Associate Director of Graduate Enrollment

Point Loma Nazarene University•San Diego, CA

4d•$72,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is seeking a collaborative and results-driven Associate Director of Graduate Enrollment to help lead graduate student recruitment and onboarding efforts at the Mission Valley Campus in San Diego. This role provides leadership to a team of Enrollment Counselors while driving operational excellence, supporting innovative enrollment strategies, and creating a student-centered recruitment experience that reflects PLNU’s mission and values. The university is a Christian liberal arts institution in the evangelical, Wesleyan tradition, offering quality undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in a vibrant Christian environment. PLNU is committed to reflecting the rich diversity of God’s kingdom and encourages applications from culturally diverse candidates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
3–5 years of experience in higher education, enrollment, marketing, or sales
Minimum 2 years of progressive experience mentoring, coaching, leading, and developing professional staff.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline
Familiarity with CRM platforms and marketing technologies
Flexibility to work evenings/weekends and travel occasionally
Evidence of Christian commitment and active church involvement.
Agreement to live in accordance with PLNU’s Community Life Covenant.
Successful completion of a background check.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
Experience with AI-based enrollment tools and platforms (e.g., Dialpad AI, CollegeVine, ChatGPT)
Experience in a faith-based institution or mission-driven educational setting
Deep understanding of San Diego’s graduate education landscape

Responsibilities

Supervise and coach a team of Enrollment Counselors through regular feedback, professional development, and performance support.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented team culture focused on student success and enrollment outcomes.
Lead ongoing training and reinforcement to boost team members’ enrollment metrics.
Review and evaluate counselor communications to identify coaching opportunities and support quality engagement practices.
Guide daily recruitment operations to support enrollment goals and conversion metrics.
Monitor team and individual performance data to support forecasting, operational effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
Represent PLNU at recruitment events, graduate fairs, community engagement opportunities, and industry conferences.
Support planning and execution of on-campus and regional recruitment and prospective student events.
Support adoption and optimization of enrollment technologies including CRM systems, Dialpad, CollegeVine, and Coda.
Evaluate AI tools and emerging technologies to improve workflows, communication quality, project management, and team efficiency.
Maintain and support quality assurance processes for communication review and student engagement feedback loops.
Collaborate closely with Academic Affairs, Marketing, Student Success, Financial & Military Services, Records, IT, Learning & Development, and Academic Program Directors to support a seamless student experience.
Participate in enrollment planning meetings, onboarding initiatives, and cross-functional graduate leadership discussions.
Support implementation of recruitment strategies while contributing operational insight on process improvement and scalability.
Identify and help resolve operational inefficiencies impacting counselor performance or student experience.
Support institutional initiatives focused on student retention, operational excellence, and inclusive student engagement.