Admission Communications Specialist
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
The admission communication specialist brings energy, initiative and creativity to the admission team by developing, implementing and managing the communication strategy and flow for all incoming students—both undergraduate and graduate—at Lenoir-Rhyne University. This position also serves as a liaison between Admission and Marketing and Communications while managing CRM marketing functions. Responsibilities include relationship building, assisting with admission and retention efforts and records management.
Reporting to the director of admission operations, the admission communication specialist is an integral part of the admission team, contributing to yearly planning, collaborating with faculty, building relationships with team members and fostering community partnerships.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- May supervise others, including student workers
Essential Accountabilities
- Coordinate the relationship between Admission and the Office of Marketing and Communications to support and implement a comprehensive admission marketing and communication strategy
- Develop and execute a digital communication plan, including emails and social media, using the admission CRM and adhering to institutional brand standards
- Create new and revised messaging to assist in recruiting prospective students
- Write, schedule and send messaging to prospective students via the CRM while building and analyzing communication reports
- Collaborate with admission staff, program directors and faculty to ensure program-specific communications are accurate and align with college and university-wide initiatives and standards
- Attend all CRM training sessions to learn the platform and maximize its effectiveness
- Analyze data and recruitment trends to inform decision-making and adjust strategy in response to changing markets and applicant pools
- Support the admission office with data analysis, campaign tracking and email performance reviews
- Use tools such as CRM reports, Google Analytics, Looker Studio and social media insights to provide tactical recommendations that improve campaign performance, including open and response rates
- Analyze primary and secondary research and historical data to shape outreach efforts and inform strategic enrollment planning
- Maintain a positive and professional atmosphere, ensuring that all interactions reflect the highest level of customer service
- Demonstrate a strong work ethic, attention to detail and ability to prioritize and work with urgency
- Assist with admission-related travel, events and programming as requested
- Manage special projects or ongoing activities as assigned by the director of admission operations
- Perform other duties as assigned
Required Skills and Abilities
- Understanding and support of Lenoir-Rhyne’s mission and vision and how recruitment, admission and retention align with it
- Cross-cultural competence and empathy in relationship building
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage resources and people to meet goals; action-oriented and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills across various platforms and settings
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and tact
- Excellent time management and attention to detail
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and related software
- Fluency in Spanish is a plus
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree required
- Previous experience in college admission, student recruitment or related fields such as communications or marketing preferred
- Experience with SLATE or other customer relationship management software preferred
- Familiarity with Lenoir-Rhyne, its faculty and student population is a plus
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Travel for recruitment events or conferences as needed
- Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally
- Ability to attend and lead in-person and online meetings and events
- Ability to travel across campus with students, faculty and staff
Work Schedule
- Standard office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Occasional evening and weekend work may be required based on university needs
Behavioral Expectations
- Maintain high standards of integrity, confidentiality and ethics
- Support a healthy and safe work environment
- Foster and contribute to a professional, respectful, diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace
- Treat all individuals with dignity, respect and kindness
- Follow all university policies and comply with local, state and federal laws
Note
Position requirements listed above indicate the minimum knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform this job effectively. This description outlines the primary duties and responsibilities but is not an exhaustive list. Employees may be required to perform additional duties as assigned. Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify job responsibilities as needed.