Music Admissions Administrator

Special Instructions to Applicants: In PDF form, applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

About The Shepherd School of Music

The Shepherd School of Music at Rice was founded in 1975 and is one of the nation’s premier music schools. It currently has approximately 275 exceptionally talented music students from across the U.S. and around the world. The school offers an immersive conservatory-style education within the context of a world-class research university. The school has two buildings that feature four large performance venues, 54 teaching studios, 55 practice rooms, seven classrooms, and premier facilities.

Position Summary

The Music Admissions Administrator supports all aspects of the admissions process from initial inquiry through matriculation, building meaningful relationships with hundreds of prospective students applying to The Shepherd School of Music. Under the supervision of the Music Admissions Assistant Director, the Music Admissions Administrator engages with prospective applicants, arranges student and family visits, organizes audition workflows, coordinates music applications, and data entry, and ensures accurate admissions content on the website and in brochures.

They work collaboratively and independently with the Shepherd School admissions team on communication plans and initiatives to enhance recruitment and enrollment efforts. They also manage prospective student inquiries and applications for Music Admissions and track trends to inform recruitment recommendations.

The Music Admissions Administrator is critical in providing prospective students, parents, and visitors with a positive, lasting impression of the Shepherd School community. This includes annual local and national recruitment travel representing the Shepherd School of Music and Rice University at college fairs, often an applicant’s first touch point. 

The ideal candidate would have experience working in a collegiate student services position. They are strong communicators with an open, professional presence and a genuine enthusiasm for engaging with prospective students and families. They are customer service-oriented and detail-driven and thrive in collaborative and independent work settings. This person enjoys representing the Shepherd School of Music in various environments and is comfortable interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds. A background in student services or admissions is beneficial, as is a passion for supporting the next generation of musicians.

Workplace Requirements

This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. This position will need to travel locally and nationally for recruitment, be comfortable balancing remote work with fully in-person work during certain times of the year, and have a flexible schedule during the audition season and decision releases, including some required evening and weekend hours. Recruitment travel (driver’s license and the ability to rent a car are required) 

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits position within a mostly in-person work environment, and the proposed salary range is $54,000 to $56,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are