Vice President for Enrollment Management

Job Description

The University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST) announces a national search for the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM). As the University strives to continue to enhance its reputation as a premiere institution of Catholic higher education on the national stage, UST seeks a VPEM to steward the future of the University's enrollment initiatives and help guide UST's strategic growth while staying true to its distinctive mission. Under the new leadership of its 10th president, Dr. Sinda Vanderpool, on the brink of celebrating its 80th anniversary, and a new Archbishop in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and UST alumnus Archbishop Joe S. Vasquez, UST is seeking an enrollment management leader energized by the vibrancy of UST's unique culture and Catholic identity, right in the heart of Houston.

The University of St. Thomas is the only Catholic university in Houston, founded in 1947 by the Congregation of St. Basil in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Committed to the proliferation of faith and reason, UST aims to form the hearts and minds of its students in accordance with the truth of the human person as taught by the Catholic Church, faithful to the Magisterium, and in accordance with Ex Corde Ecclesiae. UST celebrates the inclusion of many cultures and faith traditions among faculty, staff and students to encourage a fruitful dialogue highlighting the dignity of the human person.

UST's careful attention to the formation of students includes a strong Core Curriculum grounded in the liberal arts, the integration of faith and reason, exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty, and innovative co-curriculum programs grounded in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. UST attracts students near and far, enrolling over 4,300 students who come from 43 states and 45 countries.

THE POSITION

The Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM) serves as the University of St. Thomas' senior leader for enrollment strategy and retention. Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President's Council, the VPEM provides strategic leadership for Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar, ensuring a coherent, mission-aligned enrollment enterprise that supports the University's academic priorities and long-term sustainability.

The VPEM will lead the development and execution of an integrated enrollment strategy that reflects UST's Catholic mission and commitment to forming students for lives that flourish and professions that serve. This leader will approach enrollment as a mission-critical institutional system that integrates recruitment, financial aid strategy, and communications in service of students and responsible stewardship of institutional resources, while partnering with academic leadership to support student retention.

In collaboration with Marketing and campus stakeholders, the VPEM will oversee the development of enrollment strategies that are supported by effective, coordinated communications across recruitment, yield, and retention.

The VPEM will provide strategic leadership for both undergraduate and graduate enrollment, recognizing the distinct roles these populations play in the University's academic vitality and financial health.

In collaboration with the Vice President for Finance, the Vice President for Enrollment Management will contribute to multi-year tuition and enrollment projections and support sound financial planning.

Finally, the VPEM will lead, mentor, and develop a talented enrollment staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, professional growth, and shared purpose. The successful candidate will be a visible, trusted partner across the University community, working closely with faculty, staff, campus ministry, and students to advance UST's mission and enrollment success.

Leadership

-Engage and galvanize the university community around a shared mission-aligned vision for enrollment and adapting to the highly competitive enrollment landscape.
-Provide executive leadership and oversight for Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar.
-Serve as a member of the President's Council and a close strategic partner to the President.
-Ensure high-quality, responsive, and mission-consistent first impressions for prospective students and families, working through enrollment management leadership and in partnership with academic stakeholders across all points of engagement.
-Partner with academic leadership to advance student retention and lend expertise on the residential housing campaign.
-Guide undergraduate enrollment strategy to stabilize and strengthen enrollment, student quality, and mission fit.
-Ensure enrollment strategies are supported by effective communications and decision-support insights, leveraging data, analytics, and technology to inform day-to-day planning and continuously improve recruitment, yield, and retention outcomes, in collaboration with campus stakeholders.
-Build, develop, and sustain high-performing teams across Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar.
-Represent UST values while participating in both internal and external committees, professional organizations, events, programs, and panels.

Finances

-Align enrollment strategies with revenue goals, optimize financial aid modeling, and support long-term financial planning.
-Maintain budget and allocate resources appropriately to achieve institutional goals.

Enrollment Marketing

-Develop engaging recruitment and yield campaigns to enhance the reputation of the university.
-Foster and maintain strong relationships with college counselors and other stakeholders in key markets and feeder high schools that are critical to recruitment efforts.

Additional Skills

-Outstanding communication skills and storytelling, including the ability to persuasively convey academic distinctions and community differentiators to prospective students, families, and college counselors within the marketplace.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required:

-Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years of enrollment management experience or a closely related area within higher education, with responsibility for institution-wide strategy and cross-functional leadership.
-Demonstrated experience leading integrated enrollment strategies that span recruitment, financial aid, and student persistence/retention outcomes.
-Proven ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders across academics, finance, marketing, and student-facing units to advance institution-wide priorities.
-Advanced competency using data, analytics, and performance indicators to inform strategy, evaluate results, and drive continuous improvement.
-Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams, including a track record of building healthy organizational culture with clear goals and accountability.
-Understanding of the mission of a Catholic university, including respect for the religious and intellectual traditions articulated in Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Preferred:

-Master's degree and 10 years of enrollment management experience at a college or university setting, with at least 5 years of experience in a senior-level enrollment leadership position.
-Demonstrated understanding of Catholic doctrine and the mission of Catholic higher education, and the ability to articulate and advance the University's Catholic mission and identity in an inviting and faithful manner.
-Experience leading or significantly advancing graduate and professional enrollment strategies within a comprehensive university or similar institutional context.
-Demonstrated experience serving as a visible, external-facing institutional leader, including building trust-based relationships with schools, academic partners, or other key constituencies.

The University of St. Thomas-Houston has engaged EMA Partners/Trinity Executive Partnership to facilitate this search - Richard D. Sbarbaro, Managing Partner of EMA Partners Chicago/TEP; and Marie Guillot, Managing Partner of EMA Partners Houston/TEP.

To request a copy of the full position brochure; and/or to apply, interested and qualified candidates should submit a comprehensive letter of interest and complete CV to: info@trinityexecutivepartnership.com

Applicants will be reviewed immediately and accepted until the position is filled.

The University of St. Thomas-Houston is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The University of St. Thomas is committed to the religious, ethical, and intellectual traditions of Catholic higher education. As permitted by law, practicing Catholics who will advance the mission of the school are preferred for this position. However, the University invites all qualified applicants to apply.

About the Employer

Trinity Executive Partnership is your Catholic Connection for Executive Search, Executive Coaching and Management Succession. We deliver services to hospitals/health care organizations, colleges and universities, social service groups and dioceses.