Admissions Counselor I

Mississippi State University; Starkville (MS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University is seeking an Admission Counselor to represent the university to prospective students, parents, alumni, faculty, and staff. The role centers on public relations and recruiting freshman students, with campus-based responsibilities and coverage for events across communities.

The position involves extensive travel, collaboration with campus visits, colleges, and the student call center, and adapting to schedules when others are unavailable.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Proficiency in using relevant software and databases.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel for recruitment events and activities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Well developed written and verbal skills.
• Ability to make data‑driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Extensive travel for school visitations and recruitment events.
• Counseling students and parents; follow-up correspondence.
• Public relations activities related to student recruitment.
• Develop recruitment strategies and participate in setting unit goals.
• Visit high schools, colleges, fairs, and conferences to recruit students.
• Prepare correspondence for prospective students and respond to inquiries.
• Represent the university at conferences and official functions.
• Assist with Orientation and publications from the Office of Admissions and Scholarships.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational multitasking

Public speaking

Travel ability

Data-driven decisions

Customer service

Written and verbal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Position Function

The function of the Admission Counselor is to represent Mississippi State University to prospective students, parents, alumni, faculty, and staff. The Admission Counselor’s foremost responsibility is one of public relations, with this position focusing on the recruitment of freshman students to Mississippi State University.

This position will be based on campus and will be a flex AC as we will need this person to not only work with campus visits, academic colleges, student call center but also cover areas as people are out and when there are conflicts.

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Salary Grade

12

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include extensive travel for school visitations, individual counseling with students and parents, follow-up correspondence, telephone marketing, public relations related to student recruitment and all other aspects of student recruitment.

• Participates in the development of operating goals and objectives for the unit.
• Recommends, implements, and administers methods and procedures to enhance operations.
• Participates in developing effective recruitment strategies.
• Conducts all recruiting activities and follow-up with prospective students in an assigned territory.
• Visits and participates at high schools, colleges college fairs, student conferences, to recruit students provide information to prospective students and their parents, and promote the college.
• Prepares correspondence for prospective students.
• Responds to email and telephone inquiries.
• Represents Mississippi State University at conferences, meetings, and other official functions.
• Attends alumni meetings and assist as needed.
• Assist with the Orientation program.
• Keep current on university programs and changes within the academic schools and colleges.
• Assist with publications released by the Office of Admissions and Scholarships.
• Contact alumni presidents and/or recruiting chairpersons within assigned territory.
• Assist in visiting the community/junior colleges when the need arises.
• Maintain an updated list of outstanding juniors and seniors and keep in contact with them.
• Work closely with high school guidance counselors in assigned territory in the recruitment of prospective students.
• Works with Assistant Director in assigned territory to plan recruiting events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: The Admission Counselor receives oral and written advice and/or instructions from the Associate Director for Recruiting.

SUPERVISION GIVEN: The Admission Counselor has indirect supervision over the support staff and student workers.

RELATIONSHIPS: The Admission Counselor serves as a liaison between prospective students and Mississippi State University

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree. Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the minimum, experience working with students, parents, university administrators, and faculty would be preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills
• Proficiency in using relevant software and databases
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Ability to travel for recruitment events and activities
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong customer service skills
• Well developed written and verbal skills
• Ability to make data driven decisions

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Position requires extensive travel. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility. Routine deadline; usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume seasonable and predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than immediate supervisor. Job frequently requires standing, walking, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting up to 10 pounds. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and wouldlike to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi StateUniversity, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] or [e-mail].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human ResourcesManagement at [phone] or [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of thisjob listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.