Admissions Counselor & Recruiter

Position Description

The Admissions Counselor & Recruiter supports the Office of Graduate and Global Admissions through two primary functions: admissions counseling (60-75% of time) and student recruitment (25-40% of time).

In the counseling capacity, this position serves as a primary point of contact for prospective students, guiding them through the application and matriculation process, managing an assigned territory, and making admissions decisions based on established criteria. In the recruitment capacity, this position represents Biola at college fairs, conferences, and on-campus engagement activities, manages recruitment logistics and materials inventory, and supports virtual information sessions. Both functions share a common goal: enrolling well-matched students into Biola's graduate and doctoral programs through proactive, personalized, and student-centered service.

Alignment with Theological Positions

The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola's Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola.

Department

Graduate and Global Admissions

Supervisor

This position reports to the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree

Work Requirements

Non-exempt (02), full-time - 40 hours/week, 12 months per year

This position requires personal attendance at Biola's campus in La Mirada, California

Frequent travel to off-campus recruitment events, conferences, and college fairs

Some evening and weekend work required during peak recruitment seasons and events

Essential DutiesAdmissions Counseling (60-75%)

Student Engagement and Territory Management

Manage an assigned territory of prospective students and applicants, maintaining consistent and personalized outreach from inquiry through enrollment.

Conduct in-person and virtual appointments, phone calls, emails, and text-based communication to guide students through every stage of the admissions process.

Proactively follow up with inquiries and incomplete applications to keep prospective students engaged and moving forward.

Track each student's stage in the admissions funnel and prioritize outreach based on enrollment potential and program fit.

Serve as a trusted advisor: understand each student's goals, concerns, and circumstances, and match them to the right program.

Application Processing and Decisions

Maintain a thorough working knowledge of all application requirements, deadlines, and evaluation criteria across assigned programs.

Review applications within the assigned territory for completeness, academic qualifications, and fit with program expectations.

Make admissions decisions (admits, conditional admits, deferrals, and denials) in alignment with faculty and committee standards.

Communicate decisions to applicants with clarity, professionalism, and appropriate next steps.

Manage pending and incomplete files proactively, following up with applicants to resolve outstanding requirements.

School Representation

Develop deep expertise in the programs and schools assigned, serving as the go-to resource for prospective students with specific program questions.

Build and maintain strong working relationships with graduate deans, program directors, and coordinators to stay current on curriculum changes, admissions priorities, and enrollment targets.

Represent all Biola graduate programs competently in student-facing conversations, referencing the right faculty, outcomes, and student experience for each program.

Act as a bridge between Graduate Admissions and academic departments, escalating complex student situations and relaying relevant program feedback.

CRM Management

Maintain accurate, up-to-date records for all assigned prospects and applicants in Slate, including communication history, application status, and key student information.

Use Slate to execute personalized outreach campaigns, schedule follow-ups, and track student engagement at each stage of the funnel.

Process application materials, record committee decisions, and update applicant statuses in a timely and accurate manner.

Generate and review territory reports to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving conversion and enrollment outcomes.

Recruitment (25-40%)

Recruitment, Travel, and Event Logistics

Plan, coordinate, and execute logistics for recruitment travel, including registration for college fairs, graduate fairs, conferences, and external recruitment events on behalf of Graduate Admissions.

Manage event registrations, deadlines, payments, and confirmations across recruitment opportunities throughout the year.

Coordinate travel arrangements, including flights, lodging, ground transportation, and on-site logistics for staff representing Biola at off-campus events.

Coordinate shipping, packing, and return of recruitment materials for off-site events to ensure timely arrival and proper handling.

Swag, Brochures, and Inventory Management

Source, order, and maintain inventory of branded swag, giveaways, and promotional items used at recruitment events.

Coordinate the design, ordering, and reprinting of admissions brochures, flyers, and printed collateral in partnership with Marketing.

Track and maintain physical recruitment inventory - including banners, tablecloths, table displays, signage, retractable stands, and other booth materials - ensuring everything is in good condition and event-ready.

Work with the Admissions Marketing team to maintain a centralized inventory log and reorder schedule so materials are stocked ahead of peak recruitment seasons.

On-Campus and Off-Campus Student Recruitment

Represent the Graduate Admissions Office at college fairs, class visits, and other external recruitment opportunities.

Coordinate and conduct monthly to bi-weekly on-campus tabling activities to engage prospective graduate students and campus visitors.

Generate inquiries and applications by providing knowledgeable, personalized representation of Biola's graduate programs and student experience.

Conduct follow-up outreach with students met at recruitment events to move them through the admissions funnel.

Virtual Information Session Support

Support the planning, scheduling, and execution of virtual information sessions for prospective graduate students.

Assist with presenter coordination, slide preparation, and live audience engagement during virtual sessions.

Track attendance for each virtual information session, including registrations, no-shows, and live attendees, and log participation accurately in Slate CRM to support follow-up and reporting.

Cross-Team Collaboration

Partner with the Admissions Marketing team to ensure all recruitment materials reflect current brand standards and program messaging.

Support graduate admissions social media efforts, including contributing content ideas and helping amplify program messaging across relevant platforms.

Collaborate with admissions counselors, operations staff, and leadership to align recruitment activities with broader enrollment goals.

Provide operational support to the broader Admissions team during peak recruitment cycles and high-volume periods.

Other Duties

Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support the mission and effectiveness of Biola's Graduate and Global Admissions.

Required Skills/Qualifications

Communication skills: Requires excellent interpersonal communication and written skills. Ability to interact with students, staff, and faculty.

Decision-making: Ability to make decisions and evaluate admission of graduate students into Biola's graduate programs (with involvement of faculty/deans).

Event and logistics management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple events, deadlines, and inventory streams simultaneously without losing detail.

Public-facing presence: Comfort with public speaking and engaging directly with prospective students, families, and school partners.

Travel: Valid driver's license and willingness to travel to off-campus recruitment events, including overnight and multi-day trips.

Physical demands: Ability to drive on public roads or highways. Ability to lift, carry, and transport boxes of recruitment materials (banners, tablecloths, brochures, swag) of light-to-medium weight.

Technology: Computer-literate. Familiarity with CRM systems (Slate preferred) and standard office productivity tools.

Other: Personable, organized, and task-oriented. Demonstrated ability to maintain a lifestyle in alignment with Biola's mission, Articles of Faith, and Statement of Biblical Principles.