ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, GRADUATE ADMISSION

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 68,500 - 70,650; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare including vision and dental

Generous Paid Time Off Policies

403B Retirement Savings Plan with 100%

EAP

Flexible Work Plans

Educational Benefits

Career-Enhancing Trainings

Job summary

Ithaca College seeks an Associate Director for Graduate Admission to provide leadership for recruitment, admission, and enrollment strategy. You will oversee the graduate admission lifecycle, collaborate with faculty and enrollment leadership, and drive inclusive outreach and timely decisions.

The role requires data-informed decision making, strong collaboration with departments, and the ability to travel for outreach and events. Evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of admission or related experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse population and provide high level of customer service.
• Proficiency with standard office software and ability to learn additional software systems.
• Knowledge of higher education, graduate enrollment and prospective student markets.
• Ability to travel and possession of, or ability to obtain, a NY driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Direct recruitment, admission, and enrollment activities for assigned graduate programs, populations, or regions.
• Develop and implement student-centered outreach and engagement strategies to build awareness and interest.
• Plan and execute recruitment initiatives such as open houses, webinars, information sessions, receptions, and campus visits.
• Represent Ithaca College at recruitment events, fairs, and partner programs, both on and off campus.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to prospective students, faculty, campus partners, and external audiences.
• Direct and manage the graduate application review process using Slate and centralized services.
• Serve as primary contact for prospective students throughout the admission process.
• Collaborate with program faculty to support timely admission decisions and maintain equity and policy adherence.
• Maintain knowledge of graduate admission policies and procedures.
• Lead data analysis to evaluate recruitment and enrollment strategies and provide strategic guidance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal and written communication

Organizational skills

Data-informed decision making

Customer service

Collaborative teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Slate

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Director for Graduate Admission is a strategicstudent-centered member of the Ithaca College Office of Admission,providing leadership for graduate recruitment, admission, andenrollment strategy. This role manages key components of thegraduate admission lifecycle and works closely with academicdepartments, faculty, and enrollment leadership to deliver aresponsive, engaging, and inclusive experience for prospectivestudents.

The Associate Director is accountable for advancing graduateenrollment priorities and outcomes through targeted outreach,application review, relationship building, data-informed decisionmaking, and collaborative campus partnerships. This position offersthe opportunity to help shape the future of Ithaca College graduateenrollment while building expertise in graduate admission andenrollment management.

SUPERVISION
This position reports to the Executive Director of Admission withinAdmission with a dotted-line reporting relationship to theAssociate Provost for Graduate and Professional Studies. TheAssociate Director provides direct supervision to professionalstaff supporting graduate admission, ensuring alignment withenrollment priorities and service standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Recruitment and Outreach
• Direct recruitment, admission, and enrollment activities forassigned graduate programs, populations, or regions.
• Develop and implement student-centered outreach and engagementstrategies to build awareness and interest in Ithaca Collegegraduate programs.
• Plan and execute recruitment initiatives such as open houses,webinars, information sessions, receptions, and campus visits incollaboration with faculty and campus partners.
• Represent Ithaca College at recruitment events, fairs, andpartner programs, both on and off campus.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to prospective students,faculty, campus partners, and external audiences both in-person andvirtual formats.

Admission Operations and Application Review

• Direct and manage the graduate application review process usingSlate and centralized application services.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for prospective studentsthroughout the admission process, providing timely, accurate, andindividualized guidance.
• Collaborate with program faculty and academic leadership tosupport timely and consistent admission decisions and maintainconsistency, equity, and policy adherence across programs.
• Maintain working knowledge of graduate admission policies,procedures, and best practices.

Collaboration and Campus Partnerships

• Serve as primary graduate admission liaison to faculty,academic departments, and campus offices to support graduateenrollment goals.
• Partner with Marketing and Communications to develop andimplement targeted recruitment messaging, communication plans andfollow-up strategies.
• Maintain effective relationships with external partners andvendors to ensure a seamless experience for prospectivestudents.
• Lead in cross-functional projects and initiatives that supportthe continued growth and effectiveness of graduate admissionefforts.

Strategic Visioning and Planning Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis and application of data, reporting, andassessment tools to evaluate and optimize recruitment andenrollment strategies and provide strategic guidance to faculty andadministrators on enrollment trends and implications.
• Maintain documentation, prepare reports, provide analysis, andtranslate institutional priorities into graduate admissioninitiatives.
• Use technology and institutional systems to improve efficiency,support recruitment and decision making.

Community and Inclusion

• Demonstrate and model a commitment to multicultural awareness,inclusion, and respectful engagement.
• Contribute to creating an environment that is flexible,collaborative, inclusive, and supportive of a diverse campuscommunity.
• Interact with students, families, staff, faculty, and visitorsin a professional, civil, and inclusive manner.

Professional Standards

• Execute responsibilities in alignment with the servicephilosophy and student-centered orientation of the Office ofAdmission.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree and five years of admission or relatedexperience, or a combination of education and experience.

Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communicationskills.

Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability tomanage multiple priorities.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse populationand provide a high level of customer service.

Proficiency with standard office software (e.g. Microsoft OfficeSuite) and the ability to learn additional software systems.

Ability to use data to inform decisions, assess outcomes, andidentify opportunities for improvement.

Knowledge of higher education, graduate enrollment and prospectivestudent markets.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a teamenvironment.

Flexibility to work evening and weekend hours during peak admissioncycles.

Ability to travel and possession of, or ability to obtain, a validNew York State driver’s license and the approval to operate acollege vehicle are required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience working with graduate, adult, or professional studentpopulations.

Experience collaborating with faculty or academic leadership in anadmission or enrollment setting.

Experience planning and implementing recruitment events,presentations, or outreach initiatives.

Experience using customer relationship management (CRM) systems,preferably Technolutions Slate.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Evening and weekend work may be required to support admissionprograms and events.

Work is primarily conducted in a safe, accessible indoor officeenvironment, with regular use of computers and standard officeequipment. The role requires mobility across campus and the abilityto travel to recruitment events and partner locations, which mayinclude walking, driving, lifting and transporting recruitmentmaterials, or arranging alternative transportation. The positionrequires travel to assigned regions and attendance at events thatmay occur during and outside of normal business hours.

This position is 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Hiring Range: $68,500 - $70,650, commensurate withqualifications and experience.

We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees withcomprehensive benefits, including:

• Healthcare including vision and dental
• Generous Paid Time Off Policies
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan with Matching EmployerContribution
• EAP
• Flexible Work Plans
• Educational Benefits
• Career-Enhancing Trainings
• For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit the Ithaca College's employee benefits page

In an effort to promote campus safety and the security of Collegeresources, Ithaca College will, consistent with the requirements ofthe law and prudent practices, conduct criminal backgroundinvestigations per College policy. This position is subject to acriminal background check. All offers of employment are contingentupon review of the criminal background check.

About Us

At Ithaca College, a comprehensive residential campus community ofapproximately 5,000 students, we strive to be at the forefront ofthe higher education landscape. We offer a distinct integrativelearning experience that makes students ready for the personal,professional, and global challenges of our age.

We seek candidates who embrace integrative learning and want to bea part of this exciting time in Ithaca College history. Weencourage creative collaboration and innovation in our faculty andstaff, providing support and resources for them to grow in theirfields and lead students to their own innovative ideas andachievements.

We welcome different ways of thinking and look for candidates withunique points of view and life experiences. We are inclusive ofindividuals with a wide range of cultural, personal, andprofessional backgrounds, talents, and skills. Our campus is avibrant and rewarding community where diverse minds can learn,succeed, and excel.

When reviewing candidates, we are looking for indicators of anumber of core competencies. Prospective candidates must beadaptable, collaborative, inclusive, respectful, responsive,results driven, and sustainable. They must communicate effectively,demonstrate leadership, exhibit professional integrity and ethics,take initiative, value personal and professional development, andshow that they will engage in the college.

Nestled in the heart of New York State’s scenic Finger Lakesregion, Ithaca College sits atop South Hill overlooking picturesqueCayuga Lake and is just minutes away from the city center.Combining small town warmth and charm with the vibrancy of acollege community, the thriving and culturally diverse city ofIthaca has been rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places tolive in the United States.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of theapplication and hiring process, please contact our ADA Coordinator,Linda Koenig, at [e-mail] or 607-274-7761. We ask thatrequests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

To learn more about Ithaca College, visit us at Ithaca College