Pharmacy Admissions Counselor – Pharmacy

Salary:               Commensurate with experience
Benefits:           The University offers generous benefits including paid time off (holidays, holy days and vacation), employer matching contributions to the retirement plan, and tuition benefits for employees and their eligible dependents. Learn more and explore benefits at www.duq.edu/benefits
Location:                   Pharmacy
Position Status:        Full-time  (35 hours per week with some evenings and weekends)                                            
Hours:                        Varied
Position Number:    239311/10-1156               
FLSA Status:              Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY:

This Pharmacy Admissions Counselor’s specific area of responsibility and subject area specialization/expertise, in addition to the recruitment goals, is to directly support recruitment and enrollment to the School of Pharmacy and provide support for the application review process for assigned pharmacy demographics (freshmen, undergraduate transfers and graduate).  The position allows for an enhanced focus on collaboration with the EMG Office of Undergraduate Admissions.  

The Pharmacy Admissions Counselor for the School of Pharmacy acts as a liaison to Duquesne’s Enrollment Management Group (EMG), other University departments and internal offices within the School of Pharmacy.  The Pharmacy Admissions Counselor will support undergraduate and graduate recruitment and represent the School of Pharmacy at various recruitment events and meetings, including EMG meetings.

The Pharmacy Admissions Counselor serves as a representative of Duquesne University and the School of Pharmacy at both on- and off-campus recruitment events, helps to design, implement and execute undergraduate recruitment strategies and manage long-term admission goals to directly support recruitment and enrollment to the School of Pharmacy as directed by the School of Pharmacy leadership team and in cooperation with the EMG. The Pharmacy Admissions Counselor supports the application review process for School of Pharmacy applicants.

Responsibilities include the following: attract new students by maintaining working relationships with feeder high schools, external universities and internal departments; maintain the continual flow of quality applicants including transfers, by analyzing trends in enrollment and marketing activities; lead activities to continue program enrollment; present new strategies for recruitment and enrollment activities.

The Pharmacy Admissions Counselor must be a naturally persuasive individual and creative problem solver who thrives in an upbeat environment with varied working hours. A self-motivated, enthusiastic, goal-oriented individual with superior presentation, organizational, and interpersonal skills and will have demonstrated ability to follow direction, problem solve, manage multiple priorities and meet goals. This is a sales-like admissions and prospect management approach to a designated recruitment environment where recruiters are responsible for reaching enrollment and net revenue goals assigned to them.  Daily responsibilities include communication with a large number of prospective students through heavy phone and texting outreach. Personal emails, notes, individual appointments, and group presentations are also expected.  This position will involve the planning of prospective student recruitment activities, extensive outreach and travel.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Recruits undergraduate, transfer and graduate students to achieve School of Pharmacy enrollment objectives:  

In consultation with the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention, Dean and senior staff, develop, articulate, implement, and evaluate a thoughtful and comprehensive strategic enrollment/recruitment plan at the undergraduate and graduate level that addresses program targets, university-wide enrollment goals, and financial planning by employing data analysis, evaluating enrollment trends, and developing new strategies that would shape recruitment activities.

Daily responsibilities include communication with a large number of prospective students through heavy phone and texting outreach. Personal emails, notes, individual appointments, and group presentations are also expected.

Manages outreach, travel and special events such as Pharmacy Group Information Sessions, DUQ Days, Admitted Students Day, Pharmacy Exploration Days, High School Counselor Events and others.

Includes evening and weekend work, extensive phone use and telemarketing, travel, and directive counseling for individuals and groups.

Makes recommendations to improve recruitment tactics.

Must become knowledgeable about all aspects of Duquesne University including academic programs, campus events and activities, orientation, athletics, housing, financial aid, billing, school policy, and important dates. 

Uses phone, email, IM, and texting to communicate with applicants.

Cultivates, engages, and persuades prospective students to close recruitment process. Always qualifies conversation and generates next steps (application, enrollment deposit, FAFSA, housing application, registration, etc.).

Determines the best next contact for each of the prospects in the territory.  This involves regular use of all available tools, including both printed and web information collected for this purpose and engagement of members of the campus community, i.e., faculty, alumni, current students, coaches and parents of current students. 

Creates and establishes a relationship with high schools and colleges and develop a feeder network. Travel to schools within feeder network to give classroom presentations. Work with EMG undergraduate admissions team to coordinate school visits with or without EMG representation. Enter all inquiries obtained from visits into Slate database.

Build and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with high school counselors to establish a trusted network that supports prospective pharmacy students. Leverage these partnerships to increase awareness of pharmacy career pathways, identify and engage qualified students, and create a consistent pipeline of applicants. Utilize this network to promote and coordinate High School Counselor events on campus, fostering meaningful connections, providing valuable program insights, and enhancing the overall recruitment strategy.

Leads Pharmacy group information sessions and also meet one-on-one with parents and prospective students to provide information and assist in the application process; gives School of Pharmacy tours.

Cultivates relationships with alumni, guidance counselors and other constituents in the territory to assist with the recruitment process.

Liaises with/support application review process for School of Pharmacy.

Performs and communicates results of analyses requested by School leadership; provide weekly updates regarding strategies and tracking enrollment quotas to the appropriate ADEMAR and Dean.

Represents the University at off-campus recruitment events. Requires the coordination and execution of a personal travel schedule (travel may occur both in- and out-of-state on weekdays and weekends throughout the year).

Manages travel budget on a university procurement card.

Works with the School’s Director of Operations and Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention and Manager of Marketing & Communications to develop annual marketing plans and recruitment materials for all programs.

Perform other related duties as assigned in support of a dynamic, goal-oriented team.

Travel up to 25% of the time is required.

Completes other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited educational institution.

Valid PA Driver’s License.

Preferred qualifications:

Minimum of 1-3 years' experience in recruitment, marketing, event planning, and other student services or business-like environments.

Strong technology skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Banner, Slate, social media and integrated database.

Alternatively, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Demonstrated planning and organizational skills to accommodate multiple priorities.

Exceptional leadership, customer service, interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.

Effective public speaking and presentation skills.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize work.

Ability to think strategically and work in a diverse environment both independently and as part of a team.

Ability to lift prospective student marketing materials (~30 pounds) and travel independently.

Ability to maintain a high energy level with an enthusiastic, positive approach creating an excellent rapport with prospective students and their parents, team members and other departments within the University community.

Professional demeanor with the ability to deal with people in a courteous and tactful fashion regardless of circumstances.

Ability to work additional hours and weekends during peak recruitment periods.

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse populations, including students, faculty, scholars, and staff with sensitivity to the need of each individual to be treated with dignity and respect as it relates to the Mission of the University specifically.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community.

Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University.  The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.  Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit.  Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.