Director of Admissions

Job Title: Director of Admissions

Department: Enrollment Management

Reports to: Vice President of Enrollment Management

Location: Residential, In-Person

Employment Status: Full-Time Exempt Staff

Salary Range:  $120,000 - $160,000

About Palo Alto University (PAU)

Palo Alto University is a private, nonprofit university dedicated to advancing human understanding through innovative education, groundbreaking research, and impactful practice in behavioral science.

Founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Silicon Valley, PAU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in psychology, counseling, social work, and behavioral science, including the PAU-Stanford PsyD Consortium with Stanford Medicine. Grounded in human dignity, PAU's scholars, clinicians, educators, and learners share a single conviction: that understanding how people think, feel, behave, relate, heal, and make meaning is among the most essential work of our time.

The university enrolls over 1,200 students, has a network of more than 4,200 alumni, and employs over 150 faculty and staff united by a mission-driven commitment to advancing human understanding. PAU enters its sixth decade at a defining moment: a new president, a new provost, a bold new vision and strategic plan, and an urgent opportunity to shape how behavioral science responds to the challenges of an increasingly changing world. You will join a mission-driven community with the ambition to make a measurable impact on the human condition.

The Role

The Director of Admissions is the architect of PAU's first impression and one of the most consequential roles in the university. Every prospective student who discovers PAU, applies to our programs, and ultimately chooses to join our community passes through the experience this leader designs and delivers.

Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the Director leads the Office of Admissions with strategic clarity, operational discipline, collaborative approach, and genuine care for the human beings at the center of every enrollment decision. This is not a conventional admissions role. PAU is building a modern, data-informed, mission-driven enrollment operation from the ground up, and the Director of Admissions will be foundational to that build.

The Director is responsible for the full recruitment and admissions lifecycle, from first inquiry through matriculation, across all PAU's programs. The role demands a leader who thinks strategically, executes with precision, uses data to drive decisions, partners with faculty and staff, and never loses sight of the student behind every application.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Enrollment Planning

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year recruitment and admissions strategy aligned with PAU's enrollment goals, academic program priorities, and mission.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators across the admissions funnel, from inquiry through enrollment, and use that data to drive continuous improvement and accountability.
• Partner with the VPEM, academic program leaders, and the Cabinet to set enrollment targets, assess market position, and respond to emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Serve as a thought leader within the division on program admissions, demographic trends, and evolving applicant expectations.

Recruitment and Pipeline Development

• Design and lead an innovative, multi-channel recruitment strategy that expands PAU's reach, diversifies applicant pools, and builds awareness of PAU's programs in the behavioral science field.
• Build and sustain relationships with schools, community colleges, professional associations, community organizations, and employer partners that generate qualified applicant pipelines.
• Collaborate with brand and marketing staff on recruitment campaigns, digital communications, event promotion, and program-specific messaging that reflect PAU's voice and values.
• Use funnel analytics, yield modeling, and source data to continuously refine recruitment strategies and improve conversion at every stage of the pipeline.

Admissions Operations and Applicant Experience

• Oversee all admissions operations, including inquiry management, application review, prospective student advising, decision communication, and yield conversion, ensuring every applicant experiences PAU's commitment to responsiveness, equity, and excellence.
• Maintain a coordinated annual admissions calendar, ensuring program deadlines, recruitment events, review cycles, and end-of-cycle activities are executed with precision and care.
• Partner with Student Success, Financial Aid, academic programs, and the Registrar to ensure seamless transitions from admission through matriculation, with accurate handoffs and a coherent onboarding experience.
• Develop and sustain a culture of service within the Admissions team that reflects PAU's values and treats every applicant interaction as an opportunity to represent the institution with distinction.

Technology, Data, and Systems

• Lead the strategic use of admissions technology, including CRM, application management, and student information systems, to drive efficiency, accuracy, and insight across the recruitment and admissions function.
• Ensure data integrity, reliable reporting, and effective workflows across all admissions platforms, with particular attention to the quality and timeliness of enrollment forecasting and funnel analysis.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, training resources, and audit practices that ensure consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement across the team.
• Partner with Institutional Research and the VPEM to align data definitions, reporting standards, and dashboard development that support institutional planning and decision-making.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Build, develop, and inspire a high-performing admissions team, setting clear expectations for performance, accountability, professional growth, and student-centered service.
• Foster a team culture that is analytical, collaborative, mission-driven, and energized by the opportunity to connect the right students to the right programs at a transformative institution.
• Represent PAU at conferences, recruitment events, professional networks, and community gatherings, serving as a compelling ambassador for the university and its mission.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree in higher education, counseling, business, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in higher education admissions, with at least three years in a leadership or people-management role.
• Demonstrated success meeting or advancing enrollment goals across graduate and professional programs.
• Strong command of admissions operations, CRM platforms, enrollment analytics, and predictive modeling.
• Proven ability to lead teams through change, build cross-functional relationships, and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, belonging, and student-centered leadership.
• Ability to work in person on campus as part of PAU's residential leadership culture.

Preferred

• Experience in graduate and doctoral admissions, especially within psychology, counseling, social work, behavioral science, or a related clinical field.
• Hands-on experience with HubSpot, Liaison/PsyCAS, Jenzabar, or comparable higher education admissions platforms.
• Experience supporting enrollment growth during periods of institutional transformation or in startup division environments.
• Background in digital recruitment strategy, including social media, paid media, and content-driven pipeline development.

Leadership Qualities

• Strategic and analytically grounded, with the operational discipline to execute.
• Committed to data-informed decision-making without losing sight of the human experience behind every number.
• High emotional intelligence, strong relationship-building skills, and genuine enthusiasm for PAU's mission.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, energized by growth, and committed to building something that matters.
• Integrity, empathy, and an unwavering focus on student success at the center of every decision.

Work Hours and Location

This is a full-time, residential position based at PAU's campuses in Palo Alto and Mountain View, California. Regular in-person presence is expected and essential to the collaborative, student-centered culture the Director is responsible for building and sustaining. Occasional evening and weekend availability is required during peak recruitment and admissions periods. Remote work arrangements will not be accepted. 

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations

Palo Alto University is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and employment practices. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition, disability, or any other status protected by law.

As provided by law, PAU will offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the position without undue hardship to the university.

PAU is committed to building a high-quality work environment that attracts and welcomes employees from a wide range of backgrounds.