Executive Director of Enrollment Management

Role Overview

The Executive Director of Enrollment Management (EDEM) leads strategic initiatives to enhance the American University of Sharjah's (AUS) visibility, mission advancement, and appeal to qualified students locally and globally. This leader supervises pivotal enrollment units such as undergraduate and graduate recruitment, admissions, the University Testing Center, sponsorship programs, and student welcome and contact centers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute the Office of Enrollment Management's multi-year strategic plan aligned with AUS's goals.
• Monitor inquiries, application trends, and yield data to inform decision-making and optimize processes.
• Participate in committees focused on student success, recruitment, financial aid, and institutional capacity.
• Oversee development and implementation of the new student orientation program.
• Manage and align the enrollment-related budget with university objectives.
• Review and recommend updates to admissions standards and criteria for senior leadership approval.
• Create and distribute print and digital promotional and informational content.
• Make final admissions decisions consistent with university policies, ensuring fairness and equity.
• Develop grading equivalence systems for diverse secondary education frameworks.
• Establish and maintain academic credential evaluation standards and assess internal admission processes for effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Ministries of Education and other educational bodies regionally and nationally.
• Prepare data-driven enrollment projections to support capacity planning and budgeting.
• Expand and nurture relationships within the external student sponsorship program.
• Represent AUS at media events and recruitment activities on and off campus.
• Devise and manage recruitment communications to guide prospective students from inquiry to enrollment.
• Oversee annual recruitment campaign strategies alongside the communications and marketing teams.
• Engage internal stakeholders including faculties, alumni, and departments to meet enrollment targets.
• Forge partnership agreements with local and international secondary schools to attract qualified applicants.
• Lead deployment of automation and AI technologies to enhance enrollment operations, digitalize workflows, and improve applicant experience.

Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Mass Communication, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, or related disciplines.
• Arabic language proficiency is an advantage.
• Extensive knowledge of higher education environments, enrollment management, regulatory norms, and emerging trends.
• Expertise in admissions policy development, academic credential evaluation, and governance frameworks.
• Familiarity with various secondary education grading systems, recruitment, and yield strategies.
• Competence in digital marketing, social media, and demographic trend analysis for enrollment enhancement.
• Understanding of the interplay between recruitment strategies and student retention and graduation.
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach for planning and decision-making.
• Proven leadership abilities including team building and motivating staff.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement proficiency.
• Experienced in budget management and resource optimization.
• Proficient with enrollment systems, data analysis and visualization, and marketing automation tools.
• Effective in crisis and change management.
• Leadership style characterized by vision, innovation, adaptability, ethics, and cultural sensitivity.
• Expert in enrollment data analytics, predictive modeling, CRM, and admissions software.

Preferred Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in higher education management and administration.

Additional Information

AUS encourages alumni to apply. Candidates must meet all specified qualifications to be considered, and only shortlisted individuals will be contacted. The university is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair hiring practices without discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, or marital status.