Job Summary

Purdue University is launching a nationwide search for a Director of Admissions, a high‑profile, high‑impact leadership role at one of the country’s most well‑known R1, land‑grant public universities. This person will establish the vision and provide strategic and operational oversight of undergraduate admissions at Purdue West Lafayette and Purdue Indianapolis, along with related undergraduate admissions functions.

Purdue is well positioned nationally, having experienced a 75% increase in undergraduate applications over the past decade. The Director will join an admissions organization that has benefited from strong, long‑standing leadership and is widely regarded as a high‑performing, collaborative team.

This is a rare opportunity to step into an admissions enterprise with an exceptional institutional brand and a modern, complex challenge: managing demand at scale. Purdue receives more than 80,000 undergraduate applications annually, requiring thoughtful strategy, strong decision frameworks, disciplined operations, and a deeply student-centered service approach, particularly in the context of evolving budget and policy landscapes.

Reporting & Visibility

The Director of Admissions reports to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and collaborates closely with Purdue’s senior leadership. The position involves regular communication with the Provost and President and holds significant visibility and influence across the campus.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Office of Admissions, including Admissions Operations, Domestic Recruitment, and International Recruitment.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a large, experienced admissions team, including Assistant and Associate Directors, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Guide recruitment and outreach strategy across West Lafayette and Indianapolis, including local, regional, national, and international engagement, with particular attention to Indiana and Indianapolis pipelines.
• Oversee the undergraduate application review process, ensuring consistency, quality, equity, and timeliness, while effectively managing high application volume.
• Develop and refine admissions policies and priorities in collaboration with the President, Provost, and enrollment leadership, informed by data and institutional goals.
• Coordinate admissions, recruitment, and yield strategy across campus through leadership of the Purdue Recruitment Council.
• Serve as liaison to Intercollegiate Athletics to support prospective student‑athletes through the admissions process.
• Advance strategic initiatives, including expansion of transfer pathways (notably with Ivy Tech) and support of Purdue’s growing Indianapolis presence, with an emphasis on building sustainable, high‑quality applicant pipelines.

Why This Role Is Distinctive

Unlike many admissions leadership roles, this position is not focused on growing applicant volume. Instead, the Director of Admissions will lead an organization centered on managing sustained demand, ensuring decision quality, and maintaining an exceptional customer experience for students and families navigating a highly competitive admissions process.

The role also plays a pivotal part in shaping Purdue’s future, including its expanding strategic footprint in Indianapolis and its continued national prominence.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in admissions or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, operational leadership, and change management, preferably within a large, complex institution.
• Strong data‑informed decision‑making skills.
• Proven experience leading, developing, and motivating professional staff, including experience supervising at scale and navigating organizational complexity.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated leadership ability with strong executive presence and professional integrity.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior leadership.
• Ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups, including faculty, staff, students, and families.
• Strength in policy development, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings or weekends as needed.

Additional Information:

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions immediately  

Application Process

Review of applications will begin on March 23rd and continue until the position is filled.

Career Stream

Compensation Information:

Management 6

Pay Band S095

Job Code # 20002630

EOE

Purdue University is an EO/EA University