Athletic Recruiting Liaison

Position Purpose

The Athletic Recruiting Liaison supports the Institution’s mission by recruiting a diverse student population of student athletes to undergraduate programs. In collaboration with coaches, the liaison facilitates the enrollment of prospective student athletes by taking them through the admission process. This role is essential to building strong incoming classes aligned with AU’s commitment to access, academic quality, and student success.

Core Competencies

1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
2. Upholds the Mission Statement: At Aurora University, our singular goal is to empower students to achieve lasting personal and professional success. We do this by being an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and purposeful lives.
3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities and events.

Essential Job Functions

• Identifies, recruits and enrolls a specified quantity of prospective students in an assigned sport and works in concert with the athletic coaching staff on the co-recruitment of undergraduate (freshman and transfer) athletes.
• Assist with special programs and research projects; participates in the development and implementation of enrollment strategies to achieve institutional enrollment goals.
• Achieve assigned recruiting metrics, including visits for assigned territory.
• Timely follow up at all levels of the enrollment funnel to yield the correct call to action for the next required step.
• Provide accurate information about Aurora University's degree program and admissions procedures.
• Evaluate high school transcripts, some test scores (ACT/SAT), provide recommendations on athletes in order to advise coaches, students, and family on student admission and scholarships.
• Attends college fairs and in house phone nights, and provides impactful communication with prospect families to build strong personal relationships.
• Assists coaches with the coordination of athletic related recruiting events including, but not limited to: open houses, game day events, overnight campus visits and junior prospect events.
• Works with the Assistant Vice President for Freshman Admission to keep coaches informed about open houses, AU4U events, and other key events, as well as providing updates on admissions and institutional matters as needed.
• Communicate Aurora University’s advantages to various populations in varying situations.
• Provides the Assistant Vice President for Freshman Admission with territory, monthly, weekly benchmark report, and communication report per sport and coach.
• Recommends promotional materials needed to promote each sport, with University Communications and Sports Information Director.
• Facilitates communication between coaches and athletes by coordinating information through Slate, Front Rush, and related systems.
• Help manage each coach’s individual recruiting roster to ensure accuracy; if inaccurate, takes the appropriate action to correct.
• Develop and manage a communication process to the athletes and their families from the athlete’s first contact through final assignment decision.
• Work directly with coaches, faculty and recruited athletes to coordinate, schedule, communicate and execute campus visits.
• Support open houses, on-campus and off-campus territory recruitment events.
• Guide prospective families through the financial aid process; assist families to determine a comprehensive financial plan for attendance at Aurora University.
• Manage student interns to assist in fulfilling admission counselor duties.
• Engage with current CRM, Colleague and other technology recruitment strategies; actively recommend ideas and process improvements.
• Other duties as assigned by the Assistant Vice President for Freshman Admission or AU administration.

Essential Job Requirements

Education

Bachelor’s Degree required.

Experience

• Experience in higher education admission is important.
• Knowledge of Aurora University academic programs preferred.
• Experience in sales is preferred.

Skills

• Receptive to the needs of and ability to relate well to prospective families is necessary.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills.
• Self-motivated to achieve goals.
• Ability to work well with others and willingness to take on meaningful additional responsibilities.
• Customer-service orientation and professional manners.
• Knowledge of Microsoft software essential. Knowledge of Colleague/Slate preferred.
• Ability to handle and act upon confidential information.
• Ability to speak in front of unknown audiences.
• Ability to prioritize work and to meet deadlines required. Flexibility with an evolving work situation.
• Ability to accept divergent views while maintaining a constructive working relationship with other team members.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work with a computer for long periods of the day.
• Ability to attend off campus meetings.
• Office setting, standing, walking, sitting.
• Ability to interact via telephone, in person and via electronic media.
• Ability to lift boxes of materials when needed.

Work Hours

Expected equivalent of 40 hours per week, but days/hours may vary as needed. Hybrid employment will be considered if candidate can demonstrate ability to fulfill this role effectively off-site.

Special Requirements

• A valid driver's license and driving record which meets institutional requirements is required.
• Requires travel between campus locations or to attend off-site meetings.

The anticipated pay rate for this position is $40,000-$45,000 per year. This compensation is subject to change at the sole discretion of the university, based on institutional needs.