Admissions Counselor, Accelerated Undergraduate Programs (Online Programs)-Hybrid: Remote and Mission Valley Location

Point Loma Nazarene University•San Diego, CA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is seeking a motivated and goal-oriented Admissions Counselor to support enrollment growth for its Accelerated Undergraduate online programs within the Graduate and Professional Studies Division. This role is suited for individuals who excel in fast-paced settings, are driven by measurable goals, possess strong organizational and detail-oriented skills, and are passionate about assisting adult students in achieving their educational aspirations. The Admissions Counselor will guide prospective students through the entire admissions journey, from initial inquiry to enrollment and the commencement of classes. Given that PLNU's online programs have multiple entry points throughout the year, with new terms starting approximately every eight weeks, the position requires the ability to manage students at various stages of the enrollment process concurrently, while maintaining consistent, proactive communication and a sense of urgency. The ideal candidate will exhibit a growth mindset, excellent time management and follow-through capabilities, and comfort in a highly collaborative and transparent team environment. This includes regular reporting on progress, activity, pipeline status, challenges, and enrollment projections to department leadership and team members. The Admissions Counselor must effectively balance independent work ownership with shared team objectives, established processes, coaching, and performance expectations. While there is no assigned community college recruitment territory, the Admissions Counselor will engage in virtual and in-person recruitment activities, information sessions, presentations, outreach events, and other initiatives aimed at generating interest in PLNU's online undergraduate programs. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for remote work several days a week. On-site workdays will primarily be at PLNU’s Mission Valley Regional Center in San Diego, CA, with occasional presence at other recruitment locations as needed. The position is responsible for meeting or exceeding assigned enrollment and recruitment goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Experience in university enrollment, admissions, recruitment, student services, customer service, or sales preferred.
Experience working with adult, online, transfer, or nontraditional students preferred.
Proficiency in computer software including Google Suite and Zoom; experience with Salesforce or another CRM is preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with prospective students through multiple channels including phone, video, text, email, and in-person interactions.
Must be highly motivated with a high level of enthusiasm for promoting new and expanding academic programs to prospective students.
Commitment to a high-performance culture and to achieving individual and team enrollment goals.
Demonstrated ability to receive feedback, adapt to changing needs, and continuously improve performance.
Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records while managing a high volume of prospective students.
Excellent time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
Ability to manage competing priorities and accomplish tasks under the pressure of multiple deadlines and frequent enrollment starts.
Ability to work independently while maintaining consistent communication, accountability, and transparency with supervisors and team members.
Ability to exercise strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with prospective students, peers, faculty, staff, and other university partners.
Strong teamwork skills and demonstrated willingness to contribute to shared department priorities and goals.
Ability to analyze student pipelines and individual student circumstances to determine appropriate next steps and prioritize outreach.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including public speaking and presentation skills.
Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement.
In addition, staff agree to live in agreement with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.
The job offer is contingent on the successful completion of a background check.
PLNU will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws.

Nice To Haves

Experience in university enrollment, admissions, recruitment, student services, customer service, or sales preferred.
Experience working with adult, online, transfer, or nontraditional students preferred.
Experience with Salesforce or another CRM is preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage all aspects of the Accelerated Undergraduate online student recruitment and admissions process, including inquiry development, inquiry management, pre-admissions advising, transcript evaluation, applicant counseling, admissions decisions, acceptance processing, enrollment support, and proactive student follow-up.
Manage a high-volume portfolio of prospective students across multiple online undergraduate programs and enrollment terms, including programs with new starts approximately every eight weeks.
Proactively communicate with prospective students through phone calls, Zoom meetings, voicemail, texting, and email throughout the admissions and enrollment process.
Maintain consistent and timely outreach to inquiries, applicants, accepted students, and other assigned prospective students in accordance with established department contact expectations.
Build relationships with prospective students, understand their educational and career goals, identify potential barriers to enrollment, and provide clear next steps throughout the admissions process.
Evaluate applications for admission according to established university and program criteria.
Conduct preliminary transcript reviews and provide prospective students with information regarding transferability, remaining requirements, program structure, and the admissions process.
Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed student records in the admissions CRM, ensuring that student status, communication, appointments, activities, and next steps are consistently documented.
Closely monitor the admissions pipeline for upcoming eight-week terms and proactively identify students who need additional support or follow-up to complete the enrollment process.
Meet or exceed established enrollment, activity, conversion, and student engagement goals.
Provide regular updates to supervisors and enrollment leadership regarding applicant pipelines, recruitment activity, enrollment projections, barriers to enrollment, and progress toward goals.
Use data, CRM reporting, and feedback to identify opportunities to improve student engagement, conversion, and enrollment outcomes.
Participate in individual and team performance discussions, coaching, training, and ongoing professional development designed to strengthen recruitment and admissions effectiveness.
Collaborate closely with fellow Admissions Counselors, Enrollment Contact Center, Student Success, Financial Services, Records, Marketing, academic departments, and other university partners to provide students with a coordinated enrollment experience.
Participate in virtual and in person recruitment activities including information sessions, webinars, appointments, presentations, and other online events.
Maintain knowledge of PLNU programs, admissions requirements, policies, student resources, enrollment processes, and changing program offerings.
Work occasional evenings and weekends as needed for recruitment events, student appointments, or other department initiatives.
Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.