POSITION SUMMARY:

As an integral contributor to the Office of Admission, the Senior Assistant Director of Admission is responsible for recruitment, selection and enrollment of talented students from different backgrounds and experiences. As part of the Admission Operations team, the Senior Assistant Director will manage a team of Seasonal Application Assistants, and contribute to a recruitment programs and projects, including but not limited to application processing, data management, and transfer admission. The Senior Assistant Director manages all aspects of recruitment within an assigned geographic territory and plans, implements, and assesses admission activities and programs, representing the University to a broad and diverse audience as part of a progressive and highly collaborative team

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Project Responsibilities

• Contribute to management of application processing and review, including training and support for office staff, track progress to decision release, audit admission decisions, and committee.

• Serve as point of contact for prospective transfer students, liaise with Office of Registrar related to transfer credit evaluation, lead transfer admission committee.

• Coordinate logistics wait list selection processes which support success in meeting enrollment and University goals.

• Manage Summer Melt outreach; track missing materials and oversee outreach via Slate and via student interns to support retention and seamless transition for incoming new students.

• Assist with applicant data integrity, tracking, auditing, and analysis as part of Data Working group.

Supervision of Seasonal Staff

• Hire, train, supervise, mentor, and manage 17-20 seasonal application assistants

• Provide ongoing feedback and training to seasonal application assistants on a weekly basis during application review

• Work in collaboration with Associate Director to set establish application review strategy and how to deploy seasonal application assistants to support recruitment and University goals.

• Monitor productivity and progress toward reading goals, provide productive feedback and resources to support success

• Update read prep training manual to ensure team has current resources for application review that aligns with recruitment and University mission and goals.

Prospect Management Responsibilities and General Recruitment Activities

• Establish short- and long-range prospect management goals and action plans for assigned territory. Develop and implement strategies and tactics to identify and strengthen potential prospective engagement and interest in assigned territory.

• Develop expertise for designated geographic territory using data to determine the recruitment goals and strategies for the region. 

• Utilize relational databases to facilitate and assess recruitment activities. Annually review, revise and develop year-end reports for regional prospect management and recruitment activities.

• Determine the recruitment and yield activities that are most effective for each market sector and develop a plan with justifications for selected activities; manage the travel budget for expenditures associated with off-campus recruitment and yield activities.

• Plan and implement admission activities related to the recruitment and yielding of prospective students, including planning all travel logistical arrangements and coordinating high school visits, regional receptions, counselor workshops and/or off-campus interviews. 

• Build relationships with prospective students and serve as the primary point of contact for designated geographic territory.

• Counsel and interview students to determine the students’ educational interests and needs and align those interests and needs with the attributes and strengths of the University.

• Cultivate and sustain collaborative relationships with secondary school counselors, independent counselors, foundational officers, and community-based counselors to encourage top prospects to consider Richmond as a first choice. Sustain long-term productive contact with these constituencies throughout the enrollment cycle through various outreach channels.

• Serve as a representative of the University to a wide and diverse audience at on- and off-campus events, including college fairs, high school visits, information sessions, regional receptions, and other programs. Create and deliver informative and compelling messages that address the educational needs of various constituents, including students, parents and guardians, community partners, and high school counselors. Develop and innovate new presentation concepts and ideas as appropriate for evolving audiences.

• Review in a holistic manner first year and transfer applications and prepare applications for presentation to the Admission Committee and/or Merit Scholarship Committee.

• Other duties as assigned to support the Office of Admission and University mission and goals

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT: 

This position requires travel and working weekends or evenings for special programs at peak times throughout the year. Each year the Office of Admission visits more than 800 high schools and attends college fairs in 40 states, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., and 20+ countries.

QUALIFICAITONS:

• A thorough understanding of and appreciation for the selective, private college admission process.

• Ability to clearly and compellingly articulate the strengths of a liberal arts education and residential university experience, particularly to those who are not familiar with this model. 

• Demonstrated commitment to supporting access to selective university admission for historically underserved student populations.

• Experience in supporting inclusion and a sense of belonging within a diverse community of students, faculty and staff.

• Knowledge of national student markets and mobility trends, and ability to utilize data to assess, evaluate and validate decisions.

• Highly self-motivated and independent critical thinker. 

• Advanced problem-solving capabilities, creativity, and strong work ethic.

• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with various internal and external constituencies.

• Persuasive oral communication skills, including excellent public speaking skills; strong written and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks concurrently coupled with excellent organizational skills and highest standards for accuracy

• Familiarity with software platforms such as relational database systems.

• A thorough understanding of FERPA and the procedures for compliance; the ability to handle highly confidential information is required

• Extensive experience with Microsoft Office products

• Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to produce a driving record with a minimum of 3 years of driving history in good standing

• Must be willing, eager, and able to travel up to six weeks each semester

Education & experience:   

• A bachelor’s degree is required.  

• A minimum of five years of experience in college admission, including responsibilities for domestic recruitment, travel strategy and management, and application review.

• Previous supervisory experience preferred

• Fluency or proficiency in second language preferred

About University of Richmond

At the University of Richmond, we’re creative, inclusive, and determined. We’re Spiders, and our mission is to create positive change in the UR community and beyond. Located minutes from downtown Richmond, Virginia, the University of Richmond (www.richmond.edu) blends the intimacy of a small college with exceptional academic, research, and cultural opportunities usually found only at large institutions. There’s only one place like Richmond. UR is committed to developing a diverse faculty, staff and student body, and to modeling an inclusive campus community which values the expression of differences in ways that promote excellence in teaching, learning, personal development and institutional success. In keeping with this commitment, our academic community welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and candidates who support diversity. EOE

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