Senior Advisor in Enrollment

The University of Virginia seeks candidates for an inaugural Senior Advisor in Enrollment.  Reporting to the Vice Provost for Enrollment, the Senior Advisor will work closely and collaboratively with the vice provost and other senior leaders in Enrollment to strengthen performance throughout the organization, support the success of students and colleagues, and advance the mission of the University.  The Senior Advisor will serve as the vice provost’s representative and thought partner; advance the strategy, values, and priorities of Enrollment and the University; and provide guidance and support to senior Enrollment leaders as necessary.

Enrollment’s constituent units include Student Financial Services, the Office of Undergraduate Admission, the Office of the University Registrar, and the Virginia College Advising Corps, as well as a core team focused on communications and finance.  In 2023-2024, the core team will expand to include colleagues focused on building capacity for research and data and analysis and on transforming processes and the systems that support them.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaboration and Communication: Develop and manage the central administrative operations required to support a high-performing, highly collaborative organization; serve as a member of Enrollment’s senior leadership team; work closely with the members of the core Enrollment team, providing guidance, training, and mentorship to ensure their high performance and professional growth; facilitate collaboration and communication across Enrollment units to advance key organizational priorities and special projects; represent the vice provost and Enrollment to other University divisions and departments and in collaborative efforts that advance the mission of the University.
• Organizational Excellence: Work closely with the Vice Provost for Enrollment and senior leadership team to advance the excellence, diversity, success, and sense of community and belonging across the organization and within its constituent units. Immediate priorities include:
• Organizational Development: Lead initiatives aimed at improving the performance, collaboration, diversity, equity, and inclusion within Enrollment and each of its units, including initiatives related to the identification, recruitment, onboarding, and retention of highly effective and diverse teams of colleagues.
• Professional Development: Collaborate with colleagues in Enrollment, Human Resources, and other units to design and sustain opportunities for professional growth and advancement for staff members across Enrollment. Create a comprehensive framework for Enrollment professional development that leverages and complements existing university resources.
• Decision and Direction Support: Research opportunities and challenges facing the organization or enrollment functions in higher education more generally; identify promising practices, whether in enrollment or in other domains; develop recommendations for future growth and development as an organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree, an advanced degree is preferred.  Eight or more years of experience in higher education or a closely related field, with demonstrated success in advancing the strategy, values, and priorities of organizations and improving their effectiveness is required.  In particular, the candidate must demonstrate:

• Ability to lead and manage projects and groups effectively in a decentralized environment—to build trusting, collaborative relationships and inspire others to work toward a common goal without needing formal authority to be successful;
• Deep intellectual curiosity and desire to understand the principles and values that shape cultures and processes in particular ways; ability to draw upon that understanding to recommend changes that advance those principles and values;
• Excellent analytical skills—ability to independently define problems accurately and concisely, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, develop and execute one or more solutions, and evaluate its effectiveness;
• Ability to work successfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, and to help colleagues do the same;
• Commitment to achieve success collaboratively in ways that respect the contributions of others within a rapidly changing and, at times, uncertain environment—to be comfortable with and inspired by the prospect of change, and to help others feel similarly comfortable.
• Ability to listen generously and communicate effectively and persuasively, both orally and in writing, with people from all levels and backgrounds at the University, including students, families, and faculty.
• Care and respect for others regardless of their role; sound judgment; appropriate discretion.
•  Preferred quali