Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions
Job Summary:
The Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions provides hands-on management of key first-year recruitment projects, supports application evaluation processes, and represents RPI within assigned recruitment territories focused on high school outreach and first-year student recruitment. This position requires the ability to travel domestically and internationally. Regular weekend and evening availability is required during fall recruitment and spring yield seasons.
Who we are:
Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎
Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world.
With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
- Minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience working in an admissions office at a postsecondary educational institution.
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in higher education, especially graduate or undergraduate admissions
- Valid driver's license.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Slate or similar CRM proficiency including query writing, communication management, and reading workflow execution
- Familiarity with CRM dashboards, territory analytics, and enrollment funnel metrics (conversion rates, melt rates, yield rates)
- Demonstrated ability to articulate STEM curricular pathways including engineering, computer science, physical sciences, life sciences, and mathematics, and to advise prospective students and families on prerequisite preparation and major selection at a research-intensive institution
- Familiarity with AP, IB, A-Level, and dual enrollment evaluation standards in STEM disciplines
Preferred Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:
- Banner Student Information System (SIS) experience preferred, including familiarity with student records management, admissions processing, registration functions, academic records, reporting, and data entry within a higher education environment. Ability to navigate and utilize Banner effectively to support admissions and enrollment operations is highly desirable.
Representative Job Duties:
- Recruits prospective first-year students in assigned regions, representing RPI at high schools, college fairs, and community events.
- Conducts holistic reviews of first-year application files, serves on admission committees, and evaluates performance using analytics.
- Builds and maintains strong relationships with high school counselors in assigned territories.
- Supports yield programming, including admitted student communications, yield event staffing, and deposit conversion activities.
- Advises prospective honors candidates and Medalist Program nominees in assigned territories.
- Leads major recruitment initiatives and special projects with increasing responsibility for program development.
- Trains counselor-level staff on recruitment techniques and application evaluation standards, develops recruitment protocols, and contributes to communication strategy.
- Contributes territory-specific content to recruitment communications in partnership with the Office of Marketing and Communications.
- Identifies and registers for high school open house events and college night programs within the assigned territory, coordinating logistics including registration deadlines, event schedules, booth setup, and materials.
- Supports campus recruitment events, including required evening and weekend programming.
- May serve as a school liaison for underrepresented populations in STEM and students with disabilities, as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned in support of departmental and institutional objectives.
Shift:
Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required
Travel:
Travel is a significant component of the position (greater than 25%)
- Ability to travel extensively throughout assigned recruitment territories, including frequent overnight, multi-day, as required to represent the Institute at high schools, college fairs, recruitment programs, and other outreach events.
- Ability to independently coordinate and manage travel logistics, including transportation, lodging, and scheduling, while maintaining a demanding travel schedule during peak recruitment periods that may require 8–10 weeks of travel annually.
- Ability to travel to and from recruitment locations using available transportation methods, including rental vehicles, personal vehicles, air travel, rail, public transportation, and ride-share services, as appropriate.
- Experience operating a motor vehicle and a valid driver's license are preferred, as the position frequently requires travel to locations where driving may be the most practical or efficient means of transportation.
Starting Salary/Rate:
Expected hiring range: $62,354
Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.
Application instructions:
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.
Job Posted Date:
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
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