ABOUT WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY:

Willamette University, founded in 1842, is a nationally-renowned private university enrolling 2800 students across five colleges. Our historic campus, adjacent to the Oregon State Capitol, hosts a distinguished undergraduate liberal arts college in Salem, Oregon. Our downtown Portland campus is home to the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). We offer a wide range of professional graduate programs, including Oregon’s top-ranked MBA program, the Northwest’s oldest law school, as well as MA/MFA programs at PNCA and master’s degrees in data science and computer science.

Willamette University provides a high-value and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our Benefits Summary includes options for health, dental, life insurance, retirement, substantial paid time off, tuition and more. If you need assistance applying for a job or have any questions on recruitment at Willamette, please contact our HR Department, hr@willamette.edu or call us at 503-370-6210.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Senior Assistant Director of Admissions is essential to supporting the mission and enrollment goals of Willamette University and to ensuring the current and future academic quality and fiscal health of the University.

This position reports directly to the Director of Recruitment. The Senior Assistant Director of Admissions will take primary responsibility for coordinating the competitive scholarships program for Willamette College’s Office of Admissions. This will include coordination of application preparation and website updates, liaising with faculty, training application readers both in and out of the office of admissions, and maintaining a complex application and decision release schedule. This position will ensure that updated scholarship letters are prepared and released, that the scholarship details are met and fulfilled within the donor agreement parameters, and that the appropriate number of scholarships are offered to meet University budgets.

The Senior Assistant Director of Admissions also participates as part of Willamette College’s Admissions team in all admission-related activities including, but not limited to, management of an admission territory; high school visitations and University representation at college fairs; correspondence, telephone and email contacts; conducting on-and-off campus interviews; implementation of on-and off-campus events; review of applicant files; participation in merit scholarship recommendations; and daily execution of the communication and yield strategy for admitted students.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As a member of the recruitment team, the senior assistant director:

• Meets or exceeds enrollment goals from the designated travel territory for Willamette college

• Performs six to eight weeks of admissions-related travel annually, including high school visits, college fairs, receptions for prospective and admitted students, off-campus interviews, counselor events, and professional conferences

• Works collaboratively with the admissions team to manage the assigned territory and exercises discretion in planning for travel, receptions and other special events 

• Executes a prescribed telephone and email communication plan that follows the continuum from inquiry to application to matriculation in support of overall admissions and net revenue goals

• Conducts extensive on- and off-campus admissions interviews for prospective students, including time for parents/family members; documents the interview in a formal written evaluation which is included in the applicant’s file

• Conducts presentations to prospective students and their parents/families during on-campus visits. Presentations require knowledge of general information regarding Willamette university and specific information regarding admission policies and procedures as well as financial aid opportunities

• Reviews applications for admission for the assigned territory and recommends students for admission or for review by the admissions committee; must exercise good judgment regarding the academic, personal and co-curricular qualities Willamette desires in its student body; requires review and interpretation of transcripts, recommendations, standardized test scores, essays, interview notes and other information provided by the applicant 

• Serves as a member of the admissions committee during application file review

• Supports and participates in social networking initiatives for the office of admissions (discord, facebook, twitter, instagram, blogs etc.)

• Safeguards the confidentiality of student, staff and university information by exercising discretion in communicating information to faculty, staff, parents, alumni and current and prospective students, and in handling departmental records and files and similar confidential materials

• Demonstrates the highest professional demeanor and ethical behavior while representing the university

• Exhibits outstanding speaking, writing and listening skills

• Reads widely to remain current in external market conditions and identify best admission practices

• Performs other duties as assigned
   

The senior assistant director of admissions will lead the college’s competitive scholarship program:

• Coordinates scholarship application preparation and website updates

• Liaises with faculty

• Trains scholarship application readers both in and out of the office of admissions

• Maintains a complex application and decision release schedule

• Reviews and updates scholarship award letters

• Ensure that updated scholarship letters are prepared and released

• Ensures that the scholarship details are met and fulfilled within the donor agreement parameters

• Tracks awarding to ensure an appropriate number of scholarships are offered to meet university budget goals

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably from an independent residential liberal arts college 

• A minimum of four years of experience working in admissions or a related field 

• Extensive knowledge of a university environment and undergraduate admission

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to describe university programs and campus culture. The ability to articulate the value and benefits of a liberal arts education to a variety of audiences is essential 

• Ability to work independently as well as establish and maintain collegial relations with other university staff, faculty and students

• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a close and integrated team of admission professionals 

• Demonstrated commitment to working with students from underrepresented groups with the goal of building a culturally diverse educational environment

• Ability to plan, organize and implement programs and projects related to the university’s enrollment goals is required

• Ability to maintain confidentiality when working with sensitive or protected information

• Ability to plan and execute travel independently and responsibly

• Technological skills to support territory management as well as daily contact with students, faculty, staff and others

• Appreciation for college-age students and the varied nature and expectations of serving that population  

• Willingness to take direction 

• Valid driver’s license
   

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education or other related discipline
   

Typical Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

• Many evening and weekend programs throughout the year

• Six to eight weeks of travel which may be outside of standard working hours
   

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Routine need to lift and carry travel materials

• Drive a car and golf cart

• Travel independently on planes, in ride shares, and by rental car

• Read for several hours consecutively on a laptop screen

• Ability to speak by phone, email and text

• Comfort with significant personal interactions with students, parents, coaches, counselors, faculty, staff, and alumni

Salary: $62,180

You will need to upload the following two documents as part of your application materials in the "My Experience" section labeled Resume:

• Cover letter addressing the required/desired qualifications and presenting any other applicant characteristics which deserve emphasis

• Current Resume

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

​Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Typical work schedule

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT:
All University positions require that candidates submit to a criminal conviction record check prior to hire. Conviction does not automatically preclude candidates from being hired. Nature of conviction will be considered relative to the duties of the position.
 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICANTS:

Please read the following carefully before beginning the online application process. To be considered for employment at Willamette University, please complete our online employment application. Your application and all required attachments -- listed at the bottom of the page -- must be submitted for each individual job post that you are interested in applying. Once you submit your application you will not be able to edit your application.