Bennington College, a preeminent liberal arts college distinguished for its pioneering approaches to student learning and agency, set on a beautiful campus in a stunning part of the country, seeks a Director of Operations, Graduate and Special Programs. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, the Director is responsible for leading all facets of operational oversight and strategic direction for the recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment processes of graduate and special program students.

The Director will work closely with graduate and special program directors and staff, serving as a lead Enrollment Marketing Team (EMT) liaison to the program directors, developing and managing implementation of marketing and communications plans, application development, and welcome communications for matriculating students. This position will oversee enrollment operations for roughly 8-10 academic programs within Graduate and Special Programming, spearheading multiple projects independently. We require a high degree of decision-making ability and independent judgment. This role will also be responsible for leading functions in the Admissions CRM system (Slate), supporting data analytics, platform development, and general problem-solving across Bennington programs. 

Key responsibilities

1. Lead systems and operational planning, development, and maintenance for all EMT functions supporting Bennington’s Graduate and Special Programs. This includes all MA, BFA, and off-calendar (summer and Field Work Term) programs.
2. Participate in regular meetings with program leadership and staff to develop marketing procedures associated with data collection to deliver performance marketing analytics and accurate real-time funnel reporting.
3. Develop and manage a robust program custom dataset in Slate, allowing for direct management of each program’s system definitions and requirements. Standardize data architecture to simplify current program management, develop consistent and foreseeable timelines for process steps, and create an additional suite of default options for new program launch.
4. Create portals and reader workflows to help program staff manage their applicant funnels, review applicant information, and initiate follow-up communication. Develop portals for administrative staff to track statuses for all incoming graduate and special program students.
5. Manage and ensure timely execution of key business processes with relevant business units for all graduate and special programs, including financial aid, information technology, student billing, registrar, and admission offices. Work in close partnership with colleagues in Financial Aid, Marketing, and Communications to ensure timeline and accurate data transmission for each program’s key functions.
6. Oversee the review and delivery of all relevant communication to admitted and enrolling students, including admit letters, financial aid letters, deposit confirmations, identity state creation instructions, and initial onboarding communications.
7. Develop systems procedures (including portals, checklists, and reminder emails) to facilitate process steps for low-residency students who periodically return to campus, in close consultation with an on-campus graduate and special programs coordinator.
8. Responsible for directly supervising, mentoring, and coaching assigned team members, guiding them in their work, and overseeing their professional development and progress. Provide performance coaching and feedback to assigned direct reports to ensure efficient and professional execution of job responsibilities.
9. Admission CRM (Slate) administration. Maintain the Slate platform throughout all program admission cycles, supporting e-mail campaigns and other student communications, user security management, application and portal/web support, creating reports and documentation, and user/staff training.
10. Oversee system configuration, maintenance, enhancement, and quality control processes for Bennington’s graduate and special program applications, from submission through decision release. Execute periodic auditing procedures, including retention policies, population management, and rules adjustments.
11. Develop and maintain EMT dashboards, as well as ad-hoc queries and other reports. Assist in the development and maintenance of queries, reports, and online portals for other campus constituents. Develop and maintain new workflows, application forms, and associated communications.
12. Assist with data management for prospects, inquiries, and applicants from internal and external systems and vendors. Support imports into Slate CRM, including de-duplication, testing, data integrity, and cleaning for bulk uploads into associated systems (e.g., HubSpot).
13. Ensure the accuracy and integrity of high-quality data entered into Admission systems through ongoing assessment and quality control audits. Maintain confidentiality of information. Ensure that access to and use of data is managed effectively and in compliance with established admissions guidelines.
14. Contribute to specific administrative functions as determined by the Program directors, the Vice President of Enrollment, and the Director of Admissions. Assigned administrative functions may include: communications, on-campus and virtual events, and training.
15. Promote a positive, congenial atmosphere and working relationship with students, employees, supervisors, and other individuals that this position may come in contact with.
16. Demonstrate a high degree of accountability and ensure efficiency of assigned duties on a daily basis. Be proactive, solution-oriented, and recommend ongoing improvements to existing practice. Assist with other special projects as needed.
17. Use proper judgment in the use of College funds for travel, events, and other expenses. Submit accurate and timely expense reports.
18. In all areas of responsibility, promote a commitment to building a deeply inclusive culture and sense of belonging for all community members.
19. Support program staff with other duties as required, including virtual event support, promotion, and occasional guidance on application review.

Bennington serves a diverse student population inclusive of members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse and intersecting backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building community that promotes student and employee success and community cohesiveness. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, power, and privilege through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishment to apply.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years’ admissions experience, including extensive knowledge of Admissions CRM systems (Slate experience preferred). Master’s degree preferred.
2. Minimum of three years of supervisory experience (coaching, mentoring, developing talent).
3. Minimum of five years of data retention, including data management practices, database architecture, systems integrations, and creative problem-solving. 
4. Excellent Slate CRM skills, including: the development of queries and reports using configurable joins; custom workflows, datasets, and portals; user management and/or database auditing; Deliver and Inbox experience; forms and new application creation.
5. Strong technology orientation; experience with Google/MS Office Suite, as well as the ability to learn proprietary applications and to strengthen database proficiency. 
6. The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, coordinating ongoing meetings, checklists, and reminders while building strong relationships with numerous stakeholders.
7. Ability to engage in thoughtful, high-volume email exchange with internal and external constituents. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Experience coordinating and/or supporting online events and other forms of virtual engagement. 
8. Must be able to work with limited direction, prioritizing multiple tasks, including detailed process issues. Must have high attention to detail and accuracy, alongside strong organizational skills.
9. A commitment to building an inclusive community, alongside enthusiastic support for a progressive liberal arts education.

Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion and acceptable results of a background check. Hybrid work arrangements open to consideration. 

Compensation: The annual salary for this position starts at $94,000.

The College

Bennington College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits, including Tuition Exchange scholarships. The College also offers an on-site fitness center as well as generous time off benefits.

Bennington College is a laboratory for innovation in higher education. At Bennington, learning and making—on campus and in the field—are inseparable, and its graduates are noted for their outsized impact on the world’s stage. This campus celebrates the ongoing making of work—shared on walls, in shows and performances, in lectures and readings, and in conversations—and believes that equity, diversity, and inclusivity are vital to a collaborative community. The position reflects the ethos of this creative community.

Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest.  From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car.