Marketing Recruitment Strategist

Illinois Central College•East Peoria, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Marketing Recruitment Strategist plans, writes, and executes recruitment marketing campaigns and content that support Illinois Central College’s enrollment goals. Reporting to the Manager of Marketing and Content Strategy, the Strategist turns campaign strategy into coordinated, multi-channel execution aligned with audience needs, enrollment cycles, and institutional priorities. The role serves prospective students ranging from recent and upcoming high school graduates to adult learners balancing work, family, and career changes. Campaigns support enrollment growth in areas such as 8-week classes, adult learners, Early College, and workforce development. The Strategist helps define success measures, analyze results, and make timely campaign adjustments when the data supports a change. Applicants must submit a resume and a portfolio of writing samples demonstrating multi-channel campaign copy. The annual compensation range is $52,915.20–$59,529.60.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English, or a related field.
At least 3 years of professional writing experience in marketing, advertising, communications, or enrollment marketing, including conversion-focused campaign copy.
At least 3 years of project management or campaign coordination experience.
Demonstrated ability to adapt writing for different audiences, channels, and formats.
Strong editing and proofreading skills with close attention to detail.
Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education recruitment marketing.
Experience writing for both traditional-aged students and adult learners.
Experience writing email and SMS campaigns in a CRM, such as Slate.
Experience writing paid social ads and landing pages, including A/B testing.
Familiarity with AP Style, plain language, and accessible writing practices.
Experience with project management systems such as Asana, Wrike, or TDNext.
Experience with audience segmentation and user experience journey mapping.
Experience with digital marketing channels and analytics.

Responsibilities

Develop and refine recruitment personas for prospective student audiences, including traditional-aged students and adult learners.
Manage prospective student journey maps from first inquiry through enrollment, identifying decision points, barriers, and communication gaps.
Use personas, journey maps, and enrollment data to shape campaign strategy with the Manager of Marketing and Content Strategy, including audience segmentation, message mapping, and channel planning.
Work with Admissions to align campaign strategy with recruitment priorities, funnel stages, and communication timing.
Project manage enrollment campaigns, ensuring deliverables are defined, tracked, completed, and evaluated.
Write recruitment campaign copy for email and drip/lead nurturing campaigns, SMS, direct mail, paid social ads, landing pages, and other communications such as deadline reminders, event invitations, and yield messages.
Adapt writing, voice, tone, and motivators for distinct prospective student audiences and funnel stages.
Translate messaging frameworks, audience segments, and personas into clear, scannable copy with action-oriented calls to action.
Develop copy variations for A/B testing and revise copy based on performance results.
Edit and proofread campaign content for accuracy, grammar, brand voice, and editorial style.
Partner with Brand & Creative to coordinate copy and design across print, social, and web deliverables.
Define campaign success measures and determine metrics to track across channels and funnel stages.
Analyze campaign performance and engagement data, including open, click, response, and conversion rates.
Make timely campaign pivots to messaging, audience, timing, or channel when supported by data.
Recommend longer-term strategy and persona adjustments based on campaign results and audience feedback, using dashboards and debriefs.
Perform related duties as required.