Associate Director of First-Year Recruitment and Outreach

Sacramento State•Sacramento, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Director of Recruitment, Outreach & Orientation, the Associate Director provides leadership for Sacramento State’s first-year student recruitment strategy. The role is primarily responsible for developing and executing approaches to strengthen first-year enrollment from California markets beyond the university’s traditional local recruitment area and strategically expand enrollment from targeted out-of-state markets. The Associate Director oversees first-year territory management, regional and nonresident recruitment, high school and counselor engagement, recruitment outreach, and yield strategies designed to achieve university enrollment goals and broaden the geographic diversity of the entering class. The position uses enrollment data, market analysis, CRM tools, and recruitment outcomes to identify emerging markets, allocate recruitment resources, and evaluate effectiveness. The role is supervised by the Director of Recruitment, Outreach & Orientation. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, with possible evening and weekend work. Frequent in-state and out-of-state travel to recruitment sites is required and may involve air or land travel and overnight stays. This is a full-time, at-will position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in higher education, counseling, student affairs, business, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Progressively responsible experience and documented success in college admissions.
Ability to build, supervise, and develop high-performing teams.
Ability to direct, monitor, and sustain daily recruitment operations while aligning activity with institutional enrollment goals.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, staff, students, families, and external partners.
Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and adapt to changing institutional needs.
Strong proficiency with computer systems and enterprise technologies, including CRM platforms, data tracking tools, and standard office applications.
Attention to detail and ability to establish timelines, meet deadlines, and ensure accountability across multiple initiatives.
Ability to work collaboratively across departments and build effective partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
Ability to exercise independent judgment, analyze information, and make sound decisions within established policies and procedures.
Commitment to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents, including faculty, students, staff, and community members.
Ability to travel frequently in-state, out-of-state, and to other identified recruitment sites.
Ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.
Must reside in California on the date of hire and furnish proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, student affairs, or a related field.
Progressive professional experience in student recruitment, admissions, enrollment management, or outreach, preferably in higher education.
Experience supervising professional staff and conducting performance evaluations, coaching, and corrective action.
Experience with strategic enrollment planning, yield initiatives, and data-informed decision-making.
Experience developing and managing geographic recruitment territories, including expansion into new or emerging markets or markets outside an institution’s traditional service area.
Experience with nonresident or out-of-state student recruitment and yield strategies.
Experience using market, demographic, and enrollment-funnel data to identify recruitment opportunities and assess return on recruitment investment.
Experience developing relationships with high school counselors, school districts, community-based organizations, and other external partners in priority recruitment markets.
Experience leading recruitment travel strategy, including deployment of staff and resources across multiple regions or states.
Familiarity with the CSU system, dual enrollment, and the California K–16 education landscape.
Experience using Slate or similar CRM systems to manage recruitment operations and reporting.
Demonstrated commitment to access, equity, and student success through recruitment and outreach efforts.

Responsibilities

Lead Sacramento State’s first-year student recruitment strategy.
Develop and execute approaches to strengthen enrollment from California markets beyond the university’s traditional local recruitment area and expand enrollment from targeted out-of-state markets.
Oversee first-year territory management, regional and nonresident recruitment, high school and counselor engagement, recruitment outreach, and yield strategies.
Align recruitment operations and activity with institutional enrollment goals.
Use enrollment data, market analysis, CRM tools, and recruitment outcomes to identify emerging markets, allocate recruitment resources, and evaluate effectiveness.
Build, supervise, and develop high-performing teams.
Direct, monitor, and sustain daily recruitment operations.
Develop and maintain relationships with high school counselors, school districts, community-based organizations, and other external partners in priority markets.
Lead recruitment travel strategy and deployment of staff and resources across multiple regions or states.
Work collaboratively across departments and build partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.
Travel frequently in-state, out-of-state, and to other identified recruitment sites; work flexible hours, including nights and weekends.