Associate Director of Admissions- Graduate & Continuing Studies

Calvin University•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

The Associate Director of Admissions for Graduate & Continuing Studies leads recruitment strategy development, execution, and analysis; team leadership, training, and coaching; and admissions territory oversight, including travel and outreach. The role works through influence and partnership within the department, university, and community, and may oversee additional responsibilities based on departmental needs. The position develops audience-specific recruitment plans, evaluates admissions tactics, analyzes enrollment and geographic data, and builds connections with prospective students and key schools, colleges, organizations, and community contacts. It partners with university constituents to support enrollment programs and projects, assesses market changes and competition, and integrates current students, faculty, staff, and alumni into prospective-student engagement. The Associate Director manages and develops admissions staff, monitors progress toward enrollment goals, reviews tracking reports, and adjusts strategies as needed. The role also provides CRM and territory-management leadership, supports admissions counselors with training and mentoring, oversees recruitment territories, and contributes to events, appointments, application support, travel planning, and long-term relationship management. The position requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, previous leadership experience, and strong strategic, collaborative, communication, organizational, analytical, and technical skills. The successful candidate must be committed to Calvin University's Christian educational mission and faith integration, and demonstrate awareness of and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Work is performed in routine office conditions, with evenings and weekends as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.
One to two years of previous leadership experience.
Ability to connect with diverse audiences, with a focus on relationship building.
Ability to work collaboratively and establish relationships with people at all organizational levels.
Ability to explain complex plans and university policies, listen actively, coordinate and assess others' work, and communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
Ability to handle confidential information.
Ability to organize and communicate complex information, represent processes and plans visually, and maintain attention to detail and timeliness.
Ability to make sound judgments aligned with the university and department mission and vision, and use data and reports to make decisions and improvements.
Understanding and use of a CRM database system to develop reports and queries for analysis.
Demonstrated awareness of and commitment to effective relationships and positive communication across dimensions of diversity, including race, gender, physical ability, class, and religious perspectives.
Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Ability to work independently without supervision.
Commitment to Calvin's educational mission as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.
Commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

Nice To Haves

Two to three years of relevant admissions or sales experience.
Previous experience in adult or graduate admissions, recruitment, or administration.

Responsibilities

Design recruitment strategies and processes that build a diverse team aligned with Calvin University's mission, vision, and strategies.
Foster a supportive, collaborative, engaged, and motivated departmental team culture.
Hire, train, develop, coach, and mentor staff and student employees as needed.
Monitor team progress toward enrollment goals for transfer, adult, graduate, and other audience recruitment strategies.
Review daily, weekly, and monthly tracking reports and adjust strategies to achieve department goals.
Maintain communication with impacted departments and the university community to collect feedback, share plans, and review results.
Shadow and assess admissions team members to support their skill and knowledge development.
Handle sensitive issues and facilitate collaboration at senior levels.
Develop annual, audience-specific recruitment plans for immediate enrollment needs and long-term market development.
Coordinate and evaluate admissions tactics and analyze current and historical enrollment and geographic data.
Identify sources and contacts for reaching potential students.
Integrate current students, faculty, staff, and alumni into recruitment initiatives focused on prospective-student engagement and experience.
Partner with administrators, coaches, faculty, and staff to administer admissions programs, projects, and enrollment initiatives.
Build and maintain connections with key high schools, colleges, organizations, and primary contacts, and develop opportunities in graduate and continuing studies markets.
Assess the competitive landscape and market changes to inform program and organizational strategy.
Use the CRM to gather data, plan travel, record student interactions, monitor the team, and evaluate recruitment strategies.
Lead CRM, strategic territory management, and recruitment training through workshops and individual mentoring.
Support the development of recruitment territories for admissions counselors and provide coverage for events and appointments as needed.
Coordinate recruitment travel and events, student engagement and outreach, application-process support, and long-term relationships with schools, community groups, and churches.
Serve as a secondary contact for prospective students and families through calls, events, meetings, and email.
Review admission files for completion and monitor individual applicant status.
Schedule recruitment visits, make travel arrangements, and plan travel to support efficient, cost-effective recruitment and maximize enrollment efforts.
Develop measurement tools and rubrics, assess staff and strategy performance, and develop corrective measures.
Explain complex plans and university policies, identify needs through active listening, coordinate and assess others' work, and communicate information in writing and verbally.
Develop creative recruitment approaches and stay current on student preferences, buying behaviors, and industry updates through reading and research.