Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

Nebraska Wesleyan University seeks a forward thinking, community minded leader as their next Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. The Vice President will offer leadership and oversight for the division of enrollment management composed of approximately 30 professionals within Undergraduate Admission, Transfer and Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Marketing, Communications and Public Relations.

Reporting to the President, Dr. Darrin Good, the Vice President will serve as a member of the University’s executive leadership team, the Administrative Council. Through an effective combination of traditional and innovative strategies, the Vice President will enable Nebraska Wesleyan to achieve its enrollment and marketing goals as outlined in the University’s multi-year strategic plan.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Enrollment Management
● Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of a strategic, multi-year enrollment plan for domestic undergraduate, transfer, international, and graduate enrollment goals.
● Analyzes current admissions, marketing, and retention trends locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to guide planning.
● Promotes initiatives to achieve diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility goals in terms of the recruitment and retention of students.
● Manages and mentors five experienced direct reports who are enrollment and marketing leaders in fostering a future oriented team able to translate goals, strategies, and aspirations into tactical plans.
● Partners with the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Vice President for Finance and Administration to set overall enrollment goals; then works to model, test, propose and implement financial aid strategies to reach the optimal mix of head count and tuition, fee, and auxiliary revenues for new and continuing students.
● Establishes training and evaluation protocols for all enrollment management staff with the goal of developing and retaining a team of committed, results-oriented recruitment professionals.
● Serves as the administrative liaison to the Board of Governors’ Enrollment and Marketing Committee.
● Participates in NWU’s shared governance, including serving on the Program Development Committee, which analyzes data and identifies market opportunities for academic program expansion and growth of existing programs.
● Serves as a member of the Retention Team to develop, implement, and monitor initiatives designed to increase student persistence.
● Serves on a variety of campus committees including Archways Magazine Committee, Academic Standards Committee, and the Budget Advisory Committee.
● Develops strong cross-departmental and divisional relationships to support the enrollment, retention, and success of an increasingly diverse student body.
● Represents the University at activities and events on and off campus.

Marketing and Communications

● Ensures that the University has a proactive marketing and communication plan that serves the goals and priorities set through the strategic plan.
● Oversees the creation of a comprehensive marketing and communication plan based on trends, target markets, data, and analytics to meet undergraduate, transfer, and graduate objectives.
● Leads a dedicated marketing and communications team in meeting the complex priorities of serving multiple audiences, and demonstrates expertise in evolving consumer expectations and behavior and changes in channels of communication.
● Provides leadership in crisis communication and public relations, fostering and enhancing public perceptions, knowledge and appreciation of the University for a variety of audiences.
● Offers leadership to develop, support, implement, and evaluate comprehensive marketing communications strategies to address the specific interests and needs of unique student, parent, alumni, and community populations.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND CHARACTERISTICS
The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree (an advanced degree is strongly preferred), a minimum of eight years of progressive experience in enrollment management in higher education, and significant experience in a leadership and managerial role. In addition, the Vice President should demonstrate the following qualifications, skills, and abilities:

● A proven track record in successful outreach and recruitment of prospective students including undergraduate first-year, transfer, graduate, international, and historically underserved populations.
● Success in developing and communicating a positive, compelling strategy and motivating teams in executing actionable, cutting edge, and creative initiatives toward that vision.
● Demonstrated experience in strategic research and planning, data analysis, reporting, budgeting, and supervision.
● Data savvy, strategically deft, with the ability to analyze, interpret, and articulate information in a manner that educates, informs, and engages others.
● Skilled in the application of best practices and use of technology to improve efficiency and improve the experience of students and families.
● An active commitment to advancing diversity, inclusivity, and belonging for both the recruitment and retention of students, as well as staff.
● Possess an understanding of NCAA regulations for Division III athletics and the ability to build partnerships with coaches and athletic administrators to facilitate the strategic recruitment and retention of student athletes.
● Demonstrates fiscal responsibility for the planning, allocation, and tracking of budgets and strong practical experience in pricing and discounting strategies.
● An advanced level of familiarity with integrated media approaches to reaching audiences including web-based admissions and digital marketing tools.
● Demonstrated ability to build, lead, support, motivate, and retain an outstanding staff with an open mind and creative and generous spirit.
● Exhibit extremely high standards of integrity and honesty, and a passion for higher education.
● Possess an intense interest and ability to collaborate across campus with a desire to develop authentic, trusting relationships with campus partners as an engaged member of the community.
● Ability to be bold, creative and visionary while also being collegial, collaborative, and inclusive.

To Apply
NES, a higher education search firm specializing in enrollment management searches, is assisting Nebraska Wesleyan University in their search for a Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. To arrange a confidential conversation or to nominate someone for this position, please contact Suzi Nam, Catherine Capolupo, or Mary Napier.

To apply, send 1) a resume, 2) a detailed letter regarding your interest in the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing position at Nebraska Wesleyan University, and 3) contact information for five professional references by email to: nebrwesleyan@nessearches.com. For best consideration, submit materials by May 20, 2024; the search will remain open until the position is filled. Candidates who are selected for a preliminary interview will be asked to provide a diversity statement prior to their conversation with the search committee. The expected start date will be in mid to late summer of 2024. All applications and nominations will be considered confidential, and notice will be given before references are contacted.

Nebraska Wesleyan University provides equal educational and employment opportunities to qualified persons in all areas of university operation without regard to religion or creed, age, genetic information, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, race, or national or ethnic origin, in compliance with state and federal laws, including but not limited to Title XII, Title IX, and the ADA. E-Verify, EOE.