Career Center

The Associate Director is a dynamic and enthusiastic professional who will work independently and in a team environment to recruit highly qualified students into the undergraduate programs at Parsons School of Design at The New School. The Associate Director will be an art and design specialist, with a strong understanding and history of working with undergraduate students, including college transfers and international students. This position will also represent the full breadth of educational offerings at The New School to the public.

Under supervision of the Senior Director, the Associate Director will help oversee most aspects of Parsons undergraduate admission, including overseeing Parsons international and transfer application reading/processing, and will act as the main liaison with respect to the creation of transfer credit evaluations with the Registrar and Deanâ™s offices. Overseeing two to three direct reports, the successful candidate will act on behalf of the senior director as necessary, including at meetings and events as necessary, and should have a strong understanding of undergraduate admissions and possess superior time management and organizational skills, demonstrate outstanding analytical skills when analyzing and processing recruitment data and student transcripts, and have a solid understanding and overall knowledge of general undergraduate admission policies and best practices.
 

This position requires extensive travel throughout the United States, and some international travel as planned. The incumbent must be flexible to work weekends and evenings during the high travel season in fall and other high volume admission times including winter. 

For more than a century, Parsons has been inspired by the transformative potential of design, and is now internationally recognized as the top design school in the U.S. and among the top three globally. Its groundbreaking academic programs attract students from all over the world and its undergraduate student population comprises nearly half of the Universityâ™s total enrollment.

The New School is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and particularly seeks applications from members of underrepresented groups, as well as candidates who share this commitment.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the strategic design, implementation and management of file review procedures to produce consistent reader outcomes and more even metrics across merit rating levels. Monitor staff reading assignments and decisions.

• Coordinate with Senior Director on management of undergraduate assistant directors, admissions counselors and seasonal and part-time staff and implement training and auditing of staff on the processing and evaluation of undergraduate applications, including transfer and international applications, as well as portfolio and college transcript evaluation and placement of students at the appropriate level. 

• Create hiring plans for efficient onboarding and use of busy season temp staff as needed (for file reading and travel) and participate in the hiring and supervision of work study students and/or graduate assistants and seasonal admissions counselors as necessary

• Along with the senior director, serve as the Parsons team lead on faculty committee, campus change applications, transfers, visiting students, and readmits and lead student onboarding and inter-department communications regarding late admits. 

• Learn and maintain merit and need based financial aid knowledge.

• Assist with innovative event planning on and off-campus including but not limited to information sessions, National Portfolio Days, Open House, online chats and  webinars, digital recruitment and Admitted Student Day events, and the development of printed collateral, while liaising with marketing and communications as necessary and assigned by the senior director.

• Partner with Senior Director of Admission to analyze enrollment trends and projections, design and  implement recruitment strategies, and conduct relevant planning initiatives for recruitment and outreach, including but not limited to the interviewing of students, conducting group information sessions, and travel throughout the United States to represent The New School at high schools, community colleges, college fairs, public and service organizations. Assist with organizing staff for coverage of National Portfolio Days 

• Assist Senior Director with calendar management including scheduling of high school visits and recruitment trips, as well as meetings with other offices and staff as necessary

• Oversee at a high level, the review of admission applications and credentials to determine  eligibility for admission 

• Strategize and research with Senior Director of Undergraduate Admission on alternative communication channels for effective student outreach; execute yield plans already in place including telephone calls, emails and social media posts to prospective students 

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor
   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelorâ™s Degree required

• At least five years experience in admissions or higher education role 

• Outstanding interpersonal skills 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills 

• Sincere interest in working with diverse populations 

• Valid driverâ™s license and passport 

• Facility with Microsoft Office Suite

• Ability to adhere to University COVID-19 policy and requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Major in art and design field 

• Masters Degree preferred 

• Experience with CRM or other databases

WORK MODE

• Hybrid/Remote - Employees hired for this position primarily work remotely with the occasional on-campus presence required with advanced notice. Employees in this role will also be expected to use their best judgment to be on campus when necessary in order to best fulfill the responsibilities of their job descriptions.  

SALARY RANGE

$68,000 - $70,000 per annum

About The New School

The New School, a leading university in downtown New York City, offers degree and nondegree academic programs in design, the social sciences, the liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. Students benefit from small classes, superior resources, and renowned faculty members who practice what they teach. Continuing education courses and public programs place the university at the center of New York’s cultural and intellectual life.

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