Associate Dean of Continuing Education jobs in Allentown, PA

Job ID: 2412

The Associate Director of Graduate & Continuing Education Admissions plays a critical role in executing strategic enrollment plans and achieving enrollment and revenue goals for adult and graduate programs. The Associate Director will work closely with the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Dean of Continuing Studies to meet and grow enrollment goals. The Associate Director liaises with the Office of Communications & Marketing (OCM) and Office of Admissions to thoroughly understand the enrollment funnel; however, this role focuses on the middle of the funnel and the conversion of prospects to qualified leads and applicants, who are then assigned to specific advisors. The Associate Director is responsible for implementing and assessing goals throughout the consideration phase of the recruitment funnel. To be successful, the Associate Director will have a working knowledge of each program and how each program processes pertinent material necessary to accept and enroll these applicants. While the majority of the workload of this position is working directly with prospective students (leads) to have them complete applications, the Associate Director will collaborate with GCE leadership to analyze enrollment trends and demographics to inform strategic planning around recruitment targets and the positioning of academic programs.

Schedule & Benefits: At Muhlenberg, we value your work/life balance and are pleased to offer this full-time opportunity with remote work available up to two days per week (following initial onboarding/acclimation period). Muhlenberg offers a highly competitive benefits package, including but not limited to, generous holidays (including three days off for Thanksgiving and an extended winter break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day), vacation (22 days per year), sick leave, paid parental leave, Life Sports Center membership, tuition opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate level, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending plans, College-provided short-and long-term disability, life insurance, and retirement. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit institution, Muhlenberg is a qualifying employer under the federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The College & Surrounding Area: Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. At Muhlenberg, we are committed to a campus community that ensures students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome, respected, valued and included. Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, business, natural sciences and social sciences; as well as pre-professional programs in law, health and theology; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and master’s degrees. As part of eastern Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley, Allentown is a diverse city of 125,000, located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City. As the third largest city in the state, and along with neighboring Bethlehem and Easton, the region is home to a vibrant arts scene, extensive parks and recreational opportunities, and a rich blend of diverse cuisine. For more information, visit Life in the Lehigh Valley | Muhlenberg College and check out Allentown here.

Characteristic Duties & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for primary recruitment functions of graduate and continuing education students through point-of-contact with prospective students, communication with leads/referrals, setting appointments, and conducting preliminary informational interviews.
• Ensure expediency, within one business day, in contacting every prospective student via phone, text, and/or email upon prospect inquiry and connecting them with either resources or the appropriate advisor.
• Have a working knowledge of how GCE processes applicants and work closely with the various advisors, the Deans, and the Office of Communications and Marketing to aid in obtaining applicant documents and answering applicant inquiries.
• Work closely with the Office of Communications and Marketing to create and manage communication strategies for prospective students for all GCE programs through letters, emails, phone calls, and personal appointments.
• Utilize CRM systems and analytics tools to track inquiry and recruitment metrics, monitor progress toward enrollment targets, and identify enrollment trends and recruitment challenges.
• Work with the Office of Communications and Marketing and the GCE Deans to leverage performance data and analytics to optimize outreach and targeting strategies, improving campaign efficiency, reducing cost-per-lead, and attracting high-quality candidates for our programs.
• Partner across campus units, including financial aid, academic advising, and marketing, to coordinate, execute, and improve enrollment operations.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director of College Partnerships to achieve corporate partnership goals and engage with partner prospects.
• Working with the Deans and Assistant Director of College Partnerships, lead the planning, organizing, and executing of special events such as on-site recruitment events and virtual information sessions.
• Advise and inform the Deans and VP weekly regarding key performance indicators and provide insight into performance against goals.
• Continuously monitor industry developments, trends, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities to influence our recruitment strategy and maintain leadership.
• Work with the Vice President and Executive Director, Deans, Associate Deans, Director of Marketing, Program Coordinators, and others in the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education to promote and ensure the growth and development of the Division, its affiliate programs, and support of our students.

While no one person may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will have many of the following professional experiences and characteristics:

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 3 years of progressive admissions, recruitment, and enrollment management experience, preferably within adult and graduate programs.
• Experience working in CRM platforms.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including effectively documenting policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated computer knowledge, including Google Workspace, MS Office, and database management.
• A Student-Centered philosophy and ability to understand the challenges and goals of a diverse group of graduate and continuing education students.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external constituents.
• Must be well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Flexibility and willingness to occasionally work outside of regular business hours and extended days with the ability to juggle competing priorities effectively.
• Successful completion of satisfactory background checks, including but not limited to child abuse clearance, credit check, education and national criminal background.

To apply, upload your complete application package as a single PDF document. A complete application package includes: 1) cover letter; 2) resume; 3) separate diversity statement summarizing professional experiences and capacities that prepare you to contribute to our diversity, equity, and inclusion goals; and 4) names/contact information for three professional references. Application review will continue until the position is filled.

An equal opportunity employer, Muhlenberg College is committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty and staff from racial and ethnic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education. Please visit our Diversity & Inclusion page for additional information about Muhlenberg's commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive community.