Admissions And Recruitment Counselor Of Stem Initiatives

Position Summary:

Job Description:

Position: Western Colorado University invites applications for the full-time position of Admissions and Recruitment Counselor of STEM Initiatives. The position reports to Director of Admissions, works closely with admissions, financial aid, and other campus offices, and is responsible for the recruitment of prospective students in any number of STEM fields at Western Colorado University. This position is located in Gunnison, Colorado.

Responsibilities: The Admissions and Recruitment Counselor of STEM Initiative's primary role is to support institutional enrollment goals through holistic recruitment and admissions practices. The position requires continuous presence throughout key territories to ensure Western serves students, families, schools, and key stakeholders. The STEM Recruitment Specialist is specifically responsible for engaging with students, influencers, and stakeholders in STEM-focused schools and programs. Below are some additional responsibilities for the role.

• With the Director of Admissions and WCU-CU Partnership Program leadership, develop a yearly calendar of activities, programs, and travel to support STEM recruitment and enrollment initiatives.
• Collaborate with undergraduate academic programs, the CRM manager, and institutional research to develop and share enrollment data on STEM enrollment and student success trends.
• Represent Western at on-site and off-site recruitment opportunities, including but not limited to information sessions, campus tours, college fairs, high school visits, community events, expos, financial aid events, application days, and admitted student events.
• Host prospective student and parent/guardian information sessions focused on sharing the Western experience, guiding the admissions process, and supporting enrollment.
• In a timely manner, review and process applications for first-year and transfer students, respond to admissions inquiries on campus and via email or phone, and establish and maintain communication with counselors and key stakeholders.
• With the Director of Admissions, WCU-CU Partnership Program leadership, and relevant academic departments, research, develop, and propose a STEM recruitment plan to support the institutional enrollment goals.
• Maintain student and school contact records and utilize the Slate CRM to optimize activities and initiatives.
• Identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the yearly recruitment cycle, and communicate those to the Director of Admissions and WCU-CU Partnership Program leadership.
• Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Admissions by performing other duties as assigned by the Director of Admissions or Vice President, including professional development, institutional and community events, and student support and engagement.

Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and the development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

Minimum Qualifications: See below:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Experience managing and maintaining database systems.
• Successful experience building effective working relationships, together with a wide range of work styles and capabilities.
• Valid U.S. Driver's License and a good driving record.
• Excellent written and oral communication and customer service skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as a team player.
• Knowledge of marketing, promotions, brand awareness, and sales.
• Ability to work irregular hours including some nights, weekends and holidays, and to travel extensively throughout the state of Colorado, as well as out of state.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and spreadsheet software.

Preferred Qualifications: See below:

• One (1) or more years of experience as an admissions counselor, or related experience in an institution of higher education.
• Experience in higher education, CRM-based processes, and territory management.
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
• Training in admissions practices/ enrollment management, DEIJ+ issues in education settings, dealing with challenging people and/or situations.
• Experience in higher education, not-for-profit environments, and/or K-12 school systems.
• Spoken and written Spanish fluency.
• Ability to think creatively and skilled at innovation.

Compensation: $48,500-$51,000 per year (full-time) This position is FLSA exempt. Western offers an excellent benefits package including shared premiums for a comprehensive health insurance plan, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for dependents enrolled full time in undergraduate programs for up to four years.

Application Procedure: Apply online at www.Western.edu/jobs. Required attachments for online application include a letter of application addressed to Chase Watts, Director of Admissions, resume, and contact information for three references.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Please direct questions to the Shayna Castaldi at scastaldi@western.edu.

Application deadline is April 30th, 2026 at 11:59pm (MDT.)

Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte

Western Colorado University is a public institution with an enrollment of ~3,700 students. 47% of students are undergraduates, 33% are graduate students, and 80% receive some form of financial aid. Western students represent 17 countries, 50 states, and almost every county in Colorado. With an average class size of 17, Western's faculty and staff share a strong commitment to personalized, rigorous, and immersive education. Visit http://www.western.edu to learn more about the university.

Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, about 200 miles southwest of Denver amidst over 2 million acres of public land and a vibrant ranching community. The Gunnison valley provides robust cultural programming and exceptional outdoor recreation. A network of dedicated community organizations enrich the lives of many in the tight-knit community. Living in the valley, one appreciates a vibrant culture of festivals, exhibitions, performances, wellness activities, and more. In the winter, many enjoy in skiing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and along dozens of miles of cross-country trails. In the summer, bikers, hikers, and runners explore 750-plus miles of singletrack trails, while others delight in fishing, boating, and paddleboarding at Blue Mesa Reservoir or on the Gunnison River and its tributaries. Pre-K-12 students are served by the highly-ranked Gunnison Watershed School District.

WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETERANS

It is the ongoing policy and practice of Western Colorado University to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants. No person shall be discriminated against in any condition of employment because of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local law.

ADAAA ACCOMMODATIONS:

Western Colorado University is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Western will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Human Resources at HR@western.edu or (970) 943-3140.