Graduate Admissions Counselor / Senior Graduate Admissions Counselor / Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions

Augsburg University has maintained a strong academic reputation defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies since 1869. A safe and welcoming campus in the heart of Minneapolis, Augsburg offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to nearly 3,200 diverse students.

Augsburg’s mission is to educate students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community that is committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

Augsburg invites individuals who share our mission and commitment to intentional diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging to join our community.  In particular, Augsburg invites BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, women, veterans and those from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) at Augsburg University 

The Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) division includes four uniquely equipped teams: Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, SEM Operations, and Financial Aid.

The SEM division’s vision is to be a belonging organization that builds deeper relationships, changes systems, and dismantles the access barriers in higher education enrollment management.

Our SEM mission is to meet every student where they are with authentic presence, outreach, and engagement. Our nationally recognized Augsburg Applies to You platform supports this mission through direct admissions, success coaching, and academic belonging. We exist to deliver enrollment results, innovation, service, and the essential infrastructure to attract, meet the needs of, and enroll future graduates. We are a key partner in driving sustainable enrollment growth at Augsburg towards the
goal of becoming a medium sized university with 5,000 Auggies by 2030.

Augsburg is accepting applications for the Admissions Counselor, Senior Admissions Counselor, or Assistant Director position within our Graduate Admissions team. The Hiring Team will review candidates' applications and place qualified candidates into the appropriate position title based on their experience and qualifications.

Summary of Position

The Graduate Admissions Counselor, Senior Graduate Admissions Counselor, and Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions is responsible for leading recruitment and enrollment efforts for assigned graduate programs. This position plays a vital role in cultivating prospective student relationships, guiding them through the entire admission process, and supporting program growth through strong partnerships with faculty, marketing, and external organizations. This position embraces data-informed decision making, proactive student engagement, and strategic planning. Occasional support for degree completion and transfer recruitment as well as campus-wide initiatives is also expected.

Primary Responsibilities

Student Recruitment & Engagement

• Establish and maintain consistent, personalized communication with prospective students at all stages of the enrollment journey, from inquiry to matriculation, and provide one-on-one coaching and counseling to help students navigate the application and enrollment process.
• Conduct outreach through campus visits, virtual presentations, interviews, phone calls, text messages, emails, videos, and social media outreach.
• Read, interpret, and evaluate students’ academic credentials and application materials to assist prospective students in determining level of fit for programs and to identify qualified applicants.

Program & Territory Management

• Plan and arrange travel to academic and professional partners to promote graduate studies, including classroom visits, tabling, fair participation, conference attendance, and virtual visits.
• Manage assigned graduate programs and serve as the primary admissions contact and strategist; maintain a recruitment territory of inquiries and admits.
• Build strong working relationships with internal departments and serve as a liaison to program faculty to support prospective student advising, advocate for student-centered policies, and support academic and program alignment.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Utilize CRM tools, web data, and other platforms to measure communication effectiveness, adjust outreach strategies, and recommend program improvements.
• Create and maintain content for graduate program websites, communication flows, presentations, and promotional materials; collaborate with the Marketing team to strategize, design, implement, and evaluate marketing and advertising plans.
• Complete reports related to recruitment goals, enrollment projections, event effectiveness, and budget use.
• Participate in forecasting, tuition pricing, and discounting strategy conversations using market and historical data.
• Develop and manage OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) related to strategic initiatives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Identify and approach new prospective partnership organizations; coordinate memorandum of understandings, organizational data, and CRM records.
• Represent Admissions on committees as assigned.
• Collaborate on the development of quarterly and annual recruitment plans.
• Other duties as apparent or assigned by supervisor(s).

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Flexible schedule including evening and weekend hours.
• Typical work environment is an office. Sedentary work for long periods of time.   
• Travel to events, which includes talking and presenting.
• Regular computer and phone use.
• Travel that includes flying and driving capability.
• Emotional intelligence may be needed in order to effectively relate to and work with students and or families from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and occasional strong emotional reactions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two (2) years of relevant professional experience, with at least one (1) year of professional experience in admissions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Graduate admissions experience.
• Ability to speak bilingually: Spanish, Somali, Arabic, or Hmong.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Enthusiasm and passion for empowering others to succeed.
• Evidence of the ability to work with persons from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent oral/public presentation and written communication skills.
• Technology experience with Google Suite (i.e. Docs, Sheets, and Slides).
• Effective time management and the ability to work independently.
• Team player, effective at collaboration.
• Proven ability to achieve goals, influence others, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to think strategically, creatively and innovatively on how to recruit and connect with prospective students now and in future admissions cycles.
• Command of University messaging and positioning; people, programs, outcomes, policies, procedures, to authentically articulate the Augsburg student experience.

Application Instructions

As part of your application please answer the below questions in fewer than five sentences. You may either upload your answers as a document or write them out in the "Message to the Hiring Team" section of the application.

• What do you enjoy most about admissions/recruitment work and how will that apply to this position/role? 
• What sets Augsburg’s graduate programs apart from other private institutions offering graduate education?

Compensation & Benefits at Augsburg

• The compensation range is $50,000 - $55,000 per year, DOQ.

Augsburg University offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards program including: 

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• A generous 403(b) matching program with an employer contributions of up to 8% upon eligibility
• Up to 100% tuition remission for employees, spouses and dependents, and participation in the Tuition Exchange program with colleges and universities throughout the US
• Generous paid time-off, including 14 paid holidays, 12 sick days, 2 community service days, and vacation of up to 22 days per year immediately upon hire
• Employer-paid STD, LTD and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Statement

Augsburg is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, race, age, disability, religion, national origin, color, or any other protected class.  

Augsburg University is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national origin, familial status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or public assistance status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. 

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at phone number: 612-330-1058 or email: [email protected].