Admissions Counselor

ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF ART AND DESIGN INC; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation, sick, and personal time accr

Winter break closure PTO

Health and dental insurance

Life and disability insurance

403(b) retirement contributions

Tuition remission

Free campus parking

Inter-Museum Council discounts

Job summary

The Cleveland Institute of Art invites applications for an Admissions Counselor who will recruit, counsel, and enroll prospective students seeking an education in art and design. The role reports to the Assistant Vice President of Admissions + Continuing Education and serves as the primary contact for prospects, families, counselors, and educators throughout the admissions process.

The position involves representing CIA at college fairs, portfolio days, high school visits, open houses, and other

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience in admissions, higher education, recruitment, counseling, or related field preferred but not required.
• Willingness to travel regionally/nationally (~60 days fall, ~30 days spring).
• Valid driver's license required.
• Evening and weekend work may be required to support events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage recruitment efforts within assigned territories and build relationships with schools and community organizations.
• Represent CIA at college fairs, portfolio days, high school visits, open houses, and other recruitment events.
• Conduct admission presentations and portfolio reviews; counsel prospective students and families on programs, admission requirements, financial aid, scholarships, and career opportunities.
• Review applications for admission and merit scholarship consideration.
• Maintain ongoing communications with prospective students and families via phone, email, and virtual meetings.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Relationship-building

CRM Slate experience

Communication

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Slate CRM

Job description

The Cleveland Institute of Art invites applications for the position of Admissions Counselor, reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Admissions + Continuing Education. This position plays a vital role in recruiting, counseling, and enrolling prospective students who seek an education in art and design. As a representative of CIA, the Admissions Counselor serves as a primary point of contact for prospective students, families, counselors, and educators throughout the admissions process.

Responsibilities

Working closely with members of the Admissions team and campus partners, the Admissions Counselor is responsible for developing and managing recruitment efforts within assigned territories, building relationships with schools and community organizations, and providing individualized guidance to prospective students as they navigate the college search and application process. The successful candidate will help communicate the value of a CIA education, effectively manage assigned recruitment territories, and support institutional enrollment goals through strategic outreach, relationship-building, and consistent engagement with prospective students and families.

Primary responsibilities include representing CIA at college fairs, portfolio days, high school visits, open houses, and other recruitment events; conducting admission presentations and portfolio reviews; counseling prospective students and families regarding academic programs, admission requirements, financial aid, scholarships, and career opportunities; and reviewing applications for admission and merit scholarship consideration. The Admissions Counselor also manages ongoing communications with prospective students and families through phone, email, virtual meetings, and other communication channels.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills and demonstrate a passion for higher education and student success. Candidates should be comfortable engaging diverse audiences, presenting information in both individual and group settings, and building meaningful connections with students and educational partners. Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills are essential. The Admissions Counselor should be highly adaptable and capable of managing numerous projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Experience utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) systems, particularly Slate or similar platforms, is preferred. The successful candidate will maintain accurate records related to recruitment activities, student interactions, and admissions processes while contributing to strategic enrollment initiatives and departmental projects.

Qualifications

Successful candidates must be able to work independently, exercise sound professional judgment, collaborate effectively with colleagues across the institution, and identify opportunities to enhance recruitment efforts and the prospective student experience.

A bachelor's degree is required. Prior experience in admissions, higher education, recruitment, sales, counseling, customer service, or a related field is preferred but not required. Experience or familiarity with art and design education is desirable.

A valid driver's license is required. This position requires extensive regional and national travel, including approximately 60 days during the fall recruitment season and 30 days during the spring recruitment season. Evening and weekend work are required to support recruitment events and admissions programming throughout the year.

Employment Details

This is a full-time, exempt position. CIA has a 35-hour work week.

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Cleveland Institute of Art offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• vacation, sick, and personal time accrual
• paid time off during the College's winter break closure
• health and dental insurance
• life and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement contributions
• tuition remission
• free campus parking
• Inter-Museum Council discounts

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) is committed to increasing diversity in our community and actively pursues individuals from all backgrounds. Additionally, CIA complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and provides equal opportunity in all educational programs and activities, admission of students, and conditions of employment for all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender identity, or national origin.

About CIA

The Cleveland Institute of Art is one of the nation's leading accredited independent colleges of art and design. Since 1882, the college has been an educational cornerstone in Cleveland, Ohio, producing graduates competitive as studio artists, designers, photographers, contemporary craftspeople, and educators. With approximately 600 students, CIA offers a personal educational experience with the benefits of a larger institution. Students choose from 13 majors and live and work in Cleveland's University Circle, one of the country's most unique cultural centers, recently named by USA Today as the "Best Arts District" in the country.

The mission of CIA is to cultivate creative leaders who inspire people, strengthen communities, and contribute to a thriving and sustainable economy through an innovative education in art and design. Visit our website at www.cia.edu.

Please direct any questions regarding this notice to Human Resources at [e-mail].