Senior Director of First-Year Admission

Senior Director of First-Year Admission

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 Position Information 

Job Title  | Senior Director of First-Year Admission
Union Level  |
Department  | Admission
Campus  | Stockton
Posting Number  | 201304143P
Full or Part Time  | Full Time
Number of Months  | 12
Work Schedule  |
Position End Date  |
Open Date  | 08/27/2025
Close Date  |
Open Until Filled  | Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants  | For Applicants Seeking Job Opportunities within the University
Internal: Internal applicants will be considered within the first five (5) business days of the posting period.
External: External applicants will be considered on the sixth (6) business day of the posting period.
Sponsorship  | This position is not eligible for a visa sponsorship now or in the future.

 Position Summary Information 

Primary Purpose  | The Senior Director of First-Year Admission is a visionary enrollment leader who is responsible for shaping the University of the Pacific’s incoming undergraduate class. Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment Strategy, this role oversees the first-year admission team, driving innovative recruitment strategies that attract academically talented, diverse, and mission-aligned students.

This leader will partner with University executives, academic deans, marketing teams, and community stakeholders to deliver best-in-class recruitment practices, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement in all aspects of the admission process.
Essential Functions  | Strategic Leadership Design and execute a comprehensive first-year recruitment strategy aligned with university enrollment goals. Collaborate with Enrollment Strategy leadership and academic deans to set enrollment projections, class profiles, and targeted growth strategies. Use data analytics and CRM systems to evaluate progress, inform decision-making, and optimize recruitment outcomes. Provide strategic insight as the first-year admission expert, managing vendor relationships and driving innovative recruitment initiatives such as direct admission. 
Recruitment InitiativesBuild and manage a robust high school territory management program with measurable results. Increase admission applications from a variety of geographic locations. Partner with Enrollment Marketing and Strategic Communications to develop creative, targeted outreach campaigns.
Admissions Lead the holistic application review process, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the team. Oversee waitlist management and decision release processes.
Team DevelopmentLead, mentor, and coach a high-performing admission team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration. Set clear expectations, provide ongoing professional development, and align team strengths to meet institutional goals.
Collaboration & Outreach Serve as the primary lead within the Division of Enrollment Strategy for all first-year recruitment partnership opportunities across campus, representing First-Year Admission on university committees and in cross-departmental initiatives. Work closely with directors across Enrollment Strategy, campus visit programs, and transfer admission to achieve shared goals. Partner with academic and administrative units to market new programs and expand recruitment pipelines. Partner with the regional and national professional organizations for college admission counseling (WACAC and NACAC). Develop and maintain communications and relationships with college counselors from high schools in the Western states and other areas in the United States.
University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications  | Bachelor’s degree. Minimum six (6) years in college admission, enrollment management, or related experience with progressive leadership responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications  | Experience with Slate CRM and enterprise-wide student information systems. Demonstrated success leading teams toward measurable enrollment goals. Proven track record in innovative recruitment strategies and creative marketing initiatives. Strong data analysis skills with the ability to link budgets to measurable outcomes. Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills. Strategic vision and the ability to balance big-picture planning with tactical execution. Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all recruitment efforts. Collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire and motivate teams. Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills grounded in data analysis. Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting. Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.

Physical Requirements  | The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties require frequent sitting, repetitive use of hands and wrists while using computer keyboard and phone. Occasional walking, standing and simple grasping. Infrequent climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling or reaching. May be requested to lift up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment/Work Week/Travel: Primarily office-based with standard business hours; occasional evenings and weekends required. Some local and overnight travel- approximately 4-6 weeks per year. 
Valid driver’s license required. Incumbent must also be able to meet the University’s fleet rules and be eligible to drive for University business. The University and its insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record.
Hiring Range  | $110,000 - $130,000; We consider factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Background Check Statement  | All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.

AB 810 Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: University of the Pacific complies with California Assembly Bill 810, requiring candidates accepting conditional job offers to disclose any final administrative or judicial findings, ongoing proceedings, allegations, resignations under investigation, or appeals related to sexual harassment or misconduct within the past seven years.

Anti-Discrimination/EEO Policy Statement  | University of the Pacific is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity across backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. Pacific does not unlawfully discriminate in its hiring of faculty and staff, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its faculty and staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sex/gender, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or mental or physical disability, or other legally protected characteristics or combination of such characteristics. While we strive to attract a broad and representative pool of candidates, all hiring decisions are made based on merit, selecting the most qualified individual for each position.

Posting Specific Questions

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Applicant Documents

University of the Pacific / 3601 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95211
 human_resources@pacific.edu human_resources@pacific.edu / 209.946.2124