Director of Admissions, Tampa, FL

Role Overview

Excelon Associates is conducting a search for a Director of Admissions on behalf of a private university in Tampa, Florida. The Director of Admissions is responsible for the overall successful operation of the campus Admissions Office: the recruitment, enrollment, admissions, and orientation programs, the admissions business plan and expense control, and the performance of a team of 4 to 12 admissions representatives. The position is full time and on site at the Tampa campus.

This is a revenue-accountable leadership seat. The Director develops the admissions operations plan in support of the division president's goals, manages enrollment forecast models with campus leadership, runs recruitment events and job fairs, and builds the employer and community relationships that keep the campus visible in the Tampa Bay market. Candidates need a Bachelor's degree, three to five years of supervisory experience, and ideally prior experience as a director or executive at a proprietary college.

What Does a Director of Admissions Do?

A Director of Admissions at a career-focused university is the campus leader accountable for new student enrollment. The role owns the admissions team, the recruitment and enrollment strategy, the admissions budget, and the conversion of inquiries into enrolled students, and it answers to campus and divisional leadership for the results. At this client, the Director also manages orientation programs, oversees the CRM that records all prospecting and follow-up activity, and plans the promotional events and community partnerships that generate leads.

Admissions at proprietary institutions in Florida operates inside a defined compliance framework. Campuses are licensed by the Commission for Independent Education within the Florida Department of Education, and institutions that participate in federal student aid follow the recruiting rules set by Federal Student Aid under Title IV, including the limits on incentive compensation for admissions staff. The Director is the person who keeps the Tampa admissions operation productive and compliant at the same time, and who responds to inquiries, complaints, and audit findings from regulatory agencies or internal audit. The Tampa campus serves Hillsborough County and the wider Tampa Bay region, one of the largest metro areas in the Southeast.

Primary Responsibilities

Enrollment Strategy and Planning

• Develop the admissions operations plan in support of the division president's operational goals.
• Ensure enrollment strategies are coherently developed and effectively implemented across the campus, and align enrollment services priorities with the admissions strategic plan.
• Develop, review, and monitor recruitment and enrollment strategies to meet campus enrollment goals, and assess them annually using metrics and trend data.
• Analyze statistics and trends to determine enrollment outcomes, and manage enrollment forecast models in collaboration with campus leadership.
• Monitor campus and industry trends and adjust business strategy to respond to market changes and competitive activity.

Admissions Operations

• Oversee the management and operations of admissions, enrollment, and orientation services.
• Own the admissions business plan, expense control, and other managerial functions as assigned.
• Maintain current records of all sales and prospecting activity, including calls, presentations, group deals, and follow-ups, within the CRM.
• Collaborate in the development of recruitment marketing materials.

Team Leadership

• Provide direction and management for the admissions staff, typically 4 to 12 direct reports.
• Establish measurable goals for the admissions organization and partner with campus leadership on hiring, mentoring, and team accountability.
• Recruit, train, develop, and manage staff to increase leads, conversions, and enrollment results.
• Deliver regular specialized training to develop the team's sales skills.
• Carry out supervisory duties including hiring, training, planning and assigning work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees, and resolving complaints and problems in accordance with company policy and applicable law.

Recruitment Events and Community Relations

• Oversee recruitment and outreach activities, including recruitment events and job fairs.
• Plan, manage, and execute promotional events to increase enrollments and conversion.
• Advance relationships with prospective students through to enrollment.
• Build relationships with local organizations and chambers of commerce to raise visibility and strengthen community relations.

Qualifications and Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Three to five years of supervisory experience.
• Prior experience as a director or executive at a proprietary college is preferred.
• Proven ability to manage and motivate professionals as a cohesive team.

Skills

• Excellent communication with staff and the community, with a persuasive, results-oriented style.
• Strong command of contemporary enrollment management systems and CRM-based prospecting.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to inquiries, complaints, and audit findings from regulatory agencies or internal audits.
• Ability to write proposals that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Comfortable presenting to top management, public groups, and senior leadership.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Availability

• Willingness to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet business objectives.

Compensation and Benefits

The client has not published a salary range for the Director of Admissions position in Tampa. Compensation is discussed with qualified candidates during the recruiting process and reflects the candidate's experience and the scope of the campus. The benefits package below is offered to full-time employees.

Admissions director roles at proprietary and career-focused universities in Florida are typically benchmarked against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics category for postsecondary education administrators (SOC 11-9033), with campus-level pay set by team size, enrollment volume, and the budget the Director manages.

Benefits

• Medical coverage, including HSA and FSA options for dependent and health care.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• 12 paid holidays, paid time off, and a paid volunteer day.
• 401(k) with 50% employer matching.
• Short-term disability and life insurance, with supplemental life insurance options.
• Growth opportunities, education assistance, and professional development benefits.
• No-cost benefits: group life insurance, long-term disability, a talent referral program, and a discount entertainment program.
• Paid day off on your birthday for full-time employees after two years.

Who Thrives in This Role?

This role rewards an admissions leader who has already run a team against a number. The strongest candidates have managed admissions representatives at a proprietary college, built an enrollment forecast and been held to it, and know how to coach a representative from a slow month back to goal without losing them.

It is a data seat as much as a people seat. Directors who do well here read the funnel every week, know which lead sources convert, and change the plan when the market moves rather than at the annual review. They are also comfortable in front of regulators, auditors, and senior leadership, because the admissions office is where compliance questions land first.

Start dates, open houses, and community events put evenings and weekends on the calendar. The best fit treats the Tampa Bay community as part of the territory, builds relationships with employers and chambers of commerce, and brings a persuasive, steady style to a fast-paced campus.

About Excelon Associates and the Client

Excelon Associates is a retained and contingency executive search firm founded in 2007, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida, and a dedicated higher education recruitment practice. This search is being conducted by Excelon Associates on behalf of a private university in Tampa, Florida, and the firm publishes its search fees and engagement terms so clients and candidates know how it works.

The client is a private university with campuses across Florida and a strong commitment to student outcomes and community engagement. Its Tampa campus serves students across on-campus, blended, and online programs, and the Director of Admissions leads the team that brings new students into those programs. The client's identity is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiting process. You can browse current open roles or review recent campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The client is an equal opportunity employer and values all applications. Excelon does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, marital or veteran status, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.