• Job Description

  Req#: JR4116

  Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

  Job Description:

  Amherst College invites applications for the position of Associate Dean of Admission. The Associate Dean is a full-time, year-round position. Given Amherst’s distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

  The Associate Dean is a critical leadership position within a highly collaborative Office of Admission. This role includes significant opportunity for admission and college access leadership on a national scale.

  The Associate Dean leads access and partnerships strategy for Amherst Admission. The Associate Dean develops and implements diversity outreach strategy utilizing data and research findings, with the Diversity Outreach team – including an Assistant Dean of Admission, Admission Counselor, and the Diversity Outreach Interns – and in collaboration with division and campus partners, including Financial Aid, the Office of Identity and Cultural Resources, the Division of Equity and Inclusion. The Associate Dean also serves as the strategic lead for diversity recruitment programs, including Access to Amherst (A2A), Early Overnight on Native Studies (EONS), and Be A Mammoth (BAM).

  The Associate Dean serves as one of the members of the admission staff responsible for first-year and transfer recruitment and evaluation, outreach both on- and off-campus, and participating as a voting member of the first-year and transfer admission committees.

  Working with the Amherst College Office of Admission requires a desire to engage on issues of antiracism and equity in educational opportunities. All members of the Amherst Admission team take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. In support of our institutional vision of expanded access, Amherst is committed to need-blind admission and generous need-based, no-loan financial aid for all students, regardless of citizenship.

  Evening and weekend work is sometimes required. This position is eligible for participation in Amherst's hybrid work program (workers must reside in Massachusetts or Connecticut to participate).

  Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

  Access and Partnerships Strategy

  • Develop and implement the diversity outreach strategy for Amherst College
  • Analyze and utilize data and research findings
  • Collaborate with division and campus partners, including Financial Aid, the Office of Identity and Cultural Resources, the Division of Equity and Inclusion,
  • Serve as the Admission lead for critical access organization/CBO relationships
  • Represent Amherst at the Northeast Consortium Bridging Access to College (NECBAC)
  • Develop and share best DEI practices with admission staff
  • Is the lead on best practices for language and terminology in outreach communications strategy, in partnership with the Director of Communications.

  Project and personnel management

  • Serve as the strategic lead for diversity recruitment programs including Access to Amherst (A2A), Early Overnight on Native Studies (EONS)
  • Serve as the strategic lead for our fly-in yield program Be A Mammoth (BAM)
  • Supervise a team of Admission officers, including an Assistant Dean (who manages 13 student diversity outreach interns) and an Admission Counselor
  • Lead collaborative teams from across the division of Admission & Financial Aid for programs such as Be A Mammoth
  • With the Assistant Dean and Admission Counselor, lead the Diversity Outreach Interns program
  • Works closely with and advises the Dean of Admission

  Student Recruitment and Evaluation

  • Create recruitment strategies and lead all aspects of recruitment travel within assigned geographic regions
  • Conduct in-person and virtual presentations and workshops for groups up to 250 prospective students, guests and counselors
  • Cultivate relationships with high-school counselors, community college advisors and Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
  • Review applications for first-year and transfer admission including primary oversight of applicants within assigned regional territories
  • Participate as a voting member of the first-year and transfer admission committees
  • Build and run queries for use and analysis in recruitment strategies, admission programs and application review via the Office of Admission’s CRM Slate

  Other

  • Participates in committees and special projects
  • Interacts and collaborates with other members of the Division of Admission & Financial Aid
  • Performs other duties as assigned
  • All employees are expected to participate in the College’s efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment

  Education and Experience:

  Required:

  • Bachelor’s Degree, or at least ten years of experience in admissions, college access, or related field in lieu of degree
  • Valid Driver’s License and successful credentialing is required in order to operate college vehicles
  • At least five years of experience in college admission, college access, or a related field with progressively increasing responsibilities
  • Ability to work effectively with constituencies that have a broad range of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds.
  • Strong presentation skills; can bring to life programming that tells the story of a dynamic residential liberal arts environment to a wide-ranging audience
  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to communicate effectively with an array of constituencies, including prospective applicants, college access organizations, parents, high school counselors, alumni, faculty and staff
  • Proficiency in and ability to quickly learn and apply software (e.g., Google Workspace/Microsoft Office, Slack, Workday, Zoom)
  • Ability to exercise good judgment and think independently while working in a dynamic team environment
  • Excellent time-management and organizational skills including the flexibility to balance multiple priorities with reliable attention to detail
  • Availability to travel approximately 15 – 20 days for recruitment including community-based organizations, high schools, community colleges, and college fairs for recruitment
  • Ability to handle confidential information with respect and discretion

  Preferred

  • Master’s Degree
  • Experience with admission management systems and relational databases such as the CRM Slate
  • Experience with creating, implementing and assessing strategic programs and initiatives
  • Relationships with CBOs/college access organizations
  • Fluency in a language in addition to English

  Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

  Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information .

  Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs . Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Career icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

  To find information about job group and level (JGL) follow this link.

• About the company

  Amherst College (/ˈæmərst/ AM-ərst) is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts.

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