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Transfer and Running Start Pathways Advisor [Admissions Counselor 3 - Regional Seattle]
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Seattle, WA
Categories: Academic Affairs
Position Title Transfer and Running Start Pathways Advisor [Admissions Counselor 3 - Regional Seattle]
About the University
Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.
Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.
About the Department The Admissions Department supports Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position The Transfer and Running Start Pathways Advisor serves as Western's primary representative to partner community colleges throughout the greater Seattle-Olympia region. Reporting to the Director of Transfer Admissions and Operations, this position manages advising, outreach, and recruitment efforts that support community college students transitioning to Western and promotes pathways for transfer and first-year Running Start students.
The advisor manages Western's presence at partner institutions, building collaborative relationships with community college advisors and staff while delivering advising and recruitment services that support enrollment. This role contributes to the development and implementation of Western's transfer recruitment strategy by identifying opportunities to strengthen partnerships, expand transfer pipelines, and improve student access and preparation.
This position requires a self-directed professional who can manage an external recruitment territory independently while coordinating closely with colleagues within and beyond the Office of Admissions.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
55% - Recruitment, Advising, and Territory Engagement

• Manage an external recruitment territory across the Seattle-Olympia region, maintaining a consistent presence at partner community colleges.
• Schedule and conduct visits to regional community colleges, coordinate pre-visit calls and correspondence and make travel arrangements.
• Represent Western at transfer fairs, college fairs, classroom visits, advising events, and recruitment programs.
• Advise prospective transfer and Running Start students on academic programs, admissions requirements, transfer credits, financial aid, scholarships, and application and enrollment processes through individual appointments, drop-in advising, group presentations, and virtual meetings primarily at partner community colleges.
• Deliver information sessions on academic opportunities, admissions, financial aid, scholarships, student life and application and enrollment processes.
• Support students in understanding how prior coursework transfers to Western and how credits apply toward degree programs of interest.
• Connect students with appropriate academic departments and campus resources to support transfer planning and successful transition to Western.
• Support diverse student populations including first-generation students, adult learners, veterans, students with disabilities, and international students.
• Maintain communication with prospective students from inquiry through enrollment to support application completion and yield.
• Travel regularly within the assigned territory to maintain an on-site presence at partner institutions.
• Track student engagement and outreach activity in the CRM (Slate) and analyze recruitment data to assess outreach effectiveness and inform territory strategy.
• Work occasional evenings or weekends to support recruitment events.

15% - Programs and Events

• Lead and participate in On-the-Spot Admissions events that provide students with timely information about admissibility and next steps.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of transfer-focused events, workshops, and outreach initiatives.
• Support planning and delivery of Western's annual Transfer Advisor's Workshop and related events to engage community college advising staff.
• Attend and assist with events and activities on behalf of the Office of Admissions as needed and assigned.

15% - Application Review

• Review assigned applications for admission and scholarships and recommend admission decisions using established guidelines.
• Communicate admission decisions and scholarship opportunities to prospective students.

10% - Community College Partnerships and Pathway Development

• Serve as Western's primary liaison to partner community colleges in the Seattle region, developing collaborative relationships with advisors, counselors, and administrators.
• Support implementation and ongoing coordination of Guaranteed Transfer Admission partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional partnerships, expand transfer pathways, and increase student engagement.

5% - Other Duties

• Manage home office duties which include storing and tracking inventory of recruitment materials, maintenance of University-issued equipment (laptop, etc.)
• Participate in Admissions meetings, committees, and occasional recruitment activities on Western's Bellingham campus.
• Assist in identifying and developing informational resources that support transfer pathways.
• Contribute to initiatives and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (earned by position's start date)
• Excellent interpersonal skills that include professional communication, relationship building, and the ability to clearly and concisely present information
• Experience working effectively with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including excellent presentation abilities
• Display strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and projects independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated success clearly and consistently reporting on programs, tasks and initiatives and following up with internal and external constituents in a timely manner
• Proficiency with technology and willingness to learn new systems
• Ability and willingness to travel independently throughout the assigned territory

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in admissions recruitment, advising, or related work in higher education
• Experience working with community colleges or transfer student populations
• Master's degree in a related field
• Fluency in one or more languages other than English

Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations
Salary Hiring range is $58,727 - $67,537/year depending on qualifications and experience. Through longevity position tops out at $76,345.
Benefits Information
Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.
Application Instructions
A cover letter and resume are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications. Please include the names and contact information of three professional references. References will only be contacted if necessary, with notice provided beforehand.
Closing Date Notes Application review begins June 22, 2026; position is open until filled.
Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU's Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu
WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at student.life@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.
Job no: 503048
Advertised: May 26 2026 08:00 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:
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