As an Expeditions Admissions Officer you will work as a member of the NOLS Expeditions Admissions team to provide excellent service to enrolled students, their families and emergency contacts. To be successful in this role you will be responsive and accessible to students, making them feel supported and welcome at NOLS from the moment they select their course until the day they arrive on campus to start their expedition. This role will also involve supporting admissions on NOLS Custom Education courses in addition to Expedition courses. 

Responsible for securing tuition payments, and for accurately discussing account status, transfer policies and cancellation policies. Each admissions officer is responsible for managing the enrollment process for rosters representing over $4,000,000 in tuition revenue.

Key Logistical Information

• Benefits: This position is eligible for Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Spending account, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time off, 403(b), 403(b) contribution, and more.

• Questions: Please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does an Admissions Officer do?

• Positively represent and promote NOLS to students, families, and emergency contacts. Share commitment to the positive, life changing opportunities we provide students. 

• Communicate clearly, effectively, and in a timely manner with students, families and emergency contacts about a variety of questions about course activities, classrooms, locations, equipment, curriculum, and NOLS policies. 

• Responsible for managing all enrollment-oriented communication, including sometimes challenging situations using nuanced listening and processing skills, de-escalating communication tactics, and empathy. 

• Discuss difficult or sensitive topics such as general medical history and finances with tact, care, and directness.

• Maintain consistent engagement with all enrolled students. Keep students excited for and interested in their NOLS expedition.  

• Tightly manage rosters by communicating with students about tuition payments and necessary forms and removing non-responsive students promptly. 

• Process student enrollment forms, including reviewing and following up on student Health Forms. 

• Collaborate with customer service and marketing representatives to provide support to prospective students by responding to inquiry emails and answering incoming phone calls. 

• Work closely with location program staff to help serve enrolled students. Engage location staff as part of a larger system to keep enrolled students committed and informed. 

• Work with the Registrar to help students navigate financial aid, college credit, visas, VA funding, and Americorp awards.

• Contribute to a working environment that is based in teamwork, and is student-focused and solution oriented. 

• Depending on need and experience, this role may support the Webinar team in administrative tracking, preparing, and/or presenting student webinars. 

• Occasional weekend and evening work schedule in order to support customer service at times that are convenient for our students, families and emergency contacts. 

• Occasional evening and early morning on-call responsibilities to respond to urgent student needs as they are preparing to travel or en-route to their course location. 

• Assume or assist with other projects and systems development as requested by the Expeditions Admissions Manager or Director.

What makes a great Expedition Admissions Officer at NOLS? 

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. We are looking for candidates with the skills listed below. We expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

• A passion for customer service and connecting students to the NOLS mission is necessary. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. 

• Must be able to track and appropriately prioritize detailed tasks. 

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. 

• NOLS faculty or experience supporting NOLS expedition course operations preferred.

• Spanish language proficiency or fluency preferred.

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Gain familiarity with NOLS’ admissions process and policies. 

• Take over management of several rosters, including: 

  • Collecting tuition and enrollment forms; 

  • Completing follow-up for Health Forms and dietary needs; 

  • Answering student questions about required and optional gear, as well as travel; 

  • And proactively following up with any students who are behind on their enrollment deadlines. 

• Connect with students and families as they prepare for the adventure of a lifetime!

Who are we and what can we offer you?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that seeks to help people step forward boldly as a leader.

We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

NOLS really is a great place to work:

• We have locations in seven U.S. states, and six countries; and courses in all 50 U.S. states and over 10 countries.

• We have fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands

• We offer discounts on NOLS Courses for you and your family

• All employees can benefit of free Outdoor Equipment "Rental" at our various locations

• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits are available at a special NOLS rate to seasonal employees. Full-time employees are eligible for benefits package. 

• Wellness Time: Accrued leave that may be used for many HR-approved reasons throughout the season.

• Employee Assistance Program: Access to counselors that are available 24/7 to assist employees with work-life balance concerns.

Next steps

At NOLS we use the Applied platform for our recruitment. Applied aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using your resume alone, we'll be asking you to answer questions to test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymized, and reviewed in a random order by members of our team. 

The Applied platform also asks some demographic questions before you start your application. We at NOLS never see the responses to these demographic questions with your application. We only see summary statistics to help us check if our candidate pool is balanced and if everyone has an equal chance to get hired irrespective of their background. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.

All you need to do is start the process by clicking on the yellow button on the top right. 

Additional Information

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada, provinces: British Columbia, and Ontario; Chile; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.

• NOLS participates in E-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.

• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with human resources and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu.

NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

NOLS values community and fosters a sense of belonging for our employees and applicants. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace because they embody these values, as well as our operating principle of promoting a positive, safe, and learning environment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested at any point of the employment process, including during recruitment. Please email peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.