Associate Director of Admissions & Athletics Liaison

Earlham College is a Top 100 National Liberal Arts College located in Richmond, IN, a small city that's just a short drive away from several major metropolitan areas including Dayton, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Chicago.

Richmond and Earlham have a symbiotic relationship. Through research, studies, internships and volunteering, Earlhamites offer Richmond expertise and service as Richmond offers our students the chance to gain valuable, real-world experience. Our community assumes no religious affiliation but follows Quaker principles and practices, which include respect for persons, integrity, a commitment to peace and justice, simplicity, and consensus-based community decision-making. Earlham is committed to and proud of being a diverse and inclusive place most clearly visible in our student body: 20% of our student body are international, coming from 60+ nations in 2022, and 24% are domestic students of color. Faculty and staff also bring tremendous diversity to the College; many have lived and worked outside the United States, and they make a point of drawing on those experiences in their interactions with students. Additionally, Earlham makes it a priority to serve as a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ communities and has a four-star rating on the Campus Pride Index. Our community is characterized by respect for every person and a commitment to social justice. Equity and inclusion are central to Earlham's institutional priorities and our leadership is committed to widening the path to an Earlham education.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Enrollment, the Associate Director of Admissions is a member of Earlham College’s undergraduate admissions team responsible for managing an assigned domestic recruitment territory and serving as the primary Admissions liaison to the Athletics Department. 

The Associate Director manages the recruitment and admissions process within their territory, building relationships with prospective students, families, school counselors, community organizations, and other partners. As Athletics liaison, the Associate Director works closely with coaches and Athletics staff to support the recruitment and enrollment of academically engaged student-athletes. 

The Associate Director provides guidance to coaches, prospective student-athletes, and families on admissions requirements, timelines, academic expectations, financial aid, and enrollment processes; evaluates applications; monitors recruitment activity; and coordinates campus engagement opportunities. The position contributes as a member of the Admissions team but does not supervise admissions counselors or lead the College’s overall recruitment program.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities 

Territory Management and Recruitment

• Manage an assigned domestic recruitment territory and develop recruitment plans informed by enrollment goals, historical performance, market trends, and opportunities for growth. 
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective students, families, school counselors, community colleges, independent counselors, community organizations, and other key partners. 
• Manage prospective student relationships throughout the admissions funnel, from initial engagement through application, admission, yield, deposit, and enrollment. 
• Conduct high school visits, college fairs, counselor events, individual meetings, community programs, and other recruitment activities within the territory. 
• Monitor territory activity and funnel performance and adjust outreach strategies to support application, yield, deposit, and enrollment goals. 
• Maintain accurate and timely recruitment records in Slate and provide regular updates on territory activity, market conditions, opportunities, and challenges. 
• Represent Earlham at recruitment events and collaborate with Admissions leadership and Marketing and Communications on recruitment messaging and outreach. 
• Support on-campus and virtual admissions programs, including open houses, admitted student programs, counselor programs, and visit days. 

Admissions and Athletics Partnership

• Serve as the primary liaison between Admissions and Athletics for prospective student-athlete recruitment and enrollment. 
• For athletic programs operating below their optimal recruited student-athlete roster size, significantly increase applications (25%) from recruited student-athletes year over year, with the goal of driving measurable progress toward optimal roster size. 
• For athletics programs meeting or exceeding recruitment and roster goals, provide targeted strategies and support to help coaches successfully yield their top recruited student-athlete candidates. 
• Provide recruitment support for athletic programs that are reinstated or newly established by the College. 
• Evaluate prospective student athletes for the likely letter process. 
• Develop effective working relationships with coaches and Athletics staff and serve as a primary resource on admissions requirements, deadlines, academic expectations, financial aid, enrollment procedures, and relevant eligibility standards. 
• Coordinate recruitment activities for prospective student-athletes with coaches and Admissions leadership, ensuring alignment with Earlham’s enrollment priorities and NCAA Division III requirements. 
• Build relationships with prospective student-athletes and families and help them understand Earlham’s academic, residential, and athletic experiences. 
• Track prospective student-athletes from prospect through matriculation, maintain accurate records in Slate, and monitor recruitment activity, conversion, and enrollment outcomes. 
• Coordinate prospective student-athlete visits, interviews, open houses, recruiting events, and other campus engagement opportunities. 
• Recruit and train current student-athletes to participate appropriately in admissions tours, panels, presentations, and other prospective student engagement activities. 
• Provide training and guidance to coaches and Athletics staff on admissions processes, deadlines, recruitment practices, and the prospective student experience. 
• Collaborate with Athletics, Financial Aid, faculty, Student Life, and other campus partners to address recruitment and enrollment barriers and support a coordinated student experience. 
• Maintain familiarity with NCAA Division III regulations and Earlham policies relevant to student-athlete recruitment and refer compliance questions to appropriate institutional personnel. 
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling student, admissions, financial, and athletics-related information. 
• Provide regular updates to Admissions and Athletics leadership regarding student-athlete recruitment activity, pipeline health, opportunities, and enrollment outcomes. 

Admissions Evaluation and Enrollment

• Participate in application review and admissions committee activities as assigned. 
• Evaluate applications, transcripts, recommendations, and other supporting materials in accordance with Earlham’s admissions policies and standards. 
• Conduct prospective student and applicant interviews, when applicable, and contribute thoughtful, holistic assessments of applicants. 
• Support admitted student yield efforts and communicate with students and families during key decision and enrollment periods. 
• Assist prospective student-athletes and their families in navigating admissions, financial aid, and enrollment requirements. 
• Assist with admissions events and programs, including planning, staffing, execution, and assessment. 
• Collaborate with Admissions colleagues on special projects, committees, communications, and recruitment initiatives. 
• Contribute to team training, professional development, and knowledge sharing as an experienced member of the Admissions staff, without formal supervisory responsibility.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of Earlham’s academic programs, student experience, financial aid policies, admissions practices, Athletics programs, and enrollment priorities. 
• Represent Earlham through appropriate professional organizations, conferences, programs, and panels. 
• Ensure recruitment and admissions practices comply with institutional policies, NCAA Division III regulations, and applicable requirements. 
• Contribute to initiatives that advance equitable, inclusive, and diverse student recruitment and enrollment. 
• Participate in evening and weekend programs and travel during peak recruitment periods. 
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred. 
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in college admissions, student recruitment, enrollment management, athletics administration, college advising, or a related field. 
• Demonstrated success in student recruitment, relationship management, and/or college counseling, with experience managing an admissions territory preferred. 
• Experience working with student-athletes, coaches, or collegiate athletics preferred. 
• Strong understanding of undergraduate admissions, the enrollment funnel, and NCAA Division III athletics; experience with non-scholarship student-athlete recruitment preferred. 
• Experience evaluating college applications, transcripts, and supporting materials preferred. 
• Experience with CRM systems and student information databases; Slate experience preferred. Familiarity with FrontRush or an athletics recruitment systems is a plus. 
• Excellent organizational, project-management, written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with students, families, school counselors, coaches, and campus colleagues. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, recruitment activities, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. 
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments and manage complex recruitment pipelines. 
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality. 
• Commitment to equitable and diverse student recruitment and enrollment. 
• Appreciation for collaboration, consensus building, and the liberal arts. 
• Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends during peak recruitment periods.

To Apply

Please submit the following materials with your application:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• List of Three References with Contact Information

The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Employee Benefits at Earlham

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
• Company paid Long-Term Disability after 1 year of full-time service*
• Basic and Voluntary Life insurance* 
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Campus Store Discount
• Free ticket vouchers for Richmond Symphony Orchestra
• Wellness Center Free Membership or Discount for eligible employees
• Athletic Games-Free entry to all home games 
• Free entry into most Theatre/Music shows
• Tuition Benefits for Immediate Family for eligible employees*
• 403(b) Retirement* – For eligible employees, Earlham will contribute a non-elective contribution equal to 5% of gross pay after 2 years of service. After 3 years of service, this non-elective contribution increases to 8%. Vesting credit is available for new employees with previous service in the education sector with required documentation.
• Many Wayne County Chamber of Commerce member businesses offer discounts to anyone with an Earlham ID

*All employee benefit offerings are subject to employee eligibility per plan documents. 

Earlham College is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination against any individual based on race, color, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, religion, or other protected classifications under applicable laws. The College is committed to building a diverse community that reflects the makeup of society and particularly welcomes and supports individuals from historically marginalized groups. As an institution with a Quaker identity, Earlham also encourages applications from members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Earlham College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the position, or to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Earlham College Office of Human Resources.

Earlham's Work Authorization Policy

Earlham utilizes E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for all newly hired employees within the United States.