Assistant Director of Working Professional MBA Recruiting and Admissions

Rice University•Houston, TX

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Rice Business is a globally recognized, top-ranked graduate business school offering Full-Time, Professional (Weekend, Evening, and Hybrid), and Online MBA programs. The Assistant Director of Working Professional MBA Recruiting and Admissions is a strategic partner responsible for identifying future business leaders and supporting the sustained growth and prestige of Rice Business. Reporting to the Rice Business Assistant Dean of Recruiting and Admissions, this position is a key member of the recruitment team and manages relationships with prospective students throughout the enrollment process. The role executes outreach and recruitment strategies, represents Rice Business at events, leads information sessions and presentations, and provides individualized advising to prospective MBA candidates. It manages a portfolio of prospective students and uses data-driven insights to support conversion from inquiry through enrollment. The Assistant Director supports recruitment and enrollment across the Working Professional MBA portfolio, serving as a subject matter expert for Professional Evening, Weekend, and Hybrid MBA programs while maintaining knowledge of all Rice Business MBA formats. The position is exclusively on-site at McNair Hall on a five-day, in-office schedule, with standard hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Remote work may be assessed and approved as needed after the probationary period. The role involves frequent professional events during evenings and weekends and may include domestic and international travel. The hiring range is commensurate with experience. This is an exempt salaried position and is not eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree; no substitutions permitted.
At least 3 years of higher education and/or relationship management/recruiting experience. Additional related education beyond the required degree may substitute on an equivalent year-for-year basis for the experience requirement.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent diplomacy and organizational skills.
Familiarity with graduate business education processes and programs.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including professionalism and collaboration.
Ability to lead and facilitate presentations and information sessions clearly and confidently.
Ability to conduct candidate assessments.
Ability to establish and maintain relationships with prospective students.
Excellent computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office Suite applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

Extensive professional experience in relationship management.
Experience working within the graduate business education landscape.
Experience working in higher education or sales.
Familiarity with CRM systems or equivalent platforms used to support relationship-management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Identify, nurture, and manage high-potential candidate populations across Working Professional MBA modalities, owning assigned recruitment territories and areas of expertise.
Recommend creative engagement strategies to maintain a robust candidate pipeline.
Build relationships with prospective students through consistent, personalized follow-up from initial inquiry through enrollment.
Advise professional MBA prospects on program fit and career return on investment, helping candidates identify the best-fit Rice Business MBA program.
Respond to inquiries promptly and document accurate information in the customer relationship management system.
Develop and facilitate recruitment presentations and one-on-one advising sessions, in person and virtually.
Represent Rice Business at on-campus events, Houston-area outreach activities, and domestic travel events.
Maintain the integrity of the Slate recruitment CRM by documenting candidate interactions accurately and coordinating data continuity with the operations team.
Evaluate candidate application files using qualitative and quantitative factors and make formal admissions recommendations.
Conduct evaluative interviews to help build a high-caliber, diverse MBA cohort aligned with institutional standards and strategic enrollment goals.
Analyze the candidate pool and support cohort enrollment goals established by the Assistant Dean and senior Rice Business leadership.
Provide senior leaders with synthesized qualitative candidate insights to complement funnel data and inform cohort-composition and recruitment decisions.
Lead high-impact yield events with the Candidate Experience and Operations team to reduce attrition and secure a high-quality incoming cohort.
Provide strategic and tactical support to the broader Recruitment and Admissions Operations team in support of institutional enrollment goals.
Maintain high standards of professionalism and operational excellence, and perform other assigned duties.
Build high-trust relationships with Rice Business departments and faculty, serving as a liaison between enrollment management and the broader university community.
Use a positive, solution-oriented approach in internal and external interactions.
Stay informed about graduate management education trends and competitive market dynamics and apply that knowledge to recruitment innovation.
Represent Rice Business with strategic partners and align recruitment efforts with the changing needs of the global business workforce.
Help safeguard the Rice Business brand by identifying messaging or branding inconsistencies and recommending solutions.
Support recruitment and yield events throughout their lifecycle, from planning through execution.