Graduate Admission Counselor

Inside Higher Ed

Valparaiso (IN)

On-site

USD 45,000 - 55,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A higher education institution is seeking a Graduate Admission Counselor to enhance enrollment in graduate programs. This full-time position involves managing the recruitment process, building relationships, and providing high-quality service to prospective students. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree, 2-5 years of relevant experience, and strong communication skills. This role requires regional and national travel, with a focus on relationship management within the university setting.

Qualifications

2 to 5 years of experience in student recruitment or sales in an educational setting.
Willingness to travel regionally and nationally, and work evenings and weekends during recruitment periods.
Experience in document management and maintaining accurate student records.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain relationships for recruitment activities.
Guide prospective students through the application process.
Liaise with university partners and monitor admission funnel.

Skills

Public speaking

Marketing mindset

Excellent communication skills

Time management

Creativity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

The Graduate Admission Counselor serves as an integral part of the growth of Valparaiso University. This position will have an emphasis on building a pipeline for enrollment in all graduate programs offered by the university. Working in partnership with the Director of Admission and the Academic Deans, the Graduate Admission Counselor is responsible for managing the recruitment process from inquiry to matriculation for prospective students seeking admission into the university.

Major Responsibilities

Prospective/Lead Generation – 30%
- Strategize with the Director of Admission to build prospective student funnels.
- Conduct recruitment and outreach activities within an assigned territory and program portfolio via in-person and virtual events; this will include local and national travel.
- Develop and maintain relationships with targeted feeder universities, community organizations, businesses, key influencers, and professional associations.
- Provide innovative and creative ways to increase awareness of Valparaiso University graduate programs; implement recruiting strategies at the regional and national levels to generate new leads.
Student Relationship Management – 60%
- Provide a high level of customer service that guides prospective students through the application process from inquiry to enrollment, aiding with required documentation, deadlines, admission requirements, and other determining factors for enrollment.
- Follow up, track, and communicate with prospective students, active applicants, and admitted students through email, phone, test, individual and group appointments; provide timely responses to all student inquiries and communications via excellent customer service; reach out proactively to maintain student engagement.
- Actively own prospect records and update student information throughout each stage of the enrollment funnel; prepare and maintain records and reports to assigned activities and program portfolio; maintain and update student data into CRM and develop expertise in trends in domestic recruitment.
Campus Relationship Management – 5%
- Work closely with university partners to provide information about the graduate student experience at the university; serve as liaison between graduate admission and university stakeholders; monitor admission funnel and partner with the broader graduate admission team to achieve enrollment targets.
Special Projects – 5%
- Will be assigned special projects related to increasing enrollment of specific student populations or markets, campus engagement activities/collaboration, or other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

A minimum bachelor's degree is required. An earned graduate degree at the master's level is preferred.
2 to 5 years of professional experience in student recruitment/college admissions, or sales experience within an educational setting or company is preferred.
Willingness and ability to travel regionally and nationally; a valid driver’s license and ability to work some evenings and weekends are required, especially during high recruitment periods.
Other Qualifications: Experienced public speaker with high energy and drive; entrepreneurial spirit; strong marketing mindset; excellent written and interpersonal communication skills; creativity; time-management and prioritization; teamwork and ability to meet deadlines; ability to plan, manage, and execute initiatives; extreme attention to detail and ability to document student engagement accurately with a CRM; ability to organize workflow and handle frequent interruptions while maintaining attention to detail; experience with CRM systems is preferred.
Adaptability: Ability to react positively and effectively to change in a fast-paced environment; ability to multitask and prioritize based on supervisory direction.
A valid driver’s license is also required.

All offers of employment with Valparaiso University are contingent upon the clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks may include criminal history, motor vehicle reports, prior employment verification, and personal/professional references. If applicable to the position, they may also include credit history. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates for employment.

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