Associate Director of Admissions

Position Title: Associate Director of Admissions
# of Positions to Fill: 1
Department/Program: Admissions 62100
Remote Work Authorization: Hybrid On-Site/Remote
Campus Location: Nalanda Campus
Reports to: Assistant Vice President for Admissions and Strategic Initiatives
FLSA Classification: Exempt/Salaried
FTE: 100% (40 hrs/week)
Compensation: $$72,000-80,000 annually

Application Deadline: 9/14 or until filled

Job Summary
The Associate Director of Admissions serves as a key leader within the Admissions team, supporting the overall recruitment, admission, and onboarding of new degree seeking students across Naropa University’s graduate and undergraduate programs. This role supervises full-time professional staff and will serve as the lead staff member for the admissions interview and application review process.

The Associate Director works closely with the Associate Vice President of Admissions and Strategic Initiatives to support day-to-day admissions operations, team effectiveness, and achievement of the University’s enrollment goals. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated strengths in direct supervision, customer service, event management, and relationship building, along with a commitment to creating a welcoming and student-centered admissions experience.

Job Duties & Responsibilities
• Develop, implement, and co-lead in partnership with the Associate Vice President of Admissions and Strategic Initiatives, recruitment and enrollment strategies aligned with Naropa’s mission and strategic priorities, and enrollment goals.
• Supervise full-time admissions counselors, student outreach representatives, and student ambassadors including hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Manage an assigned applicant pool of prospective students including recruitment, inquiry conversion, application review, financial aid guidance and yield activities.
• Lead and support prospective student day events including open hours, admitted student events, information sessions, and other on-campus or virtual programs as needed.
• Oversee, manage, and monitor departmental mass communication to prospective and admitted students.
• Lead interview sessions including student and faculty preparation and coordination. Ensure faculty interviewers have appropriate annual training, as required.
• Serve as admissions liaison to the Graduate School of Counseling and the Graduate Collective and other schools or programs as needed.
• Monitor the accuracy of applicant and student records in the University’s CRM including, application data, biographical data, test scores, and educational records, and other admissions data.
• Ensure Admissions staff have timely and accurate information on Naropa’s curricular and co-curricular programs, planning, and policies.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging practices, trends, and regulations within admissions and enrollment management through list-serves, conference attendance, and research with particular attention to the international, transfer, veteran, and returning student fields.
• Serve as Designated School Official (DSO), including, but not limited to, undergoing SEVIS training, reviewing documentation for international students, and issuing immigration documents.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable federal, state, accreditation, and institutional requirements related to admissions and recruitment, and help ensure the integrity, consistency, and compliance of admissions practices, processes, and communications, including adherence to U.S. Department of Education and accreditor expectations.
• May serve in place of the Associate Vice President of Admissions and Strategic Initiatives when needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
• A Masters degree in any field. Without Masters degree, for consideration candidates must possess a minimum of four (4) years of prior experience in a higher education admissions leadership role.
• Six or more years of experience in higher education administration, customer service, sales, or a related field
• Knowledge, understanding and experience working with students and families from racial and economic groups underrepresented in higher education.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Strong sense of initiative and self-direction, a high level of motivation and a strong work ethic.
• A commitment to quality teamwork.
• A positive attitude, sense of humor, and service orientation.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Outlook, Explorer, data base entry/management and social networking programs.
• Ability to travel up to 4 weeks per year.
• Valid Driver’s License which has been unrestricted for at least 3 years and a satisfactory driving record.
• Ability to accommodate evenings and weekend work.
• Oversee, edit, and keep current Naropa.edu webpages relevant to Admissions; act as Admissions liaison with Naropa web manager.
• Coordinate with GSC and Grad Collective management of the Student Ambassador program
• Prior experience and/or interest in progressive and contemplative education.
• All job candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of and appreciation for the values of Naropa University and the capacity to demonstrate an integration and embodiment of these values as evidenced in work, communication, collaboration styles, and other general workplace behaviors.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Three (3) years of progressive experience working in the field of recruitment and/or admissions or a related field
• Interest in and knowledge of higher education, specifically contemplative education as offered at Naropa University
• Familiarity with the vision and mission of Naropa University
• Demonstrated supervisory skills
• Bilingual or conversant in Spanish

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, and Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s.

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following: medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer/institution). Additional information can be found here: https://www.cic.edu/member-services/tuition-exchange-program. 

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.

JOB CODE: AY2627 0037

Salary : $72,000 - $80,000