Associate Director of Admission

** This position is based in Seattle, WA*
* WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

Reporting to the Director of Admission Recruitment, the Associate Director is based in the greater Seattle metropolitan area and provides a sustained, high-touch admission recruitment presence in Whitman College's largest recruitment market. The Associate Director evaluates all recruitment opportunities in Western Washington, covering many recruitment events personally, and working with the rest of the admission recruitment team to ensure coverage when needed.

In addition to visiting high schools, attending college fairs, interviewing students, and meeting with families, the Associate Director maintains proactive communication with interested students and families. They also work closely with both school-based and independent counselors in the greater Seattle area to raise awareness of and interest in the College. The Associate Director oversees programs that support admission recruitment, including leading initiatives of significant strategic importance to the Office of Admission.

The Associate Director will also represent the Office of Admission independently in meetings with campus-based and other key constituencies.

PRINCIPAL

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Student Recruitment (60%)

• 12-16 weeks of recruitment, primarily in the greater Seattle area, including high school presentations, prospective student interviews, community-based organization visits, and college fairs.
• Coordinate support of constituencies (e.g., alumni, current parents, current students) in greater Seattle.
• Present information sessions about Whitman College and the college admission process.
• Maintain contact with prospective students and families by phone, email, text messaging, and handwritten communications.

Selection (20%)

• Review applications, make recommendations on admissibility of candidates, and participate on the Admission Committee.
• Oversee the application review process and chair admission subcommittees for areas of oversight (e.g., Athletics, International, Talent Scholarships).

Project Leadership (10%)

• Oversee major projects and processes independently or with minimal supervision and guidance.
• Represent the Office of Admission independently in meetings with other campuses and other constituencies.
• Coordinate programs as assigned by the Director of Admission Recruitment.

Evolving Responsibilities (10%)

• Center diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism as guiding principles when approaching recruitment work.
• Contribute to additional initiatives as needed, adapting to evolving priorities and organizational needs.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current on admission best practices, applying new knowledge to enhance admission recruitment efforts.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Ability to articulate the value of higher education and a liberal arts college experience.
• Strong understanding of the Greater Seattle area, especially the high school landscape and the trends among college-going students and their families.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and utilize data to inform decision-making and creative problem solving.
• Sufficient knowledge of higher education administration to represent the Office of Admission independently in meetings with other campus constituencies.
• Strong technical skills, including experience with a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
• Team player with the ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and lead others through evolving challenges to achieve goals.
• Strong presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort with travel and ability to work with people from a range of geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Outstanding listener with strong relational skills.
• Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality.
• Ability to actively and positively contribute to…