Associate Director of Admissions- Graduate & Continuing Studies

Calvin University•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

The Associate Director of Admissions is responsible for developing, executing, and analyzing recruitment strategies; leading, training, and coaching the admissions team; and overseeing admissions territories, including travel and outreach. The role requires a relational strategist who builds influence and partnerships across the department, university, and community. Additional responsibilities may be assigned according to departmental needs. The position develops audience-specific recruitment plans for graduate and continuing studies markets, uses enrollment and geographic data to identify recruitment opportunities, and builds engagement with prospective students through partnerships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, schools, colleges, organizations, and community groups. It also supports territory development and coverage, recruitment events, applicant follow-up, admissions file review, travel planning, and long-term relationship management. The Associate Director manages or indirectly leads admissions counselors, managers, and other leaders, and may supervise student employees. The role is performed in routine office conditions and includes use of a CRM and database reporting tools. The position supports Calvin University's Christian educational mission and requires commitment to the Christian faith, the integration of faith and learning, and positive relationships across dimensions of diversity.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.
One to two years of previous leadership experience required.
Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Ability to work independently without supervision.
Ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with diverse audiences and people across organizational levels.
Ability to explain complex plans and university policies, listen actively, coordinate and assess others' work, and communicate in writing and verbally.
Ability to handle confidential information.
Demonstrated ability to organize and clearly communicate complex information, with attention to detail and timeliness.
Demonstrated judgment aligned with the university and department mission and vision, including using data and reports to guide decisions and improvements.
Understanding and use of a CRM database system to develop reports and queries for analysis.
Commitment to accountability, including measuring staff and strategy performance and developing corrective measures.
Commitment to diversity and inclusion, including effective relationships and positive communication across dimensions such as race, gender, physical ability, class, and religious perspectives.
Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, and to the Christian faith and integration of faith, learning, and student development.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Two to three years of relevant admissions or sales experience preferred.
Previous experience in adult or graduate admissions, recruitment, or administration strongly preferred.
Ability to develop creative, relevant strategies for challenging recruitment and enrollment issues and stay informed about student preferences, buying behaviors, and industry developments.

Responsibilities

Design recruitment strategies and processes that build a diverse admissions team aligned with Calvin University's mission, vision, and strategies.
Foster a supportive, collaborative, engaged, and motivated team culture; hire, train, and develop staff and student employees as needed.
Monitor team members' progress toward personal and departmental enrollment goals, review tracking reports, and adjust strategies to achieve goals.
Maintain communication with impacted departments and the university community to collect feedback, share plans, and review results.
Shadow and assess admissions team members and provide coaching and development.
Handle sensitive issues and facilitate collaboration at senior levels.
Develop annual audience-specific recruitment plans for graduate and continuing studies markets, including immediate enrollment objectives and long-term market development.
Analyze current and historical enrollment and geographic data to identify prospective-student sources and contacts.
Integrate current students, faculty, staff, and alumni into prospective-student recruitment and engagement efforts.
Partner with administrators, coaches, faculty, and other university constituents to administer admissions programs and projects.
Build and maintain relationships with high schools, colleges, organizations, and key contacts, and pursue future business opportunities.
Monitor the competitive landscape and market changes and assess their implications for program and organizational strategy.
Develop proficiency and effective practices in the CRM for data gathering, travel planning, recording student interactions, team monitoring, and strategy evaluation.
Lead training, workshops, and individual mentoring on strategic territory management.
Support the development of recruitment territories and provide coverage for events and appointments as needed.
Coordinate travel, develop recruitment events, engage and conduct outreach to students, support the application process, and manage relationships with schools, community groups, and churches.
Serve as a secondary contact for prospective students and families through calls, events, individual meetings, and email.
Review admission files for completion, monitor applicant status, schedule recruitment visits, and arrange travel.
Plan and execute travel and recruitment plans to maximize enrollment efforts.
Manage or indirectly supervise admissions counselors, managers, and leaders; supervise student employees as needed.
Develop measurement tools and rubrics, assess staff and strategy performance, and develop corrective measures.
Use CRM reporting and queries, enrollment data, and reports to support decision-making and improvement.
Work evenings and weekends as needed.
Meet physical requirements that may include proofreading documents, keyboard and data entry work, observing monitoring devices for two or more hours, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
Support Calvin's Christian educational mission and the integration of faith, learning, and student development.