Director of Admissions

The Director of Admissions serves as a strategic leader, driving enrollment growth through innovative, data-informed, and relationship-focused initiatives at UAF. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, this role provides visionary leadership across undergraduate recruitment, admission, campus visits, transfer credit, and application processing. The Director cultivates a collaborative, future-focused culture, empowering the team to embrace change, value diverging perspectives, and champion transformative student experiences at every stage of the enrollment journey. This position is instrumental in shaping a modern admissions operation that balances personalized engagement with scalable, technology-driven solutions.

If you are passionate about strategic enrollment management, leveraging technology to enhance the admissions experience, and leading teams to achieve ambitious recruitment goals, we encourage you to apply and help shape the future of UAF.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated leadership, team-building, and project management skills, with the ability to effectively lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication abilities, with a high level of political acumen and sensitivity to organizational dynamics. Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills, supported by advanced proficiency in data analysis to inform recruitment, enrollment planning, and financial aid leveraging.

Extensive expertise in higher education recruitment and admissions processes, including enrollment modeling, program development, and assessment. Proven success in building and strengthening teams both within departments and across the institution, fostering intercultural competence, and supporting the development of a broadly representative student population.
Experience in budgeting, financial oversight, and resource management, along with the ability to manage large-scale projects and events. Advanced technical proficiency with systems such as Google Suite, Salesforce, Banner, and other software platforms.
Demonstrated capacity for innovation and change management, with the ability to think strategically, act creatively, and successfully implement initiatives. Familiarity with current national issues in higher education and their implications for the institution. Ability to effectively represent the university at the system level and collaborate with system partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, including a minimum of three years in a comparable management role, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Position Details:

This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 83, based on education and experience.

Applications will be accepted for review on April 15, 2026. To ensure consideration, please apply by 11:55 PM, Alaska Standard Time, on the day before the review date (April 14, 2026).

The University of Alaska (UA) reserves the right to require employees to work on-site at the UA facilities. Hybrid and remote work may be approved for employees based in Alaska at the University's discretion. Remote work for employees based outside the State of Alaska may be approved only in exceptional circumstances or when required by the position's job duties.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Bridget Thimsen, SBO HRC at bmthimsen@alaska.edu.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact the ADA team at ua-ada@alaska.edu.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.