Assistant Director of Community Outreach, Diversity Admissions (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access fuel innovation and creativity and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863 UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching research scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valuedand thrives and offers a full range of undergraduate graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental social economic and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Community Outreach will plan administer and implement strategies regarding undergraduate student recruitment selection and yield enterprise to meet institutional undergraduate admission and enrollment goals with a focus on building partnerships within Western Massachusetts and local communities.

Essential Functions

Recruitment and Outreach

• Supports and recruits in Western MA community by hosting financial aid and application workshops at high schools and community-based organizations in the area.
• Develops and implements a plan to achieve the goal of increasing applications and enrollment. Uses data to research investigate and monitor trends to develop a comprehensive communication and recruitment plan. Develops and implements strategies to aid the University in creating and maintaining a diverse community.
• Plans and conducts in-person and virtual recruitment travel following university and office travel policies. Represents UMass Amherst by visiting high schools community-based organizations and college and career fairs. Conducts large and small group presentations. Tracks fiscal expenditures to maintain budget targets. Manages and orders publications needed for specific travel regions.
• Represents UMass Amherst at formal on- and off-campus recruitment and yield information sessions and events. Conveys key admissions policies procedures and institutional messages to the public prospective applicants and families to demonstrate how UMass Amherst can meet their academic and career goals.
• Communicates with prospective students school and community organization counselors and parents. Serves in a public relations and information role by analyzing individual circumstances answering questions researching and solving problems by determining the most appropriate course of action. Provides detailed information on a variety of subjects including but not limited to admission academics financial aid student life and residential life.

Application Evaluation and Decisions

• Manages the application review of the most competitive schools colleges and/or majors at the with academic deans and staff in the schools colleges and majors as well as other application readers in evaluating and making admissions decisions.
• Individually reviews and evaluates first-year admissions applications (domestic and international). Determines eligibility by evaluating the academic and non-academic credentials based on established criteria.
• Analyzes makes recommendations and participates in the decision-making process on candidates whose applications need further review.
• Serves as an active member of application review team(s) which are responsible for meeting admission goals for individual academic schools colleges and departments.

Strategic Planning and Program Development

• Develops and presents a budget to plan execute and evaluate events for application and yield growth.
• Serves as active member of territory strategic planning teams in accordance with overall undergraduate recruitment and enrollment goals.
• Develops and implements first-year recruitment and enrollment initiatives that help meet the strategic recruitment and enrollment goals of the university.
• Assists with campus-wide recruitment and enrollment efforts related to enrolling undergraduate students including on- and off-campus events in collaboration with campus partners.

Project and Team Collaboration

• Acts as a project/program manager under the direction of the Director of First-Year Admissions on medium- to large-sized projects/programs by establishing and executing project plans timelines tasks and objectives to support the assigned project/program.
• Works collaboratively with admissions colleagues enrollment division staff and personnel from other departments within the university on internal special and/or standing teams and/or committees.
• Acts as office point person for local UMass Amherst initiatives.

Other Functions

• Reads transfer applications for admission when necessary.
• Keeps abreast of pertinent developments at the university in higher education and in the field of professional admission work.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• Bachelors degree and one year of professional experience as an admissions counselor/recruiter high school counselor or financial aid counselor.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the undergraduate experience at a major research university.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively with high school students their families and college counselors in a variety of settings to speak and write clearly and persuasively and to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Must be sensitive to multicultural and socioeconomic issues.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of relevant technology to make presentations and analyze data.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the academic year and the flexibility to work on weekends and evenings as needed.
• Ability to read analyze and make admissions decisions based on applications high school transcripts recommendations etc.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to prioritize and to achieve goals and objectives while managing multiple concurrent priorities.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• Experience counseling high school students in their college application process and filling out the FAFSA.
• Prior experience working in a large public research university.
• Demonstrated competency in analyzing data and translating program goals into successful operating plans.
• Previous experience with a customer relations management system.
• Bilingual (Spanish preferred).
• Valid drivers license.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday Friday 8:30AM to 5:00PM.
• Required to work some evenings and weekends.
• Required to travel up to 10 weeks per year for both in- and out-of-state recruitment.
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employees work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective
  bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 26

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.