Intermediate Specialist, Admissions

uottawa; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Ottawa's Student Affairs, Applications Evaluations unit, invites applications for a senior Admissions Specialist who will adjudicate undergraduate and professional program applications and manage the admissions cycle with expert use of complex policies for national and international curricula.

Reporting to the Supervisor of Admissions, you will assess applications, advise on prerequisites and alternatives for non-traditional backgrounds, present complex cases to the Faculty

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced judgment to assess admissions admissibility across diverse international and domestic systems.
• Adjudicates admissibility for undergraduate, certificate, and professional programs.
• Serves as the institutional expert on admissions procedures and file quality control.
• Provides strategic academic advice on requirements, prerequisites, averages, and scholarships.
• Shapes admission policies and oversees quota allocations by faculty, program, and country.
• Prepares and presents complex cases to the Faculty Admissions Committee.
• Maintains expertise on provincial, national, and international education systems and curricula.
• Produces data-driven reports supporting enrollment targets.
• Represents Admissions at recruitment events on and off campus.

Job description

Job Family: Admissions

# of Open Positions: 1

Faculty/Service - Department: Student Affairs, Application Evaluations

Campus: Main Campus

Union Affiliation: SSUO

Anticipated Duration in Months (for contracts and temporary assignments): 5

Hours per week: 35

Salary Grade: SSUO Grade 10

Salary Range: $85,040.00 - $107,421.00

About Student Affairs

Student Affairs is at the very heart of the student experience at the University of Ottawa. We recruit the very best future students, support them throughout their university years and leave them well-prepared for fulfilling careers and future studies. Our team of more than 600 dedicated staff provides the services that keep students happy, well and thriving as they pursue their ambitions. We help them apply and enroll for courses, we oversee 11 residences and an award-winning Dining Hall, we organize fun events, we provide extensive recreation program opportunities and varsity sports activities, we run an innovative career development and experiential learning program and much more!

There's nothing more rewarding than helping future generations reach their full potential at a world-class university. With our wide variety of career opportunities and professional development pathways, we're sure that you'll enjoy the experience as much as our students do.

Position purpose

Under the direction of the Supervisor of Admissions, the incumbent acts as a senior expert to colleagues, recruitment partners, faculties, and campus services and is responsible for adjudicating applications to undergraduate and professional programs. They manage the admissions cycle within their area, applying current policies to support enrolment goals. This role demands in-depth knowledge of national and international curricula and strong expertise in admissions policies. The incumbent assesses complex applications, advises applicants with non-traditional backgrounds, and reviews appeals with clear, policy-based justifications.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Apply advanced judgment to assess applications for admissibility by applying and implementing complex admissions policies and Senate regulations across diverse international and domestic academic systems. Conducts comprehensive interviews using a holistic approach to identify strong candidates, including those with non-traditional academic backgrounds or experiential learning.
• Adjudicates admissibility of applicants from national and international systems across undergraduate, certificate, and professional programs in Education and Law. Utilizes expert knowledge of grading scales, credential recognition, and global curricula to ensure fair and consistent assessments.
• Serves as the institutional expert on admissions procedures and applicant file quality control. Use expert judgment to detect fraudulent documents, assess inconsistencies, and analyze applicant trends. Guides Information Officers and stakeholders to ensure compliance with institutional standards and regulatory requirements, safeguarding admissions integrity.
• Provides strategic academic advice to prospective students and parents on admissions requirements, prerequisites, averages, and scholarships. Explains reasons for unmet criteria and suggests ways to strengthen academic profiles, including alternative pathways. Manages complex appeals and liaises with the Office of the Ombudsperson on escalated cases.
• Shapes institutional admission policies and streamlines processes to improve efficiency and service quality. Evaluates enrollment needs to support strategic diversity goals across faculties and targeted international markets. Oversees quota allocations by faculty, program, and country for competitive admissions.
• Prepares and presents complex cases to the Faculty Admissions Committee, assessing academic potential. Supports applicants facing family, personal, or economic challenges that may affect performance, with a focus on special needs and minority groups to connect them with appropriate services.
• Maintains expertise on provincial, national, and international education systems and curricula. Develop targeted strategies aligned with enrollment and outreach goals. Collaborate with stakeholders and recruitment teams to advance market development. Pursues ongoing professional development through specialized training and conferences to apply best practices.
• Produces data-driven reports supporting university and faculty enrollment targets, considering retention and academic performance. May Assist the Admissions Manager in developing training materials for colleagues, recruitment partners, faculties, and services and deliver training sessions to these stakeholders.
• Represents Admissions at recruitment events on and off campus, including evening