Research Development Analyst Jobs in Freeport, IL

The Dean of Admission serves as a senior leader within the Enrollment Management Division and plays a critical role in shaping and executing a strategic recruitment and enrollment plan aligned with the institution's mission, goals, and financial sustainability. This position provides operational and visionary leadership to the Office of Admission and supports cross-functional initiatives across the enrollment funnel, including recruitment, yield, marketing, data analytics, and transfer and access pipelines. The Dean of Admissions reports directly to the Vice President of Enrollment Management.

1. Assists with the development and execution of a comprehensive undergraduate recruitment plan, utilizing data-informed decision-making, demographic trend analysis, and market research to drive enrollment growth and diversity for undergraduate admissions and future institutional plans for graduate admissions.
2. Partners with the VPEM to develop and assess multi-year enrollment strategies that align with institutional goals, retention initiatives, and revenue expectations.
3. Directs all aspects of the undergraduate recruitment cycle from inquiry to matriculation, including first-year transfer, and special populations (e.g., BCC, Porter Scholars dual enrollment, homeschool recruitment).
4. Administers and ensures adherence to institutional admission policies, procedures, and deadlines.
5. Directs all aspects of the future graduate recruitment cycle, including, but not limited to, inquiry generation, application generation, and enrollment of new graduate students.
6. Manages and innovates the College's recruitment staff and oversees recruitment strategies specific to transfer students.
7. Leverages Slate, analytics tools, and performance dashboards to monitor progress toward enrollment targets, optimize territory management, and assess ROI on recruitment initiatives.
8. Collaborates with the VPEM and works with the director of information systems and institutional research staff to interpret technical and statistical data to support strategic planning, institutional reporting, and forecasting.
9. Collaborates with Marketing and Communication, Academic Affairs, Athletics, Financial Aid, and Student Life to create seamless, student-centered experiences across the enrollment funnel and enrollment journey.
10. Contributes to the alignment of Slate, AI, and communication strategies to personalize outreach and improve yield.
11. Serves on key campus committees and collaborates with faculty and staff on enrollment-related policies and initiatives.
12. Acts as the chief admission officer and spokesperson at recruitment and admission events, and at other venues in the absence of the VPEM.

1. Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
2. Provides direct supervision, coaching, and professional development to the admission team, with particular emphasis on admission counselors.
3. Fosters a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, inclusive excellence, and continuous improvement.
4. Minimum of five years of progressive experience in a college/university admissions office with a record of increasing leadership responsibility.
5. Proven supervisory experience developing and managing a high-performing, cohesive team.
6. Demonstrated success in leading recruitment strategy and achieving enrollment goals in a competitive higher education environment.

1. Strong interpersonal, leadership, and change management skills with the ability to motivate and empower teams.
2. Advanced experience with Slate system use, data analytics, communication planning, and integrated enrollment marketing is preferred.
3. Strong acumen with technology, report writing, and slide deck presentations.
4. Capacity to interpret and present data clearly to stakeholders and use analytics to drive decision-making.
5. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills tailored to diverse audiences (students, families, faculty, trustees).
6. Valid driver's license and willingness to travel regionally and nationally as needed.

The intent of this job description is to provide the general nature and level of work required of employees who are assigned to this classification and shall not be constructed as an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. Employees may be instructed to perform job-related duties and responsibilities other than those specifically presented in this description.