Employment Opportunities at USD

Current Employee searching for job opportunities? Click Here to login to the MySanDiego portal to view and apply for Department Only or Campus Only postings.

Director of Business Admissions

Apply now Posting #: 5079
Position Status: Full-time regular
Location: San Diego
Position Type: Administrator, School of Business

Position Title & Department:

 Director of Business Admissions; School of Business
Posting #

5079

Department Description:

The Knauss School of Business at USD embraces a stewardship approach to business education. Stewardship requires businesses to protect and care for society in pursuit of a greater good.  The Knauss School community of faculty, staff, students and graduates, embrace stewardship by applying values-driven, free-enterprise skills to improve businesses, industries, and the lives of people in our community and around the world.  We provide academically rigorous, relevant and values-based education and research.  Degree programs in the Knauss School of Business are AACSB accredited, with the undergraduate and MBA programs being highly ranked both domestically and internationally.  www.sandiego.edu/business/about/

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The Director of Business Admissions is responsible for overseeing and managing overall admission processes for all business programs in partnership with the Associate Dean of Strategy and Curriculum Innovation. In addition, the Director has the specific responsibility to oversee the strategic use of financial merit funding across programs ensuring best practices are implemented, as well as designing and executing effective event strategies for lead conversions, increased yield and retention of students in all business programs. The Director plays a key role in the successful onboarding and orientation of incoming students. The Director works closely with the Associate Dean and serves as a primary liaison with central Graduate Admission and the Office of Financial Aid. A pivotal goal for the university is achieving and then maintaining H.S.I. status, and the Director plays a crucial role in these efforts as well as other strategic initiatives and aims related to the demographics of our campus community. The Director is required to work some evenings and weekends as well as occasionally travel domestically and internationally. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Oversight and Coordination of Admissions Process 

  • Ensure that the admissions process reflects the department’s commitment to diversity and results in the matriculation of a diverse student body.
  • Create a strategy for participation in MBA and MS recruiting fairs in the USA, abroad and virtually and represent USD’s programs at these events as needed. Responsible for contributing to the School’s revenue and admissions goals, supporting Assistant Directors with the management of student inquiries and applications, conducting informational interviews, documenting the admissions process for compliance, and following up with enrolled students as needed.
  • Consult with assistant directors of outreach and recruitment to troubleshoot applicant questions and remove barriers that keep applicants from completing the enrollment process. 
  • Design and manage the assigned program application process, and make recommendations for updates to admissions criteria and policies as needed. Coordinates with Graduate Admissions regarding any changes to the application process and annual updates to the online application. 
  • Represent USD at GMAC and other external organizations with the intention of expanding awareness of USD business programs and bringing back ideas for new programs and process improvement. 
  • Manage the application review process, including interview protocols, and coordinate with department chairs regarding admissions decisions. Monitor and assist with the development of appropriate assessments and measurements related to the school's enrollment performance. Provide all requested measurements, reports and information to the Associate Dean as well as Assistant Directors of Outreach and Recruitment as needed. 
  • Assist with admissions interviews across programs as needed. Manage the collection and reporting of applicant and enrollment data (via inquiries, surveys, evaluations) across all departments and programs, ensuring successful participation in rankings. 
  • Maintain current and relevant data for ongoing use and assessment.
  • Oversees and optimizes the administration and operations of the recruitment, admissions, and scholarship awarding processes. 
  • Leads an internal agency model designed to support all Knauss School of Business programs to achieve recruitment goals 
  • Provides leadership and oversight on planning, prioritization, and process improvement initiatives in the enrollment cycle
  • Is an expert in the selling proposition and differentiation of all programs at the Knauss School of Business Ensures the Knauss School of Business participates in and has representation at the GMAC and other external organizations that support the growth of current and future programs. 

Support the Enrollment Growth of all School of Business Programs

  • Provide, manage and produce weekly, monthly and yearly applicant, inquiry, conversion and enrollment reports for all Knauss School of Business programs. Assist in the Knauss School of Business recruitment efforts by attending events, meeting with prospective students, parents, professional organizations, and alumni in support of enrollment as needed. 
  • Establish and maintain professional relationships with the Academic Program Directors, Financial Services, Student Success team and Registrar to coordinate and improve the School’s overall efforts in admissions, yield, events, etc.
  • Collaborates with Department Chairs and Assistant Directors of Outreach and Recruitment to support their efforts in the recruitment of graduate and undergraduate students
  • Leads planning and implementation of program-specific strategic, integrated recruitment strategies for all business programs to reach and exceed enrollment targets 
  • In partnership with the Director of Marketing, reviews promotional strategy and makes improvements based on data compiled from students inquiring and applying to the program 
  • In partnership with the Director of Marketing, analyzes market data for current and potential Knauss School of Business programs to set marketing strategies that optimize student recruitment and retention efforts
  • Provides leadership and oversight for Knauss School of Business admissions practices, ensuring that the admissions process reflects the department’s commitment to diversity and results in the matriculation of a highly qualified, diverse student body. 

Oversight of Award Packages and Financial Aid Across Programs

  • Develops strategic scholarship allocations to attract a talented and diverse pool of students.
  • Collaborate with Financial Aid in the awarding of USD grants and overall aid packages. 
  • Responsible for understanding annual updates to Yellow Ribbon and VA benefits, making requests for adjustments for business students as needed. 
  • Assist the Assistant Directors of Outreach and Recruitment in communicating scholarship awards and responding to negotiations for increased scholarships.
  • Determine continuing scholarship amounts and eligibility in conjunction with the Assistant Directors and the Student Success team.
  • Notify financial aid of new scholarships, scholarship adjustments and continuation scholarships.
  • Serves as the School’s primary liaison with the Office of Financial Aid and military and veterans’ programs.

Strategic Direction for School-Wide Yield Efforts

  • Develop event and yield strategy for all School of Business programs
  • Partner with ADs in leading, coordinating, and hosting school-wide recruiting fairs and events, including the graduate open house, meet the professors, and other initiatives. 
  • Support the Associate Dean in designing and implementing new tools and strategies across programs to reach enrollment goals Collaborate with the Center for Student Success to determine best practices for the transition from student recruitment to student matriculation including managing student onboarding and orientation in partnership with the Center for Student Success and SPDM group
  • Assist with special projects, as needed, to enhance the business programs and related activities at the School of Business
  • Manage activities designed to facilitate strong yield rates for admitted applicants 
  • Represent the business school, as needed, in USD admissions initiatives and activities

Department Administration

  • Hires, trains, supervises and evaluates department admin and staff members
  • Manages recruiting and admissions budget to achieve operational goals, approves team expenditures and ensures overall fiscal compliance of team members 
  • Identifies and implements cost-saving, budgetary efficiencies
  • Works with Finance and Administration Team on multiple vendor agreements to ensure compliance with university policies
  • Provides creative, viable solutions to operational challenges
  • Represents departmental concerns and perspectives
  • Provides regular updates to KSB internal and external stakeholders on departmental initiatives, efforts and outcomes

Other duties as assigned

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes. 

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with preference given to business, marketing, psychology, communications or related field. 
  • 5 years of experience in leadership roles in higher education, recruiting, marketing, or sales. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with preference given to a business or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in higher education recruiting and admissions. 

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Admissions and outreach programs 
  • Developing state, national and international recruitment strategies
  • Creating and executing strategic plans based on short- and long-range university goals 
  • Creative problem solving, collaboration, change management and shaping organizational effectiveness 
  • Scholarship allocation for admitted students
  • Product marketing and promotion 
  • Interacting with the professional business community
  • Project or event management
  • Using judgment to respond appropriately to inquiries 
  • Writing reports 
  • Computers and software (including MS Word, Access or other databases, Internet, Web, etc.) 
  • Modern office practices, systems and procedures 
  • Spreadsheets, budgeting procedures
  • Being comfortable in working with others from different cultures and countries 
  • Human relations and interpersonal communications
  • Exercising self-initiative and creativity 
  • Being able to function with the highest degree of autonomy 
  • Operation of personal computer equipment and web management 
  • Time management and organization of multi-tasking work requirements 
  • Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing 
  • Working with diverse personalities 
  • Working independently using good judgment, initiative and creativity 
  • Familiar and comfortable in working with students 
  • Being flexible and versatile in coping with evolving work situations 
  • Being able to handle the stress of last-minute deadlines and changes 
  • Ability to assume responsibility and effectively resolve problems by exercising independent judgment 
  • Interacting with faculty, academic administrators and students 
Posting Salary:

$7,500 - $8,333.34 per month; Excellent Benefits

In addition, the Knauss School of Business offers two different compressed work schedule options following a 9/75 structure in which employees have 1 to 1.5 days off over every two-week period as well as a hybrid option for those positions that can complete some work remotely.

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.  Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.  USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position.  Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions:
Resume and Cover Letter Required

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers’ review.  If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with priority given to applications received by November 14, 2024.

Additional Details:

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: Open until filled 

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the campus community.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.

Advertised: Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend


Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at www.sandiego.edu/safety/documents/annualreport.pdf. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response stands and protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. To request a paper copy, please contact the Clery Act Compliance Manager via email at clery@sandiego.edu, by calling (619) 260-4768, or in-person in the Hughes Administration Center, room 150.