Admissions Counselor

About the role

The Cleveland Institute of Art invites applications for the position of Admissions Counselor, reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Admissions + Continuing Education. This position plays a vital role in recruiting, counseling, and enrolling prospective students who seek an education in art and design. As a representative of CIA, the Admissions Counselor serves as a primary point of contact for prospective students, families, counselors, and educators throughout the admissions process. Working closely with members of the Admissions team and campus partners, the Admissions Counselor is responsible for developing and managing recruitment efforts within assigned territories, building relationships with schools and community organizations, and providing individualized guidance to prospective students as they navigate the college search and application process. The successful candidate will help communicate the value of a CIA education, effectively manage assigned recruitment territories, and support institutional enrollment goals through strategic outreach, relationship-building, and consistent engagement with prospective students and families.

Responsibilities

• Represent CIA at college fairs, portfolio days, high school visits, open houses, and other recruitment events
• Conduct admission presentations and portfolio reviews
• Counsel prospective students and families regarding academic programs, admission requirements, financial aid, scholarships, and career opportunities
• Review applications for admission and merit scholarship consideration
• Manage ongoing communications with prospective students and families through phone, email, virtual meetings, and other communication channels
• Maintain accurate records related to recruitment activities, student interactions, and admissions processes
• Contribute to strategic enrollment initiatives and departmental projects

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required
• A valid driver's license is required
• This position requires extensive regional and national travel, including approximately 60 days during the fall recruitment season and 30 days during the spring recruitment season
• Evening and weekend work are required to support recruitment events and admissions programming throughout the year

Qualifications

• Prior experience in admissions, higher education, recruitment, sales, counseling, customer service, or a related field is preferred but not required
• Experience or familiarity with art and design education is desirable
• Experience utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) systems, particularly Slate or similar platforms, is preferred

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Passion for higher education and student success
• Comfort engaging diverse audiences
• Ability to present information in both individual and group settings
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills
• Highly adaptable and capable of managing numerous projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgment, and collaborate effectively with colleagues across the institution
• Ability to identify opportunities to enhance recruitment efforts and the prospective student experience

Benefits

• Vacation, sick, and personal time accrual
• Paid time off during the College's winter break closure
• Health and dental insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement contributions
• Tuition remission
• Free campus parking
• Inter-Museum Council discounts