Assistant Director of Admissions – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Position Description:
SUMMARY
The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) educates design, research, and scholarship leaders to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world. The GSD offers degree programs across a range of design disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, design engineering, and real estate—as well as advanced research programs that cut across these disciplines and a robust public program of lectures, exhibitions, and publications. The immense variety of people, programs, and ideas at the School sustains a vibrant and rich environment for learning, inquiry, and collaboration, unlike any other design school.
This position works as part of a team within Student Affairs and provides administrative and logistical support within the Admissions function, coordinates and provides customer service to applicants, and develops & manages fall recruitment and spring yield programs in collaboration with Director of Admissions for the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Assists with committee management for several degree programs during review process. Represents the GSD at virtual and in-person recruitment events, both on and off-campus. Provides support to school-wide Student Affairs-related events as needed (Orientation, Career Services, Commencement).
TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Recruitment Responsibilities:
• Develops and manages fall recruitment strategy, in collaboration with Director of Admissions; represents GSD’s programs at recruitment events, both on and off-campus, as well as virtually, advising prospective students on GSD programs and admissions requirements; manages branding, set-up, and outreach; conducts information sessions (recorded and live). In collaboration with the Associate Director of Admissions, this position advances recruitment goals through the creation, development, and management of Slate automated communication campaigns directed at prospective and admitted students.
• Hosts regular office hours with prospective students in the fall semester.
• Serves as admissions liaison for Development and Alumni Relations, providing information as needed and developing alumni engagement with recruitment, including tracking and responding to alumni referrals.
• Manages social media communications, develops and coordinates relevant and timely content. Develops Instagram content ideas and supervises graduate assistants on implementation. Coordinates web content updates with Associate Director pertaining to recruitment.
• Develops and manages student recruitment committees for each degree program in collaboration with department staff and faculty; supervises student recruitment liaisons and manages support for faculty recruitment efforts.
• Edits and updates annual recruitment booklet in collaboration with the Director of Admissions and the Communications Office.
• Identifies potential schools, programs, and centers for targeted recruitment and develops tailored strategies for attracting potential applicants.
Application Review and Yield Responsibilities:
• Works with departmental staff and faculty to manage admissions committee management for designated programs during review process.
• Advises incoming students on academic requirements, basics of financial aid and registrar issues, housing, and student life. Serves as point of contact for designated programs during yield season.
• Develops and supports yield events, including outreach to admitted students, developing and hosting virtual sessions, and creating content for the GSD Admissions Instagram account, with a focus on yield.
Event Coordination:
• Manages open house logistics, including room scheduling, registration, check-in, signage and branding; visiting days; and other recruitment events at the School. May also develop and manage additional recruitment events on campus: coordinates school/group visits to the GSD as they occur; collaborates with departments to arrange schedules and itineraries, and conducts information sessions as necessary.
• For virtual events, manages branding and communications for a seamless participant experience.
• Develops and maintains structure of event management within Slate.
International Student Support:
• Serves as Program Manager for English for Design program in collaboration with Boston University (logistical set-up, spring; summer program support and follow-up).
• Manages English for Design assessment and waiver process.
• In collaboration with admissions coordinator, oversees financial certification process.
• Serves as a Coordinator or GSD representative in the Harvard-wide International Working Group (IWG).
• Provides feedback/assessment to faculty and staff as needed for English for Design students throughout their time at the GSD. Acts as a resource for the library and other offices.
• Compiles information on foreign degree equivalence and grading system as well as international trends.
Additional Responsibilities:
• Analyzes metrics related to recruitment events; assists with other statistics as needed.
• Provides support for Slate, testing application updates and any needed support during application process.
• Works with Associate Director of Admissions to develop clear and accurate information in the admitted student portal, assisting with updates and testing.
• Develops initiatives in collaboration with Director of Admissions and Assoc. Director of Admissions.
Professional Development
• Required to stay updated on Slate CRM Form, Event, and Deliver best practices, attending 1-2 Slate conversations each semester, and regularly reviewing the Slate newsletter for updates.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Manages team of 2-3 work-study students who assist with clerical responsibilities of admissions process for all degree programs at the Graduate School of Design;
• Hires and trains admissions work-study students;
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• Five years of related student affairs experience, required;
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Powerpoint) and Adobe products (InDesign, Illustrator), preferred;
• Proven excellent customer service and organizational skills, required.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• College degree preferred;
• The incumbent in this position should have familiarity with Slate or other CRMs;
• Experience with relational databases and simple querying preferred;
• Flexibility, professionalism, good judgment and initiative required;
• Experience with events coordination helpful;
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
• Must be able to handle confidential information with discretion;
• Attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks in a timely manner, essential.
Additional Information:
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.
[Full-Time (Salaried)] Salary Range: 70000-80000
Schedule Requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
There are no known physical requirements associated with this position. Work is mainly performed in an office setting. Some travel may be required.
Level of English Required: Advanced/Fluent
How to Apply:
A cover letter and resume are required with the submission of your application: https://jobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?PageType=JobDetails&partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&Areq=65549BR