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.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

​

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay