Director of Graduate Recruiting for Online Programs

Santa Clara University•Santa Clara, CA

1d•$91,800 - $114,785•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Graduate Recruiting for Online Programs leads recruitment, outreach, and admissions strategy at the top of the enrollment funnel for Santa Clara University’s graduate online programs. The Director oversees enrollment projections and strategy development and execution across the graduate schools, and leads a recruiting team in delivering excellent customer service and achieving admissions and enrollment growth targets. The role develops and implements recruitment strategies, uses enrollment data to identify opportunities and forecast results, builds prospect pools, and coordinates recruitment events and outreach with the graduate schools. It manages the day-to-day recruitment team and processes, develops staff training and onboarding, represents the programs at recruiting events, and maintains working knowledge of the university and its online degrees. The Director also supports marketing and communications plans, campaigns, recruitment materials, and competitive analysis; leads use of the Slate CRM and recruitment reporting; partners with graduate units and financial aid offices on scholarship and financial aid communications; and serves on the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs leadership team. The position provides work direction to two Assistant Directors of Recruiting for Online Graduate Programs and may work with student employees. It reports to the Associate Vice Provost - Online Graduate Programs. The job can have a flexible hybrid work schedule as responsibilities permit. The work is primarily in a typical indoor office environment, with regular visits to offsite locations and possible travel to campus buildings, conferences, training sessions, and external clients or partners. Telecommuting, if approved, must be performed from California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, or Illinois.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 6 years of higher education admissions experience or equivalent experience.
Experience in university admissions; graduate-level admissions experience is preferred.
Sales or admissions experience.
Comfort with online technology platforms.
Oral and written communication skills, including speaking to groups of different sizes and cultures.
Strong organization, time management, multitasking, and project-completion skills.
Commitment to customer service for internal and external constituencies.
Innovation and creativity in thinking and problem solving.
Exceptional management experience and administrative skills.
Ability to manage complex processes and procedures with attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to independently carry out tasks of varying complexity and exercise sound judgment in a challenging work environment.
Ability to cultivate collaborative relationships with internal and external constituencies.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Flexibility and adaptability, and ability to work as an integral part of the SCU Online team.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.
Understanding of and support for the Jesuit tradition of education and its values of service to others, community, and diversity.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Strong expertise in admissions and/or graduate school recruiting preferred.
Knowledge of graduate programs across disciplines.
Understanding of higher education marketing.
Working knowledge of enrollment CRMs, student information systems, and other technology solutions used in student marketing and recruitment.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement recruitment strategies to meet application, admission, and yield targets for all online graduate programs.
Develop enrollment reports, analyze funnel data and program data, identify enrollment challenges and opportunities, and provide accurate forecasts.
Grow the prospect pool and increase the number of qualified applicants using data-informed approaches.
Plan and manage recruiting events in coordination with graduate schools and colleges.
Partner with graduate schools to define student-specific recruitment strategies, enrollment targets, applicant quality expectations, and application procedures.
Determine recruitment activities and events with the Associate Vice Provost for Online Graduate Programs and Graduate Assistant Deans, and lead outreach and recruitment efforts.
Implement data-driven recruitment strategies and identify new opportunities to increase program interest and enrollment.
Develop, evaluate, and improve recruitment programs for effectiveness and efficiency.
Coordinate input on graduate program advertising and participate in recruitment events and information sessions.
Build prospect pools to meet or exceed quality and quantity targets.
Increase program visibility through outreach programs, graduate fairs, seminars, presentations, and engagement with targeted communities.
Track prospective students through the online application process, guide them toward deadlines, and maintain weekly communications by phone, chat, or email.
Manage day-to-day recruiting activities, including outreach, recruitment, prospect development, and lead generation.
Manage, train, motivate, and support the recruiting team; develop onboarding and ongoing training for new and growing staff.
Represent the online graduate programs at on- and off-campus events, online events, undergraduate institutions, and partner organizations.
Use technology to support recruitment and maintain current knowledge of the university and its online programs.
Manage recruitment presentation content and digital and print materials; collaborate on short- and long-term marketing and communications plans.
Maintain and implement marketing campaigns in Slate, Meta, LinkedIn, and other platforms; identify additional channels and assess competitors.
Engage current students and alumni in program promotion and recruitment activities.
Lead the Slate CRM setup and use for online programs across graduate schools, including communications, events, and interviews; produce and maintain weekly recruitment reports.
Assess targeting strategies and communications channels for prospective students.
Coordinate financial aid and scholarship communications with graduate units, Financial Aid, and the Bursar’s office; use funds strategically to support recruitment, yield, and retention.
Provide exceptional customer service to prospective students throughout inquiry and application.
Serve on the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs leadership team and provide recruitment strategy and procedural leadership with the Associate Vice Provost.
Work with college and school Assistant Deans on strategic alignment of online graduate recruiting as needed.