First-Year Admissions Counselor

Shenandoah University; Stephenson (VA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Shenandoah University’s Office of Admissions is looking for a First-Year Admissions Counselor to recruit students in a designated territory on our Winchester, VA campus. This full-time benefited role involves meeting enrollment goals, analyzing data, and developing recruitment strategies while serving as the primary contact for prospective students and families throughout the admissions process.

You will plan and execute campus visits, presentations, and events, collaborate with campus partners,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.
• Strong computer literacy (Apple and Microsoft Office).
• Experience with admissions technologies, including Slate CRM preferred.
• Detail-oriented with strong prioritization and time management.
• Ability to adapt to multiple technology applications.
• Ability to use data to inform recruitment decisions.
• Willingness to travel evenings, weekends, and overnight for about 12–18 weeks per year.
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Recruit students within a designated territory to meet enrollment goals.
• Develop and adjust recruitment strategies based on data and past results.
• Plan, implement, and attend recruitment events and campus visits.
• Serve as liaison between prospective students, families, and university departments.
• Coordinate with Admissions Welcome Center and other departments during visits.
• Deliver admissions presentations and campus tours, including group visits.
• Manage the Saturday Visit program throughout the fall and spring.
• Maintain student records and communicate with prospective families.
• Report progress and outcomes of recruitment activities to supervisors.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Bilingual Spanish/English

Computer literacy

Attention to detail

Time management

Data-driven mindset

Travel flexibility

Mobility/physical fitness

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Slate CRM by Technolutions

Job description

Shenandoah University’s Office of Admissions is accepting applications for a First-Year Admissions Counselor. This is a full-time benefited position located on our main campus in Winchester, Virginia.

The First-Year Admissions Counselor manages all activities necessary to recruit students, within a designated territory, to Shenandoah University in order to meet individual and team enrollment goals. Counselors must have or acquire substantial knowledge about their territory, exercise discretion and independent judgment in developing recruitment strategies for their designated territories and provide a high quality of service to prospective students and families throughout the recruitment, application and acceptance/enrollment processes. The admissions counselor will often be the prospective student’s first contact with the university and must recognize the importance of building a relationship based on the professional, correct, and timely exchange of information. The admissions counselor is also a liaison between prospective families and the faculty and staff of other university departments. In this role, the admissions counselor will be responsible for general recruitment of all academic programs. The ability and willingness to work among a team, independently, and until the task is completed successfully, is essential.

Primary responsibilities

• Working collaboratively as a member of the First-Year Recruitment team, admissions counselors will be expected to utilize past and current data to analyze the impact, progress, and effectiveness of prior recruitment strategies and events within their designated territories, and then exercise their discretion and independent judgment to create, implement and execute individual recruitment strategies for the upcoming season within their designated territories.
• Counselors will propose and make adjustments to prior years’ recruitment strategies and events schedules, including discontinuing, modifying or relocating previously held events. Counselors also will be expected to develop special outreach campaigns and new events, that will pique the interest of prospective students in the territory (and/or their parents). Counselors will be responsible for planning, implementing, and executing their campaigns and events, and selecting which high schools to visit and which college fairs to attend.
• Responsible for developing innovative approaches to increase awareness and develop interest among groups within the designated territory. These groups include, but are not limited to, prospective students and families, school counselors and administrators, school and community organizations, private instructors, and independent education counselors.
• Reviewing applications, and then exercising discretion and independent judgment, including their wledge of factors contributing to student success, to determine best fit candidates for admission within their designated territory. Counselors are also responsible for notifying applicants of their admission decisions.

Additional responsibilities

• Enthusiastically and professionally representing the university at off-campus recruitment events.
• Working in coordination with the Admissions Welcome Center Coordinator, assisting in the planning and executing of campus visits for prospective students, families, and school/community groups. This requires collaboration with other university departments, most commonly academic faculty, student life organizations, and athletics.
• Giving admissions presentations to large and small groups during daily campus visits and coordinated group visits, as well as providing main campus tours and special tours of other buildings, as needed. Fully participating in on-campus recruitment events that occur throughout the year, including, but not limited to, Open Houses, Student Shadow Days, Interviews, and Auditions.
• Independently managing a series of Saturday Visits throughout the fall and spring, which will be distributed equitably among the members of the Freshmen Recruitment team.
• Maintaining student records and communicate with prospective families.
• Coordinating, monitoring, and reporting on progress of, recruiting programs to special populations, such as Presidential Scholars program and Shenandoah Conservatory’s performing arts auditions.
• Other responsibilities and duties as assigned by supervisor(s).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is
• Outstanding interpersonal skills are essential
• Excellent communication skills; both oral and written
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Familiarity with Apple computers and software, as well as Microsoft software, including Word and Excel
• Experience with various admissions technologies, including the CRM Slate by Technolutions, preferred
• Attention to details, ability to prioritize and complete tasks, and meet deadlines
• Ability to adapt to, and utilize, numerous technology applications appropriately
• A basic understanding of how to use data in order to accomplish a goal
• Ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends and to travel overnight with a schedule averaging 12-18 weeks per year. Adhering to university policies and procedures regarding travel is required.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs. into and out of a vehicle.
• Valid driver’s license with good driving record and ability to pass a driving background check.

Shenandoah University values individuals and communities' unique and diverse perspectives locally and globally. It seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic or national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, or on any other basis protected under applicable law.