, this position manages the Operations team to ensure the timely and accurate processing of applications, deployment of communications, and execution of data integrity protocols, helping to drive efficiency and enhance enrollment outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

Technolutions Slate

• Serves as the institution's chief architect of Slate, providing an overall vision, system administration, and support.
• Maximize the efficiency of the CRM for the lifecycle of constituent records, staff needs, while maintaining data integrity and security.
• Develop and enhance technological platforms to streamline business procedures and improve data security, accuracy, accessibility, and confidentiality.
• Create and optimize processes to improve staff efficiency and system functionality.
• Develop, modify, maintain, and support custom reports to meet the university's ad-hoc and ongoing needs.
• Conduct regular maintenance, updates, and improvements to enhance system performance and data integrity.
• Work closely with stakeholders to ensure accurate data exchange between the CRM and other systems.
• Provide continuous training, documentation, and updates to CRM users, ensuring smooth system operations and user proficiency.

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Serve as a key advisor to the Vice President of Enrollment Services on operational strategy, enrollment trends, and data-driven decision-making.
• Lead the long-term vision and strategy for admissions operations, ensuring alignment with institutional enrollment and retention goals.
• Oversee the execution of high-impact admissions initiatives, integrating technology and workflow improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with institutional leadership (Marketing, Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, IT, Student Affairs, and Institutional Research) to optimize processes that enhance enrollment outcomes.
• Ensure operational policies align with federal, state, and institutional compliance regulations, reducing risk and enhancing efficiency.

Admissions Technology & Data Integrity

• Provide high-level oversight of Slate CRM, ensuring the platform is fully optimized to support all admissions programs (undergraduate, graduate, online, pre-college, and transfer).
• Responsible for writing and maintaining the data-reporting tools, data integrity, analysis, and the accuracy of the data entered into the student information system(s).
• Oversee the implementation of new system integrations, ensuring smooth execution, rigorous testing, and efficiency improvements.
• Establish advanced data governance policies, ensuring the integrity, security, and accuracy of all admissions-related data.
• Serve as the primary liaison with IT, external vendors, and consultants, driving continuous improvements in admissions technology.
• Direct the creation of new admissions reporting dashboards, providing real-time insights to inform enrollment decision-making.

Operational Oversight & Process Optimization

• Oversee all business processes within admissions operations, identifying opportunities to enhance automation, reduce inefficiencies, and streamline workflows.
• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive admissions operations roadmap, ensuring continuous process improvements.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track operational success and identify opportunities for enhancement.
• Ensure alignment between admissions operations, recruitment strategy, financial aid packaging, and student onboarding to improve enrollment outcomes.
• Use Slate CRM and external research tools (e.g., Ruffalo Noel Levitz forecast model) to analyze trends impacting recruitment and enrollment.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with IT, Institutional Research, and Marketing to ensure seamless communication and operational efficiency.

Team Leadership & Professional Development

• Lead and mentor a team of one associate director and two coordinators, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

• Oversee talent development initiatives, providing coaching, training, and professional growth opportunities for operations staff.

• Establish a leadership pipeline within the operations team, ensuring institutional knowledge transfer and long-term stability.

• Monitor and optimize structured training programs for admissions staff on Slate CRM, data analytics, and best practices in admissions operations.

• Champion a data-informed culture, ensuring team members are equipped with the skills and tools to make evidence-based decisions.

Compliance, Risk Management, & Best Practices

• Serve as the chief compliance officer for admissions operations, ensuring adherence to state, federal, and institutional policies related to student data and application processing.

• Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks, implementing policies and procedures to ensure efficiency, security, and compliance.

• Stay ahead of industry trends and best practices in admissions operations, making strategic recommendations for innovation and continuous improvement.

• Develop and implement a crisis management and contingency plan for admissions operations in response to system outages, application surges, or regulatory changes.

REQUIREMENTS: The person selected will have the following qualifications:

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:

• Bachelor's degree required (Masters preferred) in Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Data Analytics, or a related field.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

• 6+ years of experience in admissions operations, enrollment management, or higher education technology.
• Expert-level knowledge of Slate CRM, including system integrations, configuration, optimization, data governance, and automation in admissions.
• Strong experience in SQL, Java, or other programming languages for reporting and automation.
• Knowledge of higher education compliance regulations related to admissions, student records, and data security.
• Proven success in leading high-performing teams, managing change, and driving operational transformation.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

WORK PERKS:

• Hybrid Work Schedules
• College Closed for Summer Fridays
• Tuition Remission or Tuition Exchange
• 6 Weeks of Paid Holidays
• Birthday Day to Celebrate your Birthday
• 2-4 weeks of vacation based on longevity; 7 sick days annually
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance, 401K etc.