Admission Counselor, International Recruitment

Position Summary

Whitworth University is seeking an admissions representative to join our team of dedicated admission professionals. This position will be based on campus in Spokane, Washington or remote in the Greater Seattle Area. The position will recruit both domestic and international students. As an Admissions Counselor at Whitworth, you will engage prospective students and parents in all phases of the recruitment process and play a pivotal role in advancing the university's recruitment and retention efforts. If you are passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable future in higher education, and enjoy international travel, we invite you to apply.

Serving as an Admission Counselor at Whitworth offers a unique opportunity to grow as a professional with a passion for Christian higher education. Successful candidates will be part of the Promotional Pathways for Admissions. The Promotional Pathways for Admissions is a program that creates professional development opportunities for Admission Counselors to develop their skills and abilities in recruitment and receive promotions based on their progress. More details will be shared throughout the search process and here is a quick outline:

• Admissions Counselor (by meeting key performance goals over 12-18 months an admissions counselor can be considered for promotion to Senior Admissions Counselor)
• Senior Admissions Counselor (by meeting key performance goals over 12-18 months a Senior Admissions counselor can be considered for promotion to Assistant Director)
• Assistant Director

Core Responsibilities

Recruitment and Travel | 35%

• Represent Whitworth at recruitment functions including high school/community college visits, college fairs, alumni events, activities of community-based organizations, etc., in an assigned geographic territory. This position travels domestically and internationally, including evening and weekend commitments, in the fall and spring.
• Support the management of a recruitment territory, including maintaining historical travel records, key school/alumni contacts, regional higher education trends, and outcomes.
• Serve as Whitworth's first contact and primary representative to prospective students and families from diverse backgrounds, communicating an in-depth knowledge of the university's mission, academic and co-curricular programs, and other distinctive offerings throughout the recruitment process.

International Student Support | 15%

• Serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) for the Department of Homeland Security's Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
• Advise faculty, staff, and students on regulatory compliance.
• Issue immigration documents and update SEVIS records for incoming F-1 visa students and post-graduate OPT students.
• Assist the PDSO in ensuring the institution maintains continual compliance and certification to enroll international students.
• Collaborate with key institutional stakeholders on international student retention and success efforts.

On-campus Events | 20% (depending on remote or on-campus)

• Promote and participate in on-campus visit programs for prospective students. This will involve several evening and weekend commitments throughout the year.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of the department's master calendar in relation to recruitment events, campus visit programs, correspondence, and other enrollment activities.
• Assist in providing adequate staffing in the office and across campus during the peak visit season, large recruitment events, and other times as needed.

Relationship Building | 20%

• Engage prospective students in ongoing communication through face-to-face meetings, email, written correspondence, phone calls, texting, and social media. Maintain a strong customer service orientation with timely responses to inquiries and questions.
• Serve as a liaison to connect prospective students with key university offices such as Financial Aid, Student Life, Academics, Athletics, etc.
• Review and evaluate undergraduate admissions applications and make admissions decisions based on students' ability to be successful at Whitworth.

Other | 10%

• Serve as an active member of the admissions team, contributing to the development and implementation of strategies to achieve the university's enrollment goals.
• Review university communications and stay current on programs and policies to provide accurate information to prospective students about the opportunities available at Whitworth.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to stay current on best practices in the recruitment and retention of international and domestic undergraduate students.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the Director.

Qualifications | Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Education and Experience

• A bachelor's degree is preferred and Whitworth considers candidates with a wide range of educational backgrounds. We value the skills and knowledge candidates bring to Whitworth, regardless of the paths they have taken to acquire them.
• Work experience that matches the responsibilities of the position.

Whitworth Values

• A personal commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith and learning.
• Demonstrated growth in cultural competence, awareness of societal and structural inequities, and proven experience in effectively establishing relationships and positive communications with students and other constituents across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, varying abilities, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, class or religious perspectives.
• A commitment to the educational mission of Whitworth University as a comprehensive Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church

Travel

• Availability and commitment to travel for extended periods (with approximately 8-10 weeks in the fall and 2-4 weeks in the spring).
• Availability and commitment to work several evenings and weekends throughout the year providing office and visit support as needed.
• The physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs. as well as bending, stooping, and kneeling to set up and take down admissions displays.
• A valid driver's license.
• Must be either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; required for DSO status and access to SEVIS system.
• Willingness to travel internationally for recruitment purposes at least two times per year.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work with Microsoft Office products such as Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; experience working with a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) or relational database program preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, exercise independent judgment, prioritize work, and manage time effectively in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a part of a team.
• Bilingual abilities in Spanish preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• University experience desirable.
• International higher education recruitment experience desirable.
• Experience working with high school students and their parents/guardians.

Position Details

Schedule

Full Time (1.0FTE) | 12-months | 40 hours per week

Whitworth standard office hours are 8 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday

A background check and sexual misconduct check will be required of the successful candidate. A resume, cover letter, faith statement, and names, email addresses, and phone numbers of at least three (3) professional references will also be required.