Assistant Director of Admissions

Champlain College Incorporated; Burlington (VT); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Coverage

Paid Time Off

Retirement (403(b) with employer match

Education benefits

Wellness programs

Employee discounts

Job summary

Champlain College is seeking an experienced admissions professional to lead recruitment in Massachusetts and the West Coast, focusing on building credibility with IECs, counselors, families, and communities. The role involves managing the full recruitment cycle and guiding students through enrollment.

The Assistant Director will also collaborate with the broader team on leveraging AI tools for recruitment, while traveling extensively during peak seasons and representing the College at events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience in college admissions, higher education recruitment, or closely related field.
• Experience in competitive IEC-heavy markets preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment across Massachusetts and West Coast territories; build relationships with school counselors and IECs.
• Guide prospective students through the enrollment process and manage applications.
• Represent Champlain College at college fairs, high school visits, and information programs.
• Stay current on emerging AI tools in higher education admissions to support recruitment goals.

Skills

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Communication

CRM (Salesforce)

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Ready to build Champlain's presence in one of the most competitive college admissions markets in the country? Champlain College is seeking an experienced, results-oriented admissions professional to lead recruitment across two high-priority territories: Massachusetts and the West Coast. The Greater Boston market in particular represents one of the College's most significant areas of opportunity, requiring someone who can navigate a competitive landscape of Independent Educational Consultants (IECs), selective secondary schools, and families who expect a sophisticated understanding of the college admissions process.

This role goes beyond entry-level recruitment. Successfully growing Champlain's presence in the Greater Boston market calls for strategic relationship-building, established credibility, and the experience to represent the College with confidence in a demanding market.

The Assistant Director will manage the full recruitment cycle for their territories — from building relationships with school counselors and IECs to guiding prospective students and families through the enrollment process — while also helping the broader admissions team explore how emerging AI tools can support recruitment goals.

Key Responsibilities

Territory Recruitment & Relationship Building

• Build enrollment through targeted, strategic recruitment activities across the Massachusetts territory (Middlesex, Suffolk, Worcester, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties) and the West Coast territory
• Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships with school counselors, secondary school faculty, Independent Educational Consultants (IECs), and community-based organizations
• Represent the College at college fairs, high school visits, and informational programs, with particular focus on building credibility in the competitive Greater Boston market
• Travel extensively during fall and spring recruitment seasons, including weekdays and weekends, for presentations and collaborative events with schools, community groups, and partner organizations

Applicant Support & Process Management

• Guide prospective students and their families through the enrollment process via phone, email, social networking, and traditional mail
• Read and evaluate several hundred applications per year
• Maintain accurate visit and recruiting records for all high schools and contacts within assigned territories
• Assist in the coordination and execution of on-campus and off-campus special events

Institutional Knowledge & Innovation

• Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of each program and division at the College to speak confidently with prospective students and families
• Stay current on emerging AI tools in higher education admissions and help guide the admissions team in using technology effectively and ethically to support recruitment goals

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• Demonstrated experience in college admissions, higher education recruitment, or a closely related field; prior experience in competitive, IEC-heavy markets strongly preferred
• Experience recruiting in competitive urban or coastal markets strongly encouraged
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish credibility with school counselors, IECs, students, and families
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a large, geographically diverse territory
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with CRM systems (Salesforce) and standard office software
• Ability to work independently while maintaining consistent communication with the broader admissions team

Work Arrangement

• Full-time, campus-based position with extensive travel across assigned territories during fall and spring recruitment seasons.
• Requires the ability to drive and/or fly to recruitment events, with regular evening and weekend commitments during peak recruitment seasons (fall and spring)
• Position operates independently in the field for the majority of the recruitment cycle, with consistent remote communication and coordination with the on-campus admissions team
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA and FSA options
• Paid Time Off: 16 holidays, 4 weeks of vacation, 2 weeks sick time, and 2 days of personal leave
• Retirement: 403(b) plan with 3% employer matching contribution
• Education: Tuition benefits for employees and family members
• Wellness: Gym discount and Wellness programs with up to $300 annual incentives
• Welfare: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, plus life insurance
• Other Perks: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling services, access to employee discounts and local/national benefit programs

About Us

Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, private, not-for-profit college in Burlington, Vermont overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains. Its career-driven approach to higher education prepares students for professional life from their very first semester. For the fifth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" 2020 regional rankings and ranked #9 on The Princeton Review's "2025 Top Schools for Game Design."