Johns Hopkins University
Title: Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs
School: School of Government and Policy
Reports to: Dean, School of Government and Policy
Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000

General Summary

Anchored at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in the heart of Washington, D.C., the School of Government and Policy will be a hub of discovery, collaboration, and impact. At a time of political, social, and technological upheaval, this new School will support and inform scholarly and practical efforts to build a more effective government and solve complex policy challenges. The school will scrutinize institutional reforms that have the potential to improve government operations, examine the potential for advancing technologies to transform government workforces and operations, develop novel approaches to multidisciplinary education and experiential learning, and foster vital dialogue and engagement across a wide range of worldviews, backgrounds, and epistemologies.

We are building a community of scholars, students, experts, and leaders from a wide range of disciplines who embrace intellectual pluralism—with the intention not merely of representing different perspectives and ways of understanding, but of putting these differences to good use.

This is a founding leadership role with exceptional scope for entrepreneurial impact. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build infrastructure for recruiting, enrollment, and student services from the ground up, establishing systems, processes, and partnerships that will shape the School's trajectory for years to come.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Dean, the Associate Dean, Admissions and Student Affairs provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the complete student journey—from recruitment through graduation and career placement—and will serve as a key advisor to the Dean as a member of their leadership team. 

This executive role is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies that advance enrollment goals, ensure student success, and prepare graduates for professional leadership in government, policy, and public service. Working collaboratively with the Dean, the School's senior leadership team, and partners across Johns Hopkins University, this leader will build a best-in-class enrollment and student services operation that reflects the School's commitment to excellence, innovation, and public impact.

This position requires an entrepreneurial mindset. The ideal candidate will be energized by building new programs and systems within a well-established institution, comfortable with ambiguity, and motivated by the opportunity to create lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making: Serve as a senior advisor to the Dean on all enrollment matters, including pricing strategies, financial aid packaging, fellowship allocation, and enrollment forecasting; develop and execute data-driven enrollment strategies aligned with the School's mission and growth objectives
• Analytics & Infrastructure: Build comprehensive enrollment dashboards and analytics infrastructure to enable evidence-based decision-making across all enrollment functions
• Target Setting & Execution: Set ambitious yet achievable enrollment targets and develop actionable plans to meet them across all program modalities

Partnership Development & External Engagement

• Cultivate strategic partnerships with federal agencies, think tanks, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and international institutions to enhance enrollment and career outcomes
• Develop employer partnerships that provide students with internships, capstone projects, and career placement opportunities
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni to support recruitment, mentoring, and career development
• Represent the School’s pluralistic mission at national conferences, policy forums, and professional gatherings to elevate visibility and attract top talent

Recruitment & Admissions Excellence

• Build and lead a high-performing admissions operation for all graduate programs and executive education offerings
• Design and implement recruitment strategies that attract highly qualified, motivated, pluralistic, and mission-aligned candidates from across sectors
• Ensure seamless, applicant-centered admissions experiences while maintaining compliance with federal regulations and accreditation standards
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to create compelling messaging and outreach campaigns

Financial Aid Strategy

• Optimize available financial aid in alignment with School goals
• Advise the Dean on discount rates, scholarship budgets, and return on investment for financial aid investments
• Develop transparent, equitable processes for financial aid review and distribution

Student Success & Academic Services

• Provide executive oversight of academic advising, student success coaching, career services, and registration operations
• Create integrated support systems that address students' academic, professional, and personal development needs
• Lead implementation of degree audit systems, registration processes, and academic policy administration
• Resolve complex student issues efficiently while maintaining positive relationships
• Track and improve retention, time-to-degree, graduation rates, and student satisfaction metrics

Career Development & Professional Placement

• Build comprehensive career services that prepare students for leadership roles in government, policy, innovation, and corporate sectors
• Develop industry connections that lead to meaningful internships and career opportunities
• Track and report on career outcomes to demonstrate program value and inform continuous improvement
• Create programming that builds professional skills and expands students' networks

Technology & Operational Excellence

• Partner with university offices (University wide Office of Student Enrollment and Account Management (SEAM), Student Services Excellence Initiative (SSEI) and the Registrar’s Office) to ensure alignment with university standards, leverage enterprise systems and services to the fullest extent, and optimize student experiences
• Implement CRM, student information systems, and analytics platforms to improve efficiency and outcomes
• Champion process improvements that reduce administrative burden and enhance user experience
• Ensure systems meet accessibility standards and serve diverse student populations
• Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with external vendors supporting enrollment and student services
• Negotiate contracts that deliver value while maintaining quality standards
• Monitor vendor performance and hold partners accountable to service level agreements

Team Leadership & Budget Management

• Recruit, develop, and retain a talented, high performing team of enrollment and student services professionals
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and student-centeredness
• Manage budgets strategically to maximize impact while ensuring fiscal responsibility
• Represent the School on university-wide committees and contribute to institutional initiatives

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Master's degree preferred
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, policy, or related field
• Proven experience with graduate student recruitment, admissions, financial aid administration, and career services or similar experiences curating high-level cohorts and overseeing critical processes

Essential Competencies

Strategic Vision & Execution

• Demonstrated ability to build programs, systems, and teams from inception or in early-stage environments
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to make sound decisions with incomplete information
• Track record of creative problem-solving and innovative thinking
• Proven ability to translate vision into actionable strategies with measurable results
• Experience setting and achieving ambitious enrollment and retention goals
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Advanced analytical capabilities and experience with enrollment forecasting, modeling, and reporting
• Proficiency with CRM systems, student information systems, and data visualization tools
• Ability to translate data insights into strategic recommendations

Partnership Development

• Demonstrated success building and sustaining partnerships with external organizations, particularly in government, nonprofit, and policy sectors
• Strong relationship-building skills and professional network in relevant fields
• Experience leveraging partnerships to advance enrollment and career outcomes

Team Leadership & Management

• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams
• Experience managing complex organizations with multiple functional areas
• Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence without direct authority

Communication & Relationship Building

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to represent the institution effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, boards, and external audiences

Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge

• Understanding of federal regulations affecting admissions, financial aid, and international students
• Knowledge of complex regulatory environments
• Experience ensuring operational compliance while maintaining efficiency

Technical Proficiency

• Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience with CRM platforms, databases, and student information systems
• Comfort learning new technologies and championing digital transformation

General inquiries about the role should be sent to SOGP@stockexecsearch.com. To formally express interest, please complete the form at the link below.