Assistant Director of Admissions & Scholarship, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Leading at the intersection of people, business, and technology, the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business is one of the most comprehensive business schools in the nation and includes many areas of expertise not found in any other leading institution. The college is comprised of the university’s three accredited business schools, each of which is recognized as among the best in higher education: the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration. Our academic research; industry and community engagement; and undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs all reflect the future of business: flexible, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary. The college community includes 232 research faculty, 46,000 alumni, and nearly 3,300 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students. The SC Johnson College of Business has an unparalleled resource base from which to draw—within the college, Cornell Tech in New York City, and Cornell University broadly.

The Assistant Director of Admissions & Scholarship Opportunity

The Admissions team at the Samuel Curtis Johnson School of Management is charged with attracting, selecting, and matriculating a highly talented and diverse class of students for the Two-Year Residential MBA program.

Reporting to the Director of Admissions and Scholarship, the Assistant Director plays a key role in the evaluation and selection of candidates for the Two-Year Residential MBA program. Working with minimal supervision and serving as a member of the Admissions Committee, this position is responsible for reviewing applications, conducting candidate interviews, and making recommendations on admissions decisions.

In addition, the Assistant Director provides insight and guidance on candidate selection and enrollment yield strategies, while helping to coordinate and assess admissions criteria to inform an effective recruiting plan. The role also supports the development and implementation of marketing and recruitment initiatives through event planning, digital engagement efforts, and alumni partnerships designed to cultivate prospective students and support the matriculation of the incoming class.

This position requires frequent domestic and international travel, as well as occasional evening and weekend commitments in support of recruitment and admissions activities.

As a member of the Cornell community, the successful candidate will foster a culture of belonging by demonstrating collaboration, respect, inclusion, and a commitment to supporting the success and wellbeing of others.

About The Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

As part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University continues to transform graduate business education to better prepare graduates for success in tomorrow’s business world. Johnson provides cutting-edge learning experiences that immerse students sooner and deeper in their chosen fields. Johnson offers seven different Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs, spanning the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Mexico, and China as well as two Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) programs, and one Masters of Science in Business Analytics and is home to award-winning faculty and research.  As an integral part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Johnson students can access the full power of educational and research opportunities across the university to reach deeper competency in their industries and areas of interest.

Enrollment representatives within Cornell’s colleges, schools, and units regularly collaborate and partner with the Enrollment Division to accomplish the University’s enrollment goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit, evaluate, interview, and provide yield management support for candidates applying to the Two-Year Residential MBA program, serving as a member of the Admissions Committee and recommending admissions decisions.
• Manage applicant pipelines within assigned territories, analyze candidate qualifications, and provide insights on admissions strategy, selection, and enrollment yield.
• Develop and execute communications and marketing initiatives that engage prospective and admitted students from inquiry through enrollment, including digital communications, website content, social media coordination, and admitted student outreach.
• Create, manage, and assess communications campaigns for prospective, admitted, and matriculating students, including financial aid and new student communications.
• Coordinate virtual and multi-school recruiting events, online information sessions, and admissions programming to enhance prospective student engagement and support recruitment goals.
• Maintain and enhance the Admissions website and online presence, ensuring content accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness.
• Leverage Salesforce and related CRM platforms to manage applicant and event data, support communications strategies, analyze admissions trends, and generate reports that inform recruitment and ranking efforts.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including marketing teams, alumni, affiliate organizations, and university stakeholders, to support admissions, recruitment, and enrollment objectives.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and federal, state, and institutional data privacy and security requirements related to admissions operations and student records.
• Contribute to special projects and other position-related responsibilities in support of the Admissions team and strategic priorities.

What We Need

For further consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter.

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent with two to four years of work experience or equivalent combination.
• Professional experience with higher education admissions is required.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills are necessary along with strong presentation skills.
• Successful candidate will be organized and have demonstrated follow-through.
• Clear understanding, or demonstrated aptitude to understand, higher education issues.
• Committed to excellence and to providing high-level customer service.
• An outgoing nature that is comfortable working alone but also as a member of a team in a high-volume environment is essential.
• Ability to advocate for and effectively support individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate inclusive and equitable relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it’s ok if you don’t.

• Master’s degree in business or education is strongly preferred in addition to experience in admissions for MBA or other graduate business programs or related functional areas including MBA Career Management or MBA Student Services.
• Prior experience working with data and with developing reports and conducting analyses is a plus.

This is a full-time position based in Ithaca, New York.  The selected candidate will work fully onsite during the initial onboarding and training period, with the possibility of a hybrid work arrangement thereafter based on business needs and supervisor approval. Core business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the specific schedule determined in collaboration with the supervisor.

Rewards and Benefits

Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.