Senior Assistant Director of Admission

Northwestern University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Tuition benefits

Job summary

Northwestern University is seeking a senior member of the Recruitment Team within Undergraduate Admissions to manage international initiatives, travel, and strategy. You will oversee evaluation for thousands of international applications and lead 1–3 readers in the region, guiding outreach to students, families, counselors, and alumni worldwide.

The role requires strong writing, communication, and organizational skills, with 4–6 weeks of travel annually and occasional evening/weekend work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in college admission/recruiting or equivalent higher education experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Strong speaking/communication skills and ability to address audiences up to 500+.
• Ability to communicate inclusively with diverse Northwestern community and international audiences.
• Willingness to travel; valid passport and US driver’s license recommended.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends; meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute international recruitment trips, 4–6 weeks annually.
• Oversee file review for thousands of international applications.
• Lead a team of readers; support international admissions strategy.
• Design programming for international audiences in digital and in-person spaces.
• Collaborate with Communications and Outreach teams for inclusive messaging.
• Support reporting on international initiatives and partnerships.

Skills

Excellent writing

Strong communication

Time management

Deadline oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Slate CRM

Job description

Department and Salary

Department: Undergraduate Admission

Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Target hiring range for this position will be between $75,000 - 78,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Job Summary

As a senior member of our Recruitment Team within Admissions, this role manages programming and initiatives for international audiences, bringing expertise on international contexts to Admissions’ engagement with prospective students, families, counselors, and alumni. Serving as a senior member of a regional admissions team, you will also oversee recruitment strategy and file review in an international territory, manage a team of application readers for that region, and provide nuanced counseling to students, families, and college advisors/counselors around the world. You will join a collaborative, student-centered staff who celebrate innovative approaches in higher ed, and who find joy and pride in admissions work.

Some evening and weekend work required. 4-6 weeks annual travel by car, rail, and/or airplane. May need to lift and carry boxes of recruitment materials up to 30 pounds.

Specific Responsibilities

• Plans and executes recruitment trips with a focus on international populations, traveling 4–6 weeks annually for student outreach and professional development.
• Brings expertise on international contexts to evaluation process; oversees file review for over 3,000 international applications per year; manages a team of 1–3 full-time and part-time readers in collaboration with other senior members of the international regional team; serves as member of final international committee.
• Designs and coordinates programming for international audiences, primarily in the digital space, bringing expertise on international contexts to Admissions’ engagement with prospective students, families, counselors, and alumni; builds resources to help international students navigate admissions and aid processes; innovates new channels for connecting with prospective international students and their supporters.
• Liaises with Communications Team and Outreach & Access team to ensure messaging and outreach initiatives are inclusive of international audiences.
• Plans and executes international admitted-student programming in coordination with committee for admitted student experience.
• Hires, trains, and manages student employees who support international connections and initiatives; serves on committee of student supervisors.
• Plays point on programming for international counselors; serves on cross-team committee for counselor outreach.
• Supports annual reporting on international initiatives.
• Assists Director of International Admissions in liaising with on-campus partners, including Financial Aid, the Office of International Students and Scholars, Alumni Relations, Northwestern Qatar, and the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.
• As member of the Recruitment Team, supports projects and initiatives as needed.
• Miscellaneous Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in college admission/recruiting or equivalent higher education experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Strong speaking/communication skills and ability to speak effectively before audiences of up to 500 or more.
• Ability to communicate inclusively with all members of Northwestern community (students, faculty, staff, alumni) as well as prospective students and families from around the world.
• Requires frequent business travel by plane. A valid US driver’s license is recommended.
• Valid passport and willingness to travel abroad.
• Ability to work effectively with time and volume pressures. Must be able to meet deadlines.
• Ability to meet department and University goals.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours including evening and weekends.
• Requires independent judgment, discretion and diplomacy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's degree or higher.
• Background in highly selective college admissions.
• Experience with international admissions.
• Knowledge of secondary and tertiary international academic credentials.
• Knowledge of Slate CRM.
• Experience with financial aid processes.
• Foreign language ability.
• Familiarity with Northwestern.
• Creative, innovative, and highly organized.
• Collaborative spirit and sense of humor.

Benefits

• At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs.
• Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
• Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.