Admissions Counselor

Working at Lewis & Clark College

The campus is located on 137 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds in Portland’s southwest hills. Our strong commitment to sustainability is reinforced through recycling programs, energy conservation, alternative transportation options, and farm to fork initiatives. For benefit-eligible positions, we offer a competitive benefits package that includes options for health, dental, vision, tuition, life insurance, retirement and more.

 

Lewis & Clark College is committed to achieving a diverse workforce. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status, such as race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or age.

 

Job Purpose  

As a member of the undergraduate admissions counseling team, admissions counselors manage the recruitment, admission, and enrollment of prospective students to the College of Arts and Sciences. This position is critical to the college's efforts to meet annual enrollment goals. This entails coordinating with the other members of the admissions staff, and working closely with athletics, financial aid, faculty, campus staff, current students, alumni, and other community members.

 

Prospective students and their families engage with admissions counselors during information sessions, individual interviews, and larger admissions events, both virtually and during visits to the college. Through a territory management model, this position serves as a primary point of contact for prospective students, parents and family, high school counselors, community based organizations, and other off-campus constituents. This position creates, organizes and executes virtual and on- and off-campus in-person recruitment events, manages communication efforts, represents the college during recruitment travel, recommends territory travel and recruitment strategies, and reviews and makes admissions recommendations for approximately 600 applicants per year. This position also supervises work-study students and student volunteers. Using enrollment data, this position reports on admissions outcomes and effectiveness. This position leads and executes at least one major office initiative annually. Extensive evening and weekend work required.

 

What You'll Do  

Territory Management (15%)

• Develop and execute territory management strategy and plan by analyzing data including high schools enrollment reports and characteristics, program effectiveness, yield, and community organization partnerships.

• Counsel prospective students and families.

• Cultivate relationships with high school counselors.

• Engage independent educational consultants when required.

• Maintain accurate school files and travel reports.

 

Application Review (30%)

• Manage application files based on territory management model.

• Conduct holistic admissions review.

• Recommend admission decisions and merit-based scholarship awards for first-year applicants.

 

Travel (15%)

• Plan duration and type of travel necessary to meet objectives.

• Implement travel strategy by visiting high schools, attending college fairs, conducting interviews, hosting receptions and collaborating with professional colleagues and alumni.

• Fulfill significant required evening and weekend hours, and six to eight weeks of travel per year, in an independent setting.

 

Represent the College to Campus Visitors (10%)

• Participate in multiple large on-campus visit programs.

• Conduct on-campus evaluative interviews of prospective students.

• Engage visiting families.

• Lead public presentations based on accurate institutional data and researched knowledge of the institution.

• Host counselors and other visitors to the campus.

 

Administrative Functions (20%)

• Create and execute large on-campus admissions recruitment events and/or other large projects in support of enrollment goals such as creating and managing a student calling program, overseeing social media and website strategies and implementation.

• Evaluate post-event data to recommend future programming.

• Coordinate special group visits to campus from high schools, community based organizations, and other off-campus partners.

• Contribute to enrollment communication strategies related to campus visits and special programs.

• Complete administrative tasks as assigned involving application processing, admissions decisions, and other office functions.

 

Professional Knowledge (10%)

• Stay current with institutional curricular and co-curricular programming, campus developments, and strategic messages.

• Be knowledgeable about the broader issues and challenges facing higher education.

 

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree required by start date.

• Previous experience in an undergraduate admissions office or a related education field.

• Understanding of and ability to articulate the value of a liberal arts education.

• Strong multi-tasking, creativity and critical thinking abilities.

• Strong organizational skills for coordination of programs, projects, and volunteers.

• Strong writing, communication, and interpersonal skills, and ability to work well with diverse populations.

• Effective interviewing skills for one-on-one interviews as well as public speaking skills for group presentations.

• Thrives in a tight-knit high-energy office and is eager to learn about all aspects of the enrollment management process.

• Demonstrated ability to travel independently and represent the college in diverse capacities.

• Valid driver's license and ability to meet Lewis & Clark's driver's clearance requirements. Final candidate must pass the college's online driver's training program course as a condition of employment, prior to job offer.

 

Nice to Haves

• Master's degree preferred.

• 1-3 year previous experience in an undergraduate admissions office or a related education field.

• Preference will be given to graduates of liberal arts institutions, or to those who have worked at a liberal arts college.

• Fluency in a second language, preferably Spanish.

• Experience working with a customer relationship management (CRM) system in a higher education admission capacity. Preference given to candidates with experience with Slate.

 

Work Schedule

• 37.5 hours per week

• Benefits Eligible: Yes

 

Pay Rate

• $47,500 Annually