Assistant Director of Recruiting and Admissions, Smeal College of Business

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 51,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

The Smeal College of Business at Penn State University is seeking an Assistant Director of Recruiting and Admissions to oversee recruitment for its specialty master's programs. This role involves strategic planning, frequent travel for campus recruitment, and enhancing student engagement, all aimed at attracting diverse candidates to these competitive programs. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational and communication skills, proven experience in recruitment, and a passion for student success.

Benefits

75% tuition discount for employees and dependents

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Robust retirement plans

Substantial paid time off including holidays and vacation

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant experience in graduate admissions or higher education.
• Experience with domestic and international travel required.
• Must adapt communication style for various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment efforts for specialty master’s programs with a focus on travel.
• Provide personalized guidance to prospective students throughout the admissions cycle.
• Plan and execute recruitment events, presentations, and on-campus visits.

Skills

Public Speaking

Relationship Building

Event Coordination

Student Supervision

Organizational Skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM Tools

Salesforce

LionPATH

GRADS

Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

Assistant Director of Recruiting and Admissions Office of Professional Graduate Programs – Smeal College of Business, Penn State University Penn State’s Smeal College of Business seeks a dynamic, results-oriented, and collaborative professional to serve as Assistant Director of Recruiting and Admissionsfor its residential one-year specialty master’s programs. This is a highly visible, fast-paced role focused on strategic recruitment, frequent travel, event planning, and high-volume prospective student engagement. Key Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment effortsfor Smeal’s specialty master’s programs, with a heavy focus on domestic travel, Penn State campus recruitment (University Park and Commonwealth Campuses), classroom and club presentations, career fairs, and external university visits.
• Plan and execute engaging presentations, events, and information sessionsvirtually and in person, including frequent on-campus visits and periodic travel to major U.S. cities and international locations.
• Serve as the primary point of contactfor prospective students throughout the recruitment and admissions cycle—delivering personalized guidance via email, phone, Zoom, and in-person meetings.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to expand recruitment pipelines, including faculty, staff, alumni, and key partners at Penn State campuses and surrounding colleges.
• Manage application follow-up and yield communications, ensuring timely, effective engagement with prospective students through Salesforce, GRADS, and other systems.
• Provide operational and logistical support for admissions processing, onboarding, and international student documentation, ensuring alignment with University policies and timelines.
• Evaluate applications and credentialsto determine admissions decisions, financial aid eligibility, visa documentation needs, and transfer credit approvals, as appropriate.
• Collaborate across departments and programs to ensure consistent messaging and an excellent prospective student experiencefrom first contact to enrollment.
• Support and occasionally lead evening and weekend events, including open houses, webinars, and partner events.

Qualifications

• Experience, preferably in graduate admissions, higher education, recruiting, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in public speaking, relationship building, event coordination, and student supervision.
• Comfort with frequent travel—including 25–40% domestic travel and occasional international travel; evening and weekend availability required.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; ability to adapt communication style to varied audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM tools; experience with Penn State systemssuch as Salesforce, LionPATH, and GRADS is a plus.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $51,000.00 - $74,000.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

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