Associate Director of Graduate Recruitment, Rice Global India

Rice University•Houston, TX

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Associate Director of Graduate Recruitment, Rice Global India, plays a crucial role in advancing Rice University's graduate enrollment strategy in India. This position involves implementing and expanding recruitment efforts for Rice's Professional Master's programs in Engineering, Natural Sciences, and the Jones Graduate School of Business. The role reports to the Director of Partnerships and Operations, Rice Global India, and collaborates with the relevant schools in Houston. Key responsibilities include developing and executing localized recruitment strategies, managing a prospective-student pipeline, and providing advising throughout the admissions process. The ideal candidate is a strategic, student-centered professional with experience in institutional outreach, recruitment pipeline management, and digital marketing in Indian higher education. They should be autonomous, culturally fluent, and adept at engaging with premier Indian academic institutions and prospective students. This full-time position is based in India, with location flexibility across major metros (preference for Bengaluru), and requires up to 50% travel within India. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in India. Rice Global India is an Indian private limited entity supporting Rice University's activities in India.

Requirements

Master's degree or equivalent
Minimum 7 years of experience in international student recruitment, higher education marketing, or institutional consultative sales
Strong understanding of Indian and US academic and professional cultures; ability to engage credibly with premier institutions including IITs, NITs, IIMs, and BITS
Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding recruitment and enrollment metrics
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google platforms; familiarity with digital marketing tools, social media, and campaign analytics
Ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously with a high degree of independence and strong organizational skills
Existing legal authorization to work in India

Responsibilities

Develops and executes localized graduate recruitment strategies targeting premier engineering, science, and business students across India.
Generates, qualifies, and tracks prospective student leads within the student database to build a robust application pool, supporting conversion at every stage of the admissions pipeline.
Provides high-touch, student-centered guidance to applicants individually and in groups on admissions, program tracks, and career alignment.
Works closely with Rice's Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Jones Business School departments in Houston to support smooth, timely applicant review.
Tracks application and enrollment metrics, generating regular reports across all three schools to help refine resource allocation and outreach strategies.
Organizes, hosts, and represents Rice at in-person and online recruitment events, masterclasses, and university visits.
Contributes to the development of marketing materials, social media strategy, and digital campaigns tailored for the Indian student market.
Stays informed of trends in international education, STEM visa regulations, and evolving workforce demands affecting graduate students in India.
Other duties as assigned.