Assistant Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, Penn GSE

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Director of Recruitment and Financial Aid, alongside the Senior Assistant Director, the Assistant Director of Admissions & Financial Aid will be an integral part of the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid and contribute to a variety of key functions within the Office. The incumbent will assist with organizing and executing on-campus, off-campus, and virtual events. The Assistant Director will also participate in these various recruitment and yield events. The tracking of event attendance numbers, budget expenditures, and pre-and post-event communications and set-up will be a critical component of the role. Finally, the Assistant Director will work closely with other members of the Admissions team and GSE faculty to review applications for admission consideration to GSE's graduate programs.

A valid US driver's license, ability to secure a US passport, an openness to travel domestically and internationally, and ability to work some nights & weekends, are major requirements of this position.

Key Duties

• Help plan on-campus and virtual events: secure event space; negotiate contracts with caterers; coordinate logistics; coordinate participation from students, alumni, faculty speakers and program staff; and summarize attendance records. Set up registration forms, event communication, and post events in both CRM and on the web. Manage post-event activity, including attendance tracking, communications, and comparative data reports.
• Attend recruitment and yield events representing Penn GSE both on and off-campus, to include domestic and/or international travel. Deliver admissions and financial aid presentations to prospective and admitted students. Assist the Director of Recruitment & Financial Aid with the development of future recruitment strategies.
• Review and evaluate admission applications of graduate students for the purpose of making either admissions recommendations or decisions. Work closely with other members of the Admissions team, GSE program managers and faculty to select candidates for admission.
• Provide financial aid information to prospective and current students. Counsel students on their overall financial aid offer, loan acquisition and repayment options, and the tuition and billing process. Answer student inquiries related to their personal financial situation and aid. Assist in applying scholarship funds to students' accounts and resolving billing issues.
• Assist prospective students, applicants, and admitted students by responding to their inquiries by email, phone, and in-person.
• Perform additional duties as needed

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL:

• A Bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education & experience required.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; ability to represent the school with credibility and professionalism & exhibit a high level of customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to long-term planning, set priorities, and align operations with institutional or departmental goals; Leads or oversees complex projects, often involving multiple partners and timelines.
• Must be able to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Skilled at managing services, systems, or processes with measurable impact; Ability to identify and respond to challenges proactively and constructively.

PREFERRED:

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or large organizational setting; Familiarity with compliance requirements and institutional policies.
• Experience working in student recruitment and/or school admissions.
• Experience planning in-person and virtual events
• Budget oversight experience, including forecasting, tracking, and financial stewardship.

Expected Salary Range: $65,000 - $67,000, commensurate with experience

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Graduate School of Education

Pay Range
$57,500.00 - $67,000.00 Annual Rate

All applicants must submit a cover letter along with their resume/CV. Cover letters may be uploaded to the same section as the resume/CV section.