Job Description

Position Overview:

The Dean will oversee and further develop a young enrollment department that includes Marketing, Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid Offices. The Dean will oversee the coordination of all international undergraduate enrollment activities across the institution. In collaboration with key institutional stakeholders, the dean will develop and implement a comprehensive long-term international enrollment strategy that aligns with and supports the academic goals, education priorities, research mission and scholarly aspirations of Duke Kunshan University. Additionally, the Dean will play a key role in ensuring the successful retention and graduation rates of enrolled international students, ensuring their long-term success at the institution. Based in Durham or Kunshan , the dean will lead teams in both Kunshan and Durham, North Carolina and coordinate all international undergraduate enrollment activities across the institution.

Reports to:

Executive Vice Chancellor

Essential Duties:

1. Provide strategic leadership for all international enrollment team members responsible for recruiting, selecting and enrolling the annual undergraduate class at Duke Kunshan University.
2. Manage a comprehensive international admissions funnel from lead generation to final enrollment, ensuring achievement of key metrics such as academic performance, diversity, English language proficiency, tuition revenue and alignment with Duke Kunshan’s unique value proposition and mission to attract students well-suited for its global, interdisciplinary educational model.
3. Advance and refine a holistic, integrated application and credential review process that aligns with institutional values, emphasizing accuracy, authenticity, and student-centered practices. Design a data-drive, strategic international recruitment plan, incorporating lead-generating tactics such as name purchases, search campaigns, travel, social media, on-campus and off-campus events, and electronic and print publications.
4. Create a dynamic, segmented marketing and communications strategy - with assistance from the Senior International Enrollment and Marketing Officer – to target students by graduation year, location, level of engagement and academic interest.
5. Create and implement a strategy for engaging with key international influence leaders such as principals, guidance counselors, parents, and alumni to strengthen recruitment pipelines.
6. In consultation with senior leadership, develop the annual admissions model, including the proposed number of offers, projected yield and melt rates, and strategic financial aid and scholarship allocations, aimed at achieving enrollment goals while responsibly managing university finances. Oversee the waitlist process and manage strategies for reviewing and responding to financial aid appeals.
7. Prepare and deliver comprehensive reports on enrollment trends, conversion rates, financial outcomes, and other key metrics to inform decision-making and track progress toward institutional goals.
8. Develop and implement a multi-channel yield and anti-melt strategy to ensure admitted students enroll and succeed, including managing a waitlist process and overseeing a strategic process for reviewing and responding to financial aid appeals.
9. Oversee all operational aspects of the enrollment organization, including budget management, human resources, and technology.
10. Represent Duke Kunshan University at an array of recruitment and admission events, conferences, and public forums, delivering presentations and reports to engage prospective students and stakeholders on and off-campus.
11. Ensure all data reliability and integrity through quality control measures, including the management of travel expense reports and other critical operational workflows.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.
13. University employees' job responsibilities will continue to expand in scope and depth as the University grows in size and complexity in its programs.

Required Qualifications:

1. A minimum of a master's degree and at least fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in international enrollment management, especially within an institution where enrollment strategy is closely tied to financial sustainability.
2. Experience in U.S. or Western-style admissions models, particularly experience with a deadline-oriented admissions cycle that includes an early decision round and waitlist management, and the recruitment of high-achieving applicants.
3. Proven ability to think strategically and develop innovative, outcomes oriented, solutions to address evolving demographic and socio-economic trends in global student mobility, with a clear vision for positioning Duke Kunshan University in an increasingly competitive landscape.
4. A proactive, hands-on working style, with the flexibility and enthusiasm to engage in diverse activities ranging from one-on-one recruitment to representing DKU at high-profile events and addressing senior university leaders.
5. Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire teams, cultivate talent, and build a collaborative culture that aligns with organizational vision and strategic goals.
6. Articulate and effective speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to build valuable partnerships through effective cross-institutional engagement.
7. Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, combined with demonstrated leadership capabilities.
8. Willingness and ability to travel and work as needed to support recruitment, admissions and enrollment objectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Familiarity with Chinese culture.
2. Proficiency in Slate CRM for managing admissions processes, including application management, event organization, and communication workflows, is also highly desirable.

How to Apply:

Please submit your formal application by searching the position on DKU recruitment portal

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