Description
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is seeking the next Assistant/Associate Vice Provost and Director of Graduate Enrollment Management (AVP) to lead the strategic and operational functions for all graduate admissions. Reporting to the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, the AVP is a member of the Graduate School’s executive leadership and is expected to possess a commitment to a collaborative, innovative and holistic approach to operations management, enrollment, and supervision of staff.
The AVP will join UT at a time of growth and innovation within the state’s flagship institution. There is an opportunity for a data-driven leader who is skilled in innovation and collaboration to support enrollment growth and make a substantial mark on the university. The AVP should be an exemplary communicator, customer-driven, well-organized and have a demonstrated record of creating and maintaining a positive environment in which staff is empowered to make decisions in the best interest of our campus community. A full prospectus can be downloaded, which provides more information about the position, the Graduate School, and the university.
Key Areas of Oversight
Enrollment Operations Management: The Graduate admissions team plays a pivotal role in aligning operational goals and metrics with the university’s mission and the strategic plan of the Graduate School. Efforts are focused on optimizing academic department and program faculty and staff understanding of Graduate Catalog admission policies, graduate admissions practices and other related policies, offering or overseeing training opportunities as they arise. The Graduate admissions team monitors patterns in application reviews for admission decisions, assisting departments in identifying process improvements to meet their enrollment objectives. It also oversees the development and implementation of training opportunities to maximize the use of the CRM system (Slate) for recruiting and admitting a talented student body. Recommendations for operational enhancements, including budget allocation, staffing needs, and technological resources, are made to the Vice Provost and Dean to ensure ongoing improvement and alignment with institutional goals.
Staff Supervision: The Graduate Admissions team prioritizes equipping its staff with training and resources to enhance their work performance while fostering a service-oriented, student-centric, and collaborative environment. Regular staff and individual meetings are conducted to assign duties, provide instruction, and align team efforts with university priorities established by central administration or the Dean. These meetings also serve as a platform for addressing work-related concerns, facilitating teamwork, and offering support or solutions to staff members. Standard operating procedures written and updated by staff are reviewed and approved, serving as vital tools for training new employees, evaluating current staff performance, and addressing performance remediation needs. Collaboration with the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions ensures technological initiatives are discussed and implemented to support recruitment, admission, and enrollment processes effectively.
Enrollment Management: The AVP will collaborate with the Vice Provost and Dean and academic deans to meet the strategic enrollment goals of the university. The graduate admissions team plays a critical role in managing and disseminating statistical reports on graduate admission and enrollment data to various university stakeholders. The team works to achieve enrollment goals while analyzing data to identify trends and effectively communicate findings. Additionally, the team provides oversight and support to the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions, who spearheads technological initiatives related to recruitment and admissions through CRMs and other platforms.
Graduate School Support: The AVP of the Graduate School serves as an ex-officio member of the Graduate Council, contributing to its deliberations and decisions. Additionally, the role involves supporting the Graduate School through various responsibilities assigned by the Vice Provost and Dean, such as attending professional conferences, and serving as a spokesperson for graduate education at local, state, and national events. The AVP reviews and makes decisions regarding exceptions to Graduate Catalog admissibility requirements on behalf of the Vice Provost and Dean, consulting with them as necessary to ensure alignment with institutional policies and goals.
Interested candidates should formally apply via the applicant portal and include a letter of intent, CV/Resume, and names and contact information for three (3) professional references. To be assured of full consideration, all materials should be submitted by Sunday, March 29th. Nominations and confidential inquiries are encouraged and may be sent via e-mail to Brooke Swart, Executive Recruitment Manager, at bswart@utk.edu.
EEO/AA STATEMENT / NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.
Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the (EEO). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the EEO office.
Requirements
Required Education and Experience
master’s degree
a minimum of three years of experience managing operations within an organization
a minimum of five years of experience directly supervising staff members within an organization
demonstrated leadership experience working in higher education admissions
demonstrated experience working with federal, state and university guidelines related to admissions
demonstrated collaborative leadership style
Preferred Education and Experience
terminal degree
a minimum of three years’ experience managing technological or functional operations within a graduate admissions unit in a higher education setting
demonstrated experience of leading through change
participation in professional organizations with a focus on enrollment management and graduate admissions
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
highly developed ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, verbally and in writing
demonstrated ability to be a collaborative and engaging leader
demonstrated leadership skills in the areas of organizational management, planning, and initiating change
team-building skills
knowledge of and experience working with current technologies utilized in admission processes
demonstrated ability to effectively supervise staff and manage office operations
demonstrated ability to analyze problems and provide viable resolutions
ability to interpret and appropriately apply policy
ability to contribute to the Graduate School's mission of creating a welcoming environment
demonstrated ability to manage functional and technical operations associated with admissions in a higher education setting
knowledge of best practices in recruitment and admission of graduate students
demonstrated skills in recruiting and enrolling multiple populations of students
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
advanced knowledge of Banner (student information system) and Slate (admissions platform/CRM)
demonstrated ability to analyze existing admission and enrollment data to formulate future strategies
