Graduate Admissions Counselor

Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.

The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.

Summary

The Graduate Admissions Counselor manages a caseload of prospective graduate students from initial inquiry through enrollment and registration, providing personalized recruitment support on program fit, admissions requirements, and funding options. The individual in this role is the primary point of contact for prospective students throughout the recruitment funnel. They are responsible for meeting individual enrollment targets for assigned programs across both online and on-campus graduate populations.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

1. Manage assigned inquiries and applications of prospective graduate students by program or modality, from initial inquiry through enrollment, maintaining consistent and timely outreach via phone, email, text, and virtual meetings.
2. Provide individualized recruitment support on program selection, admissions requirements, application timelines, and general funding and financial aid information.
3. Meet or exceed individual inquiry-to-application and application-to-enrollment conversion targets.
4. Conduct outreach campaigns (calls, emails, texts) to nurture leads generated by marketing campaigns, partnership referrals, and events.
5. Communicate accurate, program-specific information to students by maintaining current knowledge of curriculum, faculty, outcomes, and admissions criteria for assigned programs.
6. Represent the university at virtual and in-person recruitment events, open houses, and information sessions for online and on-campus programs.
7. Maintain accurate and complete records of prospect and applicant interactions in the CRM.
8. Support special recruitment initiatives, including those for partnership-sourced leads and pathway program prospects, as assigned.
9. Participate in regular department meetings to share performance, best practices, and competitive intelligence.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.
11. Travel up to 15% of the time.
12. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives.
13. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience such that comparable knowledge and abilities have been acquired.

Required Experience

• Minimum of three years of related work experience in university-level admissions, higher education student services, secondary education, sales, or a closely related area.
• Experience and proven competence managing multiple tasks, scheduling, and competing priorities under tight timelines with high attention to detail.
• Experience solving problems using logic, reasoning, and critical thinking.
• Experience using a personal computer and software packages, including Microsoft Office and Google Suite.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

• Master's degree.
• Experience recruiting graduate students interested in health, science, technology, engineering, and math (HSTEM) programs, as well as business programs.
• Experience working with CRM and Admissions systems (Slate).
• Experience working in secondary or higher education in the region, including graduate admissions and recruitment practices at a university or college.
• Experience working with Financial Aid and Registrar's Office.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Excellent oral/written communication and interpersonal skills, including experience presenting to audiences.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to work independently, stay highly self-motivated with limited or no direct supervision, and work effectively in a team.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to travel throughout the region, up to 15%, and to work flexible hours, including nights and occasional weekends.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated ability to comply with Michigan Tech vehicle-use requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to contributing to a safe work environment.
• Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons with a wide variety of backgrounds and viewpoints.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

• Ability to analyze data to drive recruitment strategy.
• Demonstrated knowledge of college and university educational systems.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to build relationships and communicate effectively across with university stakeholders, including students, staff, advisors, faculty, and officials.
• Knowledge of graduate fellowships and financial aid opportunities available to prospective students, and ability to promote them effectively.

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking.
• Use of computer systems for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds with assistance.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Peak workload periods are aligned with academic terms.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following training courses:

• Employee Safety Overview
• Annual Data Security Training
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Title IX Training

Other Conditions of Employment

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.