Assistant Director (HR Title: Law Admissions Ast Director)

Southern Methodist University; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Methodist University in Dallas is hiring an Assistant Director (JD admissions) to coordinate JD on-campus recruiting, yield events, and orientation. The role serves as the primary admissions counselor for the JD program and represents the law school at national recruiting events.

It also oversees student workers, campus visit logistics, and marketing initiatives. The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of higher education experience, with strong

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of work experience is required, preferably in higher education.
• Experience working in diverse settings and with diverse groups of people is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment: Serve as the primary admissions counselor for the JD admissions office and represent the law school at recruiting events across the country.
• Events: Coordinate logistics for all recruiting and yield events (including JD orientation); coordinate all event logistics from conception to completion including room reservations, catering, RSVPs/guest lists, name tags, rentals, payment of vendors, IT arrangements, and parking.
• Student workers: Manage student workers and coordinate all campus visits.
• Yield: Execute the comprehensive yield framework for the law school.
• Transfer admissions: Manage and make recommendations for the transfer admissions process.
• Marketing and Technology: Manage and update the website, technology initiatives, social media, and prepare marketing materials.
• Event Representation: Represent the law school at events across the country, which are often held on weekends or in the evening.
• Travel: Ability to travel significantly, especially during the fall recruitment season.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Customer service orientation

Organizational skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

PeopleSoft

UNITE

Job description

Job Description - Assistant Director (HR Title: Law Admissions Ast Director) (DED00000497)

Job Description

Assistant Director (HR Title: Law Admissions Ast Director) - ( DED00000497 )

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Assistant Director serves as the logistics coordinator for all JD on-campus recruiting and yield events, including JD orientation. Serves as the primary admissions counselor for the JD admissions office and represents the law school at recruiting events across the country. Manages student workers and coordinates all campus visits. Executes the comprehensive yield framework for the law school. Manages and updates the website, technology initiatives, and social media, and prepares marketing materials. Manages and makes recommendations for the transfer admissions process.

Essential Functions:

Recruitment: Serve as the primary admissions counselor for the JD admissions office and represent the law school at recruiting events across the country. Oversee all visits and tours of the law school quadrangle for prospective and admitted students and their families.

Events: Coordinate logistics for all recruiting and yield events (including JD orientation); coordinate all event logistics from conception to completion including room reservations, catering, RSVPs/guest lists, name tags, rentals, payment of vendors, IT arrangements, and parking.

Student workers: Manage student workers and coordinate all campus visits.

Yield: Execute the comprehensive yield framework for the law school.

Transfer admissions: Manage and make recommendations for the transfer admissions process.

Marketing and Technology: Manage and update the website, technology initiatives, social media, and prepare marketing materials.

Event Representation: Represent the law school at events across the country, which are often held on weekends or in the evening.

Travel: Ability to travel significantly, especially during the fall recruitment season.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor’s degree is required.

A minimum of three (3) years of work experience is required, preferably in higher education. Experience working in diverse settings and with diverse groups of people is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to solve problems independently, as well as seek assistance when necessary. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must demonstrate strong focus on attention to detail. Must also have the ability to maintain paper and electronic files.

Candidate must demonstrate a high level of competency with MS Office Suite. Knowledge of and/or experience with PeopleSoft and UNITE is a plus.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Reach above shoulders
• Carry/lift 25 lbs.
• Sit for long periods of time
• Squat
• Handle objects (dexterity)
• Kneel
• Stand
• Push/Pull

Deadline to Apply:

November 13, 2026

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by November 6, 2026.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.