Associate Director Pre-College Programs

About Northeastern:

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus.

Our locations—in Boston; Charlotte, North Carolina; London; Portland, Maine; San Francisco; Seattle; Silicon Valley; Toronto; Vancouver; and the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant—are nodes in our growing global university system. Through this network, we expand opportunities for flexible, student-centered learning and collaborative, solutions-focused research.

Northeastern’s comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs— in a variety of on-campus and online formats—lead to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools. Among these, we offer more than 195 multi-discipline majors and degrees designed to prepare students for purposeful lives and careers.

About the Opportunity:

Under the direction of the Director of Pre-College Programs and as part of an overall undergraduate enrollment recruitment strategy aimed at deepening the level of engagement with prospective students, the Associate Director of Pre-College Programs at Northeastern University is responsible for supporting the various academic and co-curricular programs under the Accelerate: Pre-College Programs portfolio and additional programs geared toward middle school and high school aged audiences, as well as pre-matriculation students. The individual in this position will play a critical role in supporting the comprehensive portfolio of Pre-College experiences and initiatives at the institution offered across Northeastern’s expansive network of campuses and at other locations across the globe.
Within the Accelerate: Pre-College Programs portfolio, the university runs a number of programs that vary in academic topic area, format, location, and modality—ranging from campus-based to virtual, multi-week residential programs to half-day workshops, credit-bearing and non-credit bearing. The majority of the Pre-College programs take place during the summer months and at the Boston campus, although continued expansion of the programs will result in offerings held at locations across Northeastern’s global university network and throughout the entire year. These highly experiential and hands-on programs are taught by full time faculty of the university and serve as a way to create excitement and engagement for Northeastern University and its world-class learning model.
The primary focus of the Associate Director is to facilitate a best-in-class academic, cultural, and social experience for program participants. To this end, the Associate Director will manage an infrastructure aimed at supporting the following areas: management of application, admission, and registration processes; applicant/student advising, communications, and customer service to both students and parents; program planning and coordination; program execution logistics; seasonal staff hiring and management; risk management, including COVID-related policies and procedures; and supervision of a fulltime staff member and/or co-op position.
Key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following: answer pre-enrollment and pre-payment questions from applicants and their families; review admission applications and oversee admission decisions, escalating files to the Director when needed; ensure diversity and access goals are met during the recruitment and admission process; manage tuition discounts and outstanding account balances; maintain accurate files on participant contacts; coordinate program schedules, including event space and classroom reservations with the Registrar’s Office and Facilities division; book and coordinate recruitment events and social/cultural activities; make transportation arrangements for social activities and company visits; provide initial triage of student issues and escalate issues, as appropriate, to the Director; manage the hiring and onboarding of seasonal and student staff; interact and engage with students during the course of the program; serve as a chaperone for various social activities throughout the course the programs; support Marketing and Communication activities (e.g. website content development, webinars, fairs); assist in the planning and implementation of innovative pre-college and pre-matriculation models, such as NU Accelerate, other “credit as currency” programs, and pathways to university admission; and, serve in the capacity of Director when deemed appropriate.
To accomplish the primary goals of this role, the Associate Director of Pre-College programs will be asked to work collaboratively with various units across the institution, including, but not limited to, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of the Chancellor, Enrollment Marketing, the Enrollment Management Contact Center, the Office of Global Services, External Events and Conference Planning, Office of the University Registrar, Student Accounts, Risk Management, Facilities, Catering, and academic departments.
The individual in this role must be willing to work extended hours in the evenings and weekends, especially during the summer months. Occasional domestic—and potentially international—travel throughout the year is required. Moreover, in addition to the primary duties associated with supporting the Pre-College programs, the individual in this role may be asked to review undergraduate admissions applications and will be required to attend Undergraduate Admissions events throughout the course of the year, performing duties and assignments as requested. Individuals must obtain and provide a successful Massachusetts criminal record check (CORI) prior to starting this role and will be required to keep current with Risk Services training requirements on an annual basis.

Qualifications:

Master’s Degree preferred. At least 5-7 years working in a professional position, preferably at an institution of higher education. Must be able to think critically and creatively, and provide support on enrollment-related and student service matters. Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with specific deadlines to accomplish tasks. Must have the ability to multi-task, be organized, and work independently. Must have a high level of customer service skills and attention to detail. Travel required throughout the course of the year to recruit program participants and support programs being run at other campus locations. Willingness and ability to work evening and weekend hours.

Salary Grade:

 12