Admissions Director Job Description Template

Admissions director meeting with student and looking at a screen

One of the most important roles at any college or university is the admissions director. The first step to an effective and efficient hiring process is to write a detailed admissions director job description that attracts candidates with the necessary hard and soft skills to manage the admissions process.

You’ll want someone with ample admissions associate experience and the necessary leadership, operational, and marketing skills. If you have a vacancy, you likely want to make a thoughtful hire quickly, especially if the applicant review season is coming up or in full swing.

Start by reviewing other admissions director job postings on Monster to see how other schools are hiring for the role. You can save time on the writing process by editing this admissions director job posting to meet your hiring needs.

Admissions director meeting with student and looking at a screen

Admissions Director

[Intro Paragraph] Show the benefits of leading your college or university’s admissions department by discussing the culture, values, and mission. You may want to share data like the typical number of yearly applicants, the acceptance rate, and the demographics of the most recent class. Consider also sharing goals and initiatives like a commitment to increasing diversity, first-generation students, and financial aid. If the candidate would oversee a specific graduate or undergraduate school like the law school, business school, or journalism school, mention it here.

Admissions Director Job Responsibilities: Use this section of your admissions director job description to share the job responsibilities at your academic institution. Include a comprehensive list so potential candidates can determine whether they have the right skills and are interested in the work. The responsibilities are likely to differ from school to school, so take time to customize the list so candidates know what to expect. Depending on your hiring needs, you may want to include:

  • Oversees the admissions department
  • Hires, trains, and manages admissions associates
  • Establishes the process for evaluating applicants
  • Sets deadlines for reviewing applications
  • Leads applicant review meetings
  • Approves all acceptance, rejection, and waitlist decisions
  • Fosters relationships with alumni interviewers
  • Creates promotional materials and prospective student presentations
  • Interviews high-priority applicants
  • Works closely with the financial aid director and athletic directors
  • Helps develop financial incentives for high-priority applicants
  • Builds strategies for reaching a large pool of applicants

[Work Hours and Benefits] Admissions directors have a lot of responsibility and typically work full-time. Seasoned admissions directors and associates know that they may have to work long hours during the applicant review season. Show their hard work will pay off by describing the benefits your institution offers like health insurance, retirement planning, paid time off, and paid parental leave.

Admissions Director Qualifications and Skills: Use these sections of your admissions director job description to note the preferred and necessary job requirements. Here are a few examples to get you started:

  • Manages a team and has excellent leadership and interpersonal skills
  • Oversees a department and has strong planning, time management, and organizational skills
  • Works diligently and multitasks during a fast-paced applicant review season

Education and Experience Requirements:

  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • A bachelor’s degree is required.
  • A master’s degree in education or a related field is preferred.
  • At least [number] years of experience as an admissions associate is required.

[Call to Action] You’re likely to get more admissions director applicants if you end with a strong call to action. You could invite interested candidates to apply and provide instructions for applying from the job board or by contacting the hiring manager directly.

Find the Right Admissions Director for Your Institution

An effective admissions director job description will help sell the job (and your college or university) to top candidates who, in turn, have the skills to sell your learning institution to top students. Create a free job posting on Monster to reach qualified applicants today.