Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions

Job Summary:

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is seeking candidates for Admissions Counselor and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions opportunities. Both positions play an important role in recruiting and enrolling talented first-year students through high school outreach, prospective student engagement, territory management, application evaluation, and relationship building with students, families, and school counselors.

Position level will be determined based on the selected candidate's education, directly related experience, skills, qualifications, and demonstrated level of responsibility.

The Admissions Counselor is an early-career opportunity focused on hands-on student recruitment, assigned territory management, application review, student advising, and recruitment event coordination.

The Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions is an experienced opportunity with greater responsibility for recruitment strategy, major initiatives, application evaluation, data-informed decision-making, yield programming, and training or mentoring counselor-level staff.

Both positions require significant travel throughout assigned recruitment territories, including overnight and multi-day travel. Regular evening and weekend availability is required during peak recruitment and yield periods.

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. 

Consideration for Position Level

Candidates will be considered for the appropriate position based on their education, directly related experience, skills, qualifications, and demonstrated level of responsibility.

Admissions Counselor

The Admissions Counselor is an early-career recruitment position responsible for managing an assigned recruitment territory and engaging prospective first-year students, families, and school counselors. The position focuses on executing recruitment activities, advising prospective students, reviewing applications, analyzing territory data, and supporting recruitment events and programs.

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

The Assistant Director is an experienced admissions professional who assumes greater responsibility for recruitment strategy, major recruitment initiatives, application evaluation, data analysis, yield programming, and special projects. This position also provides training, guidance, and mentorship to counselor-level staff and may serve on admission committees or as a school liaison for designated populations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Admissions Counselor

• Bachelor's degree required.
• One to two (1–2) years of related experience in college admissions, advising, student affairs, or a related field.

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

• 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:

Admissions Counselor

• Experience in higher education, particularly undergraduate admissions or student recruitment.
• Prior postsecondary recruitment experience.
• Experience using Slate CRM and Banner or similar higher education systems.
• Valid U.S. driver's license.

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

• Experience in higher education, particularly undergraduate or graduate admissions.
• Experience managing recruitment territories, programs, or special projects.
• Experience with application evaluation and admissions processes.
• Experience using data and analytics to inform recruitment strategies and enrollment decisions.
• Experience providing training, guidance, or mentorship to admissions staff.
• Banner Student Information System (SIS) experience.
• Valid U.S. driver's license.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Common to Both Positions

• Ability to clearly present RPI's value proposition to prospective students and families.
• Ability to establish productive relationships with prospective students, families, high school counselors, and school-based partners.
• Ability to plan and execute recruitment activities within assigned high school territories.
• Ability to use enrollment and recruitment data to assess territory performance and support recruitment planning.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, Slate or a similar CRM and Banner or a similar student information system.
• Strong communication, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Admissions Counselor

• Ability to facilitate and manage recruitment activities within an assigned territory.
• Ability to advise prospective students and families regarding admission requirements, academic programs, campus life, and the RPI student experience.
• Ability to learn and apply admissions and recruitment policies, procedures, and processes.
• Ability to maintain accurate recruitment and applicant information in the CRM.

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

• Proficiency with Slate or a similar CRM, including query writing, communication management, workflow execution, dashboards, and territory analytics.
• Ability to interpret territory analytics and enrollment funnel metrics, including conversion, melt, and yield rates, to inform recruitment strategy and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate STEM curricular pathways, including engineering, computer science, physical sciences, life sciences, and mathematics, and advise prospective students and families on prerequisite preparation and major selection.
• Familiarity with AP, IB, A-Level, and dual enrollment evaluation standards, particularly in STEM disciplines.
• Ability to develop and implement recruitment strategies, programs, protocols, and special initiatives.
• Ability to provide guidance, training, and mentorship to counselor-level staff.

Preferred Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Admissions Counselor

• Experience using Slate CRM and Banner or similar higher education systems.
• Knowledge of undergraduate admissions and recruitment processes.
• Ability to use recruitment and enrollment data to support territory planning and recruitment activities.
• Ability to effectively communicate RPI’s value proposition, academic programs, and admission requirements to prospective students and families.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions

• Banner Student Information System (SIS) experience preferred, including familiarity with student records management, admissions processing, registration, academic records, reporting, and data entry within a higher education environment. Ability to effectively navigate and utilize Banner to support admissions and enrollment operations is highly desirable.
• Advanced proficiency with Slate or a similar CRM, including query writing, communication management, workflow execution, dashboards, and territory analytics.
• Ability to interpret enrollment funnel metrics, including conversion, melt, and yield rates, to inform recruitment strategy and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate STEM curricular pathways, including engineering, computer science, physical sciences, life sciences, and mathematics, and advise prospective students and families on prerequisite preparation and major selection.
• Familiarity with AP, IB, A-Level, and dual enrollment evaluation standards, particularly in STEM disciplines.

Representative Job Duties:

Representative Job Duties
Admissions Counselor and Assistant Director

• Recruits prospective first-year students within assigned territories, representing RPI at high schools, college fairs, community events, and other recruitment programs.
• Builds and maintains relationships with prospective students, families, high school counselors, and other school-based partners.
• Advises prospective students and families on admission requirements, academic programs, campus life, and the RPI student experience.
• Conducts holistic reviews of first-year application files, approximately 15–25 daily during peak reading season.
• Analyzes territory and enrollment data to evaluate recruitment activities and support data-informed recruitment planning.
• Maintains accurate and timely information in the CRM.
• Presents admissions and information sessions and participates in webinars and other prospective student programming.
• Identifies and registers for high school open houses, college nights, and other recruitment events within assigned territories.
• Coordinates recruitment event logistics, including registration deadlines, event schedules, booth setup, and materials preparation.
• Participates in campus recruitment events, including required evening and weekend programming.
• Supports yield programming, including admitted student communications, yield events, and deposit conversion activities.
• Advises prospective honors candidates and Medalist Program nominees in assigned territories, as applicable.
• Develops and maintains relationships with high school counselors within assigned territories.

Additional Assistant Director Responsibilities

• Serves on admission committees and participates in application evaluation and admissions decision-making.
• Leads major recruitment initiatives and special projects, with increasing responsibility for program development and implementation.
• Uses recruitment and enrollment analytics to evaluate performance and inform recruitment strategy.
• Trains counselor-level staff on recruitment techniques and application evaluation standards.
• Provides guidance and mentorship to counselor-level staff and contributes to the development of recruitment protocols.
• Contributes to recruitment communication strategies and territory-specific content in partnership with the Office of Marketing and Communications.
• 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:

Admissions Counselor: $26.00–$30.00 per hour

Assistant Director, Undergraduate Admissions: $62,354–$70,000 annually

Placement within the applicable salary range is based on the selected candidate's education, directly related experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.

Generally:

• Lower portion of the range: Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are developing in the role.
• Mid portion of the range: Candidates with demonstrated relevant experience who meet the minimum qualifications and possess several preferred qualifications.
• Upper portion of the range: Candidates with extensive directly related experience, a strong record of success in undergraduate admissions, and many or all of the preferred qualifications.

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

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information:

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).