Director of Admission Recruitment

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

This role plays a pivotal part in shaping the future of Whitman College by attracting and enrolling a diverse and talented student body, in alignment with the College’s commitment to academic excellence, equity, and inclusion. Reporting to the Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid, the Director of Admission Recruitment directs all student recruitment and application review. The Director provides strategic oversight of the recruitment team, including direct supervision of Assistant and Associate Directors and indirect supervision of Admission Officers. In close partnership with the Vice President, the Director helps shape recruitment strategy and drives the implementation of student outreach, recruitment, evaluation, admission, and yield initiatives. As a key member of the leadership team, the Director represents the Vice President at meetings, serves as a senior advisor to the Vice President, and engages with the media to raise the public profile of the College.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Recruitment Strategy (40%)

• Partner with the Vice President for Admission & Financial Aid to establish strategic, data-driven policies and processes to achieve the College’s enrollment goals.


• Participate in institutional planning and policy development regarding enrollment and student retention. 


• Provide data-driven guidance for all aspects of student recruitment programs and initiatives, including developing reports, policies, and executive summaries for the President’s Cabinet and the Board of Trustees.


• Collaborate with the Director of Financial Aid and Director of Admission Operations to ensure smooth and coordinated admission and financial aid processes.


• Work with other campus and external constituents to promote a seamless and a personalized recruitment, admission, and enrollment experience for new students.

Leadership and Staff Supervision (30%)

• Provide overall leadership for all student recruitment-related activities of the College.


• Supervise, assess, and develop Assistant and Associate Directors of Admission.


• Promote a highly relational, customer-service oriented culture in the Office of Admission and across the campus.


• Actively participate in leadership-level meetings with the division, across the campus, and with admission leaders from other colleges (e.g., Northwest 5, CTCL, etc.).

Outreach and Engagement (20%)

• Travel 6-8 weeks annually on behalf of the College for student recruitment and to promote institutional visibility.


• Develop and execute strategies to engage counselors, alumni, family, and friends of the College.


• Advise students, parents, and counselors on matters related to the admission and financial aid process.

 Evolving Responsibilities (10%)

• Contribute to additional projects and initiatives as needed, adapting to evolving priorities and organizational needs.


• Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current on admission best practices, applying new knowledge to enhance admission recruitment efforts.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Ability to articulate the value of higher education and a liberal arts college experience. 


• Outstanding, demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and utilize data to inform decision-making and creative problem solving.


• Strong technical skills, including experience with a customer relationship management (CRM) system.


• Collaborative team player with the ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and lead others through evolving challenges to achieve goals. 


• Strong presentation, written, and verbal communication skills.


• Outstanding listener with strong relational skills.


• Ability to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality.


• Demonstrated experience motivating and directing the actions of others.


• Ability to actively and positively contribute to the College’s core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and access.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree.


• 5+ years of experience in admission or enrollment management in higher education or transferrable skills from the corporate or non-profit sectors.


• Must possess a valid driver’s license with three years of driving experience, and be able to pass a motor vehicle report.


• OR a combination of relevant education, training and experience.

Whitman College values diverse pathways to acquiring skills and knowledge and encourages applicants to demonstrate how their background aligns with the role.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate degree in a field that provides a solid foundation for higher education administration, management, data analysis, business processes, or related fields.


• 2+ years of experience working with the Technolutions Slate CRM.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• When not traveling, work is primarily performed in a private office, with the option of up to 20% hybrid work per week.

BENEFITS 

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission – Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Relocation assistance for eligible employees. 

Learn more about benefits eligibility here. 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin on July 21, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. 

START DATE

September 2025