Director, Outreach and Recruitment

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

1d•$111,996 - $119,832•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Outreach, Recruitment & Educational Partnerships (OREP) is responsible for the outreach and recruitment of prospective domestic undergraduate students and plays a central role in enrollment planning, reporting, and strategic partnership development. OREP attracts and recruits a diverse and academically prepared pool of applicants, develops and stewards relationships with internal and external constituents, and delivers timely, accurate, and comprehensive services to prospective students from point of inquiry through enrollment. OREP advances the University’s commitment to access and opportunity through pathway-based recruitment, programmatic outreach aligned to institutional enrollment goals, and strategic engagement with K–12 districts, community colleges, families, and community partners. OREP is housed within Academic Affairs and reports to the Presidential Associate for Community Partnerships, Engagement & Outreach.

Requirements

Master's Degree - Equivalent to a master's degree in the applicable field related to higher education or demonstrated coursework showing counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job-related.
A minimum of four years of progressively responsible higher education experience and delivery of services and programs to students and external constituents.
A minimum of three years leading a team of student service professionals in outreach and recruitment programs.
General knowledge of the principles, practices and trends of the student services area as well as in-depth knowledge of the program development, grant writing, recruitment and outreach.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of four years experience in higher education recruitment.
A Master's degree in a related field is preferred with four years experience and a working knowledge of the core functions in outreach, recruitment, campus tours, and event management.
Must have a working knowledge of current trends in higher education.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic execution of OREP’s pathway-based recruitment framework across high school and community college audiences, aligning outreach activity to the University’s enrollment priorities and the four recruitment quadrants.
Develop and maintain a data-informed recruitment plan that prioritizes feeder schools, community colleges, and geographic regions based on application yield, conversion potential, and alignment to the local service area.
Provide strategic oversight of pre-admission advising through the Counselor-on-Duty function, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and quality across counselor interactions.
Collaborate with the Lead Transfer Counselor on the integrated execution of community college outreach, Amazon Choice, Transfer Academies, and Transfer Success Pathway (TSP) alignment.
Coordinate the handoff from CPP Launch, RISE, and other access pipelines into the recruitment funnel in partnership with the Director of Educational Access.
Partner with Enrollment Management & Services on yield strategy, admitted student engagement, and melt mitigation.
Lead the development and continuous improvement of recruitment messaging in partnership with Strategic Communications and the OREP Operations Group.
Serve as a primary OREP voice in University-wide enrollment planning conversations and represent the unit on relevant committees and working groups.
Lead, supervise, and develop a team of student services professionals responsible for high school and community college recruitment, pre-admission advising, and field-based outreach.
Foster a collaborative, innovative, and accountable team culture grounded in service to prospective students, families, and partner institutions.
Establish clear performance expectations, role clarity, and key performance indicators for each direct report, anchored to the OREP playbook structure.
Lead regular team meetings, strategy sessions, and professional development activities that build counselor capacity and adapt to evolving recruitment trends.
Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop counselor staff; provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and career development.
Coordinate with the OREP Operations Group on the scheduling, training, and deployment of student ambassadors in support of recruitment events, school visits, and tours.
Identify and resolve operational and interpersonal challenges promptly; escalate policy, budget, and strategic questions to the Presidential Associate.
Provide strategic oversight of Explore CPP and Bronco Bound as the institution’s signature recruitment and yield events, in coordination with the Events & Communications Coordinator within the Operations Group.
Ensure that the tiered campus tour ecosystem (Discovery, Freshman-Focused, Transfer-Focused, Academic College, and Admitted Student tours) is aligned to recruitment pathways and consistently delivered.
Establish messaging and content priorities for recruitment events and tours that reinforce the four-quadrant framework and the academic identity of Cal Poly Pomona.
Partner with academic colleges, faculty, and student organizations to support program-specific recruitment experiences, including lab visits, faculty panels, and academic college tours.
Approve outreach calendars, fair and visit prioritization, and event participation decisions for the recruitment team.
Evaluate the effectiveness of events, tours, and field activity through post-event analysis and apply findings to the next cycle.
Develop and steward strategic relationships with high school counselors, district administrators, community college transfer staff, and community-based organizations to advance Cal Poly Pomona’s visibility and access mission.
Evaluate and recommend recruitment technologies, name acquisition opportunities, and engagement platforms in partnership with the Outreach & Systems Lead and the Presidential Associate; lead vetting of vendors and contracts in alignment with University procurement processes.
Serve as a functional partner to the Outreach & Systems Lead on Slate CRM strategy, ensuring recruitment workflows, communications, and reporting requirements are clearly articulated.
Maintain current knowledge of CSU admission policy, and Chancellor’s Office directives; ensure the recruitment team operates within policy and represents the University accurately.
Prepare reports, briefings, and analyses for the Presidential Associate, Provost, and other senior leaders regarding application trends, recruitment activity, and feeder performance.
Represent OREP at CSU systemwide convenings, regional partnerships, and other external forums that advance Cal Poly Pomona’s recruitment and access objectives.
Observe and model the University’s values in all internal and external interactions.
Participates in all OREP and divisional staff development, staff meetings, and major staff events to promote the University.
Conducts testing of systems utilized by OREP (e.g., Cal State Apply application, Slate information/communication system, etc.).
Adheres to laws and policies established regarding computer data, records, accounting, and personnel by the California State University, Cal Poly Pomona, and OREP to demonstrate sensitivity and appropriate conduct as a University employee.
Adheres to and advises prospective students properly regarding CSU admission policies and processes.
Prepares and utilizes outreach reports detailing application, admit, and enrollment trends, and analyzes prospective student inquiries to determine yield strategies.
Performs administrative and programmatic duties as assigned, including providing generalist support at the department service desk and telephones.
Works extended hours, weekends, and evenings to support OREP programs and services.
Rotates on a needed basis to perform customer service duties and support the front-facing counter of OREP, as determined by OREP leadership and/or operational need.
Ensures compliance and maintains the integrity of prospective student, applicant, and student records; staff members are strictly prohibited from making unauthorized changes without explicit HEERA permission.

Benefits

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers.
Part of CSU’s mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture, and future.
As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California.
The CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.
Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment to final job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
The conditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information.
In determining the suitability of the candidate for the position, Cal Poly Pomona will give an individualized assessment to any information that the applicant submits for consideration regarding the criminal conviction history such as the nature, gravity and recency of the conviction, the candidate’s conduct, performance or rehabilitation efforts since the conviction and the nature of the job applied for.
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.
Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
This position is part of the Management Personnel Plan (MPP) unit M80.
Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Positions that require driving for university business by using a personal or state vehicle must comply with the Authorized University Driver Policy.
Driving records are monitored and evaluated by the Risk Management Department.
This position is a “designated position” in the California State University’s Conflict of Interest Code.
The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file financial interest disclosure forms subject to state regulations.
Executive and Management Plan Personnel employees must disclose all current outside employment at the time of hire as a precondition of hire and at the following times after hire: annually in July, within 30 days of accepting outside employment, and upon their manager’s request.
The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing.
As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.
Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at [email protected].
Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.
Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona complies with the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and requests priority referral of protected veterans for our job openings.