Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions - Darden School of Business

The Senior Assistant Dean will serve as a strategic and operational leader, responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive admissions strategy that reflects Darden's distinctive transformational learning experience, culture, values, priorities, and leading global position. This role spans a wide range of responsibilities, from team leadership and scholarship strategy to digital transformation and stakeholder engagement, all aimed at attracting and enrolling exceptional students across Darden's degree programs. The following areas outline the core domains of responsibility for this critical leadership position:

• Strategic Leadership and Vision: The Senior Assistant Dean will set and execute a bold, forward-looking admissions strategy for all degree formats that aligns with Darden's mission and academic priorities. This includes shaping the composition of incoming classes across all formats to reflect excellence, breadth of background and thought, and alignment with Darden's distinctive educational approach and position as a top ten global business school. This role requires a deep understanding of the competitive graduate business education landscape and the agility to adapt strategies to maintain Darden's differentiated position among top 10 global business schools. The Senior Assistant Dean will provide strategic leadership to members of the Communications and Marketing Center of Excellence that supports overall admissions marketing and outreach strategies to build a well-qualified top of the funnel for all programs. The Senior Assistant Dean will bring leadership and insight on the evolving graduate business education landscape to inform the school's strategy in pursuit of excellence.

• Team Development and Operational Excellence: The Senior Assistant Dean will sustain and develop a high-performing admissions team of around 15 people, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement. The Senior Assistant Dean will also lead and motivate staff in a way that promotes engagement, positivity, and outstanding results while enabling the team to fulfill their own full potential. They will oversee application review processes, manage operational budgets, and ensure compliance with confidentiality and regulatory standards.

• Technology, Data, and Innovation: The Senior Assistant Dean will play a key role in fostering a culture that thoughtfully integrates data and technology into the admissions process. This includes guiding the team in using analytics to inform decision-making, exploring opportunities to streamline and enhance operations with technology, and continuously improving the applicant experience through digital tools. In close partnership with enterprise technology and digital transformation leaders, the Senior Assistant Dean will look for opportunities for continuous improvement in the admissions operating model, positioning digital solutions as valuable enablers of applicant-centricity, effectiveness, efficiency, and innovation.

• Scholarship Strategy and Financial Stewardship: In close collaboration with Darden's Office of Financial Aid and the Dean's Office, the Senior Assistant Dean will set and lead a multimillion-dollar scholarship strategy to ensure access, affordability, and the ability to yield exceptional talent. This includes advancing scholarship innovation, maximizing impact, and ensuring alignment with institutional goals and compliance standards.

• Stakeholder Engagement and External Relations: As a key representative of Darden, the Senior Assistant Dean will be able to articulate the unique value proposition of Darden to prospective students and to create a welcoming and inviting culture. The Senior Assistant Dean will engage with prospective students, alumni, media, consultants, and other external stakeholders to elevate the Darden's profile. They will also support philanthropic initiatives and donor engagement, and build strategic partnerships with corporations, global institutions, and professional organizations that support graduate management education.

• Internal Collaboration and Institutional Alignment: The Senior Assistant Dean will work closely with internal partners, including Communications and Marketing, Career Services, Financial Aid, Alumni Engagement, and program leadership, to ensure admissions activities are integrated with broader student success efforts. They will serve as a senior leader on the Darden Student Success Group, fostering collaboration across academic operations, enrollment management, and student engagement.

Ideal Experience and Characteristics

Education, Professional Experience, and Leadership Competencies

• Advanced degree required; MBA or higher education degrees preferred.

• Extensive admissions management experience (8+ years) at a top-tier higher education institution or equivalent relevant experience and/or demonstrated intrinsic ability at a corporation or in a preeminent educational setting.

• Skill in building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic agility.

• Relevant managerial and practitioner-based experience in higher education or in the business world at a top-tier organization.

• Recognition as a trusted strategic advisor and thought partner to senior leaders.

• Track record of influencing organizational direction through thought leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and innovation in response to complex challenges in enrollment, admissions, and student engagement.

• Proven analytical capability and experience with data-driven decision-making and storytelling.

• Demonstrated success in leading technology adoption and digital transformation.

• Marketing acumen and ability to synthesize and leverage analytics for targeting and admissions strategy.

• Demonstrated ability to serve as a key spokesperson through direct engagement, presentations, and other media on behalf of an organization.

• Experience managing budgets and ensuring compliance.

• Deep understanding of graduate management education and enrollment management.

• Global awareness, a student-centered mindset, and a belief in and passion for Darden's (and UVA's) mission.

Personal Characteristics

• Strategic thinker with the ability to build consensus and inspire action.

• Innovative, forward-thinking, and highly emotionally intelligent.

• Invites collaboration and commitment to excellence from team and colleagues.

• Initiative to execute high quality actions using judgment and discretion.

• Strong work ethic, high energy, and a collaborative leadership style.

• Excellent ability to communicate and present in a variety of contexts and settings with honesty, transparency, authenticity, and cross-cultural fluency.

• Integrity and ability to engender trust and work effectively across varied stakeholder groups.

• Empathy, humility, and strong interpersonal skills

• Team builder and people developer

• Willingness and capability to travel extensively during peak recruitment seasons.

UVA Executive Search Group (ESG) has been retained to assist in the search for the Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Adam Seid, Senior Search Consultant, at seid@virginia.edu. To apply, submit a letter of interest (which addresses your qualifications, experience, and motivation, and interest in UVA) and a resume/CV in Workday. The search will be carried out with full confidentiality.

We encourage you to learn more about the University of Virginia and the Darden Graduate School of Business and the many ways in which we pursue excellence for a purpose. A PDF version of the position specification is also available.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.