Assistant Director of Admission

Assistant Director Of Admission

The expected salary for this position is between $57,000 - $60,000 per year, in alignment with departmental equity and market data. As an Assistant Director of Admission, you will play a central part in recruiting and evaluating full-time first-year and transfer applicants to advance Northwestern's undergraduate enrollment goals. Serving a regional admissions territory, this position develops expertise on high schools and other important contextual considerations in the region;

plans and implements strategic recruitment practices; provides detailed and nuanced counseling to students, families, and counselors; leads large-scale presentations on Northwestern and selective admissions for diverse audiences in-person and online; and reviews applications, exercising discretion in handling confidential admission materials. Beyond recruitment and application review, this position also holds significant functional-area responsibilities with a focus on one or more of the following areas: recruitment (including domestic, international, and transfer), outreach & access, visitor engagement, communications, operations, academic partnerships (including counselor relations), and staff training & development.

These responsibilities may include: managing projects, coordinating events, reporting and assessing outcomes, and overseeing student employees. You will join a collaborative, student-centered team who celebrate innovative approaches in higher ed, and who find joy and pride in admissions work. Some evenings and weekend work required frequent travel by airplane. 4-6 weeks of annual travel, frequently outside Illinois, required. Ability to lift 20-pound boxes of recruitment materials.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage a regional recruitment territory.
• Develop expertise on high schools and other important contextual considerations in the region.
• Plan and execute outreach activities to meet University enrollment goals and University strategic plan.
• Develop, implement and assess strategic recruitment by targeting schools, programs, and students within territory.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with college counselors and community based organizations (CBOs) to establish a successful recruitment campaign.
• Undertake annual reporting and trend analysis to track, evaluate, report, and strategize around relevant recruitment statistics.
• Organize high school visits, college nights, on-campus events and other strategic recruitment events.
• Lead on-campus information sessions as on-duty director in visitors center on rotational basis, as well as regular online sessions as part of our virtual recruitment series.
• Answer student/family queries by phone, email, and in person.
• Staff ad hoc information sessions and recruitment events throughout the admissions cycle.
• As a member of the admissions committee, review and recommend an admission decision for a minimum of 1,800 first-year and transfer applications.
• Demonstrate sound grasp of institutional practices and priorities during the application evaluation process and exercise impeccable time management to plan and organize reading targets around staff-wide deadlines.
• Must exercise reliable, independent judgment to interpret and apply University admissibility guidance to advance enrollment goals.
• Manage a functional-area portfolio. Responsibilities entail: managing projects, coordinating events, building reports and outcome assessments, and overseeing student employees. This functional-area work will focus on one or more of the following areas: recruitment (including domestic, international, and transfer), outreach & access, visitor engagement, communications, operations, academic partnerships (including counselor relations), and staff training & development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills):
Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree 1 – 3 years' experience in college admission/recruiting, or equivalent experience. Experience in administration, project management, customer service, public relations, supervision, and/or event coordination. Valid driver's license and willingness to undertake frequent business travel by plane. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills. Strong speaking/communication skills and ability to speak effectively before audiences of up to 500 or more. Ability to work effectively with time and volume pressures. Must be able to meet deadlines. Ability to communicate inclusively with diverse audiences and stakeholders including fellow admissions staff, prospective students and their families, counselors and other educators, alumni, and campus partners.

Ability to work outside normal business hours including evenings and weekends. Independent judgment, discretion and diplomacy.

Preferred Qualifications…