"Director, Undergraduate Recruitment"

Director, Undergraduate Recruitment

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Reporting to the Associate VP, Enrollment & Dean of Admissions, the Director, Undergraduate Recruitment provides strategic leadership for all domestic recruitment initiatives, overseeing first-year and transfer student outreach across the United States. The Director supervises a team of admission professionals, manages territory development, and builds partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and access organizations to drive enrollment. The Director collaborates closely with the Directors of International Admissions, Enrollment Marketing, and Enrollment Technology to align messaging, optimize systems, and ensure a student-centered recruitment experience.

Essential Job Duties

Strategic Recruitment Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive domestic recruitment plan for first-year and transfer students, including outreach to high schools, community colleges, and college access organizations.
• Supervise and support regional and campus-based admission counselors responsible for U.S. territories.
• Use year-over-year funnel metrics to evaluate territory health and meet annual enrollment benchmarks by student segment.
• Serve as a senior representative for Emerson College at high-priority recruitment events.

Territory Management & Outreach

• Assign and assess domestic territories based on enrollment priorities, past performance, and market potential.
• Provide training, guidance, and coaching to staff on best practices in territory management, school engagement, and applicant cultivation.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with high school counselors, community college advisors, CBO leaders, and other influencers in the college decision process.

Transfer Recruitment & Partnerships

• Lead the development of strategies to recruit and enroll undergraduate transfer students, including articulation agreement support and community college outreach.
• Collaborate with academic departments, Registrar, and advising staff to ensure a smooth transfer experience for prospective students.

Application Review & Selection

• Oversee the application review and selection process for domestic first-year and transfer applicants, ensuring consistency and alignment with enrollment goals.
• Supervise and support the reading team in applying holistic review practices and consistent file evaluation across territories.
• Partner with senior admission leadership to set annual reading timelines, volume benchmarks, and counselor caseload assignments.
• Analyze decision outcomes to inform future recruitment strategies, territory outreach, and application reader training.
• Serve as a lead reader for key domestic regions and support complex or high-profile admissions decisions.

Collaboration with Enrollment Partners

• Coordinate closely with the Director, International Admissions to align communications, share insights, and collaborate on shared events where appropriate.
• Partner with the Director, Enrollment Marketing to implement campaigns, ensure accurate representation of recruitment priorities, and enhance student engagement.
• Work with the Director of Enrollment Technology to improve CRM-based workflows, monitor counselor performance metrics, and enhance the use of data dashboards.
• Work closely with the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) to develop consistent processes and policies to support international students.

Operational Oversight & Reporting

• Manage recruitment budget for domestic travel, event participation, and professional development.
• Use Slate and institutional dashboards to analyze ROI on recruitment travel quarterly and adjust strategy based on yield rates, event attendance, and inquiry-to-application conversion.
• Regularly assess recruitment processes for efficiency, equity, and alignment with institutional goals.
• Ensure compliance with FERPA, NACAC, and other professional standards.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is required. Master's degree is preferred.
• At least seven (7) years of progressive experience in domestic undergraduate recruiting and admission is required.
• Supervisory experience with professional admission staff is required.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. high school and community college ecosystems is required.
• Demonstrated success in territory management, transfer recruitment, and student engagement is required.
• Experience as a campus SEVP Designated School Official (DSO) is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills are required.
• Experience using CRM platforms (preferably Technolutions Slate) and Microsoft Office is required.
• Experience building partnerships with college access organizations, school districts, and community colleges is preferred.
• Experience with staff training, strategic planning, and process improvement is preferred.
• Comfort interpreting and presenting data to inform decisions is preferred.
• Commitment to access initiatives in recruitment is preferred.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic recruitment plans.
• Strong leadership, supervision, and team-building skills.
• Excellent analytical skills to interpret data, evaluate territory health, and assess ROI.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for building relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (especially Technolutions Slate) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• In-depth knowledge of domestic recruitment best practices, including high school and community college engagement.
• Ability to manage budgets effectively.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of relevant compliance standards (FERPA, NACAC).
• Ability to train and coach staff on recruitment and territory management.
• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Physical Abilities

• Ability and willingness to travel extensively for recruitment events across the United States.
• Ability to transport recruitment materials, which may involve lifting and carrying.
• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and walking during recruitment events and office work.
• Ability to operate computer equipment and communicate effectively via telephone and in person for extended periods.

Work Environment

Typical office environment.