Senior Assistant Director of Admissions (Focus on Alumni Volunteer Program)

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions (Focus on Alumni Volunteer Program)

Job ID: 44915
Location: Evanston, Illinois

Department: Undergraduate Admission
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:
As a member of our Admissions communications team, this role manages the Alumni Admission Council, our membership of alumni volunteers who represent Northwestern to prospective students around the world. Serving as a senior member of a regional admissions team, you will also oversee recruitment strategy and file review in a domestic territory, manage a team of application readers for that region, and provide nuanced counseling to students, families, and college advisors/counselors. You will join a collaborative, student-centered staff who celebrate innovative approaches in higher ed, and who find joy and pride in admissions work.

Please note: Some evenings and weekend work required. Frequent travel by airplane. 4-6 weeks annual travel, frequently outside Illinois required.  Ability to lift 20 pound boxes of recruitment materials.

Specific Responsibilities:

• As senior member of a regional team, manages a geographic admissions territory within the United States; develops recruitment strategy and designs fall recruitment plan to meet University enrollment goals and University strategic plan.
• Coordinates and executes 4–5 weeks of regional recruitment activities annually, visiting high schools, conducting information sessions, leading digital panels, etc.
• Delegates and manages recruitment activities of other admission officers on the regional team.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with college counselors and community-based organizations in support of recruitment initiatives.
• Tracks, evaluates and reports relevant recruitment statistics.
• Leads on-campus information sessions as on-duty director in visitors center on rotational basis.
• Answers student/family queries by phone, email, and in person.
• Oversees the evaluation of over 3,000 applications per year.
• Trains and manages other readers on the team.
• With input from the director of communications, manages the Alumni Admission Council, including the AAC advisory board and all active volunteers.
• Together with AAC advisory board and international team member, appoints, trains, and manages team of AAC directors throughout the US and overseas.
• Together with communications team, develops a monthly newsletter for the membership and strategizes effective ways to leverage alumni presence for the recruitment and interviewing of prospective students.
• Budget permitting, works with recruitment and outreach team to plan and execute admitted student receptions with AAC members in key markets.
• Collaborates with IT to enhance and manage AAC web portal and membership database.
• Partners with Operations staff member to provide technical support to AAC Directors; manage online notification of interview invitations to applicants; coordinate budget-related issues for the AAC including reimbursements to AAC Directors, hotel and other billings; maintain contact with AAC Directors and respond to questions and concerns from AAC members; and communicate decision outcomes to AAC directors so that interviewers can contact admitted students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in college admissions/recruiting.
• Experience in administration, project management, customer service, public relations, supervision, and/or event coordination.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills; ability to speak effectively before audiences of up to 500 or more.
• Requires valid driver's license and frequent business travel by plane.
• Ability to work effectively with time and volume pressures. Must be able to meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate inclusively with all members of Northwestern community.
• Ability to meet department and University goals.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours including evening and weekends.
• Requires independent judgment, discretion and diplomacy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or higher.
• Background in highly selective college admissions.
• Familiarity with Northwestern.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of Slate CRM.
• Creative, innovative, and highly organized.
• Commitment to college access and inclusion.
• Collaborative spirit and sense of humor.

Please apply online at https://careers.northwestern.edu/psp/hr857prd_er/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=44915&PostingSeq=1

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.