Director of JD Admissions

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director of JD Admissions

Job Profile Title

Director B, Student Services, Admissions

Job Description Summary

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished law schools. The School offers a unique approach, incorporating cross-disciplinary legal education, a distinctly collaborative environment, and an innovative curriculum to enrich student learning. The small and highly interdisciplinary faculty achieves scholarly excellence while emphasizing a shared effort to advance understanding of the law. The result is an intellectual community that bridges traditional boundaries and disciplines within a renowned internal culture of collegiality, making the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School an extraordinarily supportive academic community for all its members.

Reporting to the Assistant Dean of JD Admissions (“Assistant Dean”), the Director of JD Admissions (“Director”), plays a key role in advancing Penn Carey Law’s JD admissions strategy by supporting the design and execution of sophisticated, data-informed recruitment and yield initiatives. Drawing on the Law School’s distinctive strengths, the Director will help develop imaginative and effective approaches to attract, engage, and enroll exceptional JD classes of approximately 260 students each year.

The Director leverages available technologies, research, and data-informed practices to identify, engage, and cultivate interest among prospective candidates in Penn Carey Law’s distinctive JD program. The Director also serves as an important representative of Penn Carey Law, communicating effectively with a broad range of internal and external audiences.

Job Description

Strategic

In collaboration with the Assistant Dean, develop and support the implementation of long- and short-term JD recruitment and matriculation goals and explicit strategies to achieve them.

Conduct high-volume application file review and assist with the selection of the JD and transfer classes.

Operationalize research and employ innovative technologies to model, establish, and meet recruitment and matriculation goals in JD admissions.

Communication and Marketing

• •Partner closely with the Assistant Dean, the Director of JD Recruitment, and the Communications Department to develop creative and effective strategies that attract academically talented JD candidates, support enrollment goals, and convey the distinctive strengths of Penn Carey Law to prospective students and other key audiences.
• •Evaluate, recommend, and design new application materials, forms, and other marketing tools.

Representational

• •Serve as a highly visible representative of Penn Carey Law, engaging thoughtfully and effectively with key internal and external constituencies.
• •Identify, cultivate, and sustain strategic relationships with stakeholders and partners whose engagement advances Penn Carey Law’s admissions and institutional goals.
• •Articulate Penn Carey Law’s distinctive educational opportunities to undergraduate institutions, pre-law advisors, and national and international organizations.
• •Maintain substantial in-person and virtual engagement with prospective students and other individuals throughout all stages of the admissions process.

Managerial

While this role does not include immediate supervisory responsibilities, it is expected to evolve to include supervision of staff and oversight of application readers as operational needs develop.

Other duties as assigned

Candidate Qualifications:

The successful candidate will hold an advanced degree, J.D. preferred, and have a minimum of five years of increasing administrative responsibility in a creative enterprise. Experience in high level admissions and/or financial aid is strongly preferred. The successful candidate will understand and describe Penn Carey Law’s strengths in the most competitive arena of law school recruiting. The successful candidate will have knowledge of database management, reporting systems, assessment tools, and predictive modeling related to the admission of academically motivated students to law school. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent understanding of effective communication and marketing strategies. We seek candidates who have established track records as collaborators in the workplace, within the immediate department and within the larger institution, as well as records as strong and motivational managers. The successful candidate will demonstrate a creative bent and will be capable of representing Penn Carey Law proudly in all manner of public and internal forums.

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. For clarity, this includes not discriminating on the basis of ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, and military status as required by the American Bar Association Standard 205.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Law School

Pay Range

$80,891.00 - $107,000.00 Annual Rate Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics) , citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law .

• Special Requirements
• Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.