Assistant Director of First-Year Outreach - Office of Strategic Recruitment and Outreach

About the role

The Assistant Director of First-Year Outreach provides leadership and oversight for first-year recruitment strategy, territory management, and daily outreach operations. This role supervises recruitment staff, ensures effective execution of outreach activities, and drives data-informed decision-making to meet enrollment goals.

Responsibilities

• Implement first-year recruitment strategies aligned with institutional enrollment goals.
• Partner with colleges and internal stakeholders to align outreach efforts and messaging.
• Analyze enrollment and funnel data (prospect → applicant → admit → enroll) to identify opportunities and adjust strategies.
• Evaluate and refine territory assignments, travel plans, and school engagement strategies.
• Establish clear performance expectations and goals for assigned territories and staff.
• Oversee day-to-day outreach operations, including recruitment calendar planning and execution.
• Ensure effective coverage and coordination of recruitment activities (high school visits, fairs, events, virtual engagement).
• Maintain data integrity and ensure accurate coding of recruitment activities.
• Develop and monitor reports to assess outreach effectiveness, staff productivity, and territory performance.
• Use data to inform decision-making, improve efficiency, and optimize recruitment outcomes.
• Identify trends in student engagement and enrollment behavior to guide strategy adjustments.
• Support development of dashboards and reporting tools in collaboration with Recruitment Operations.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate recruitment staff to ensure strong performance and professional growth.
• Set clear expectations, monitor outcomes, and provide regular feedback.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and training of recruitment staff.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and student-centered team culture.
• Serve as a resource for prospective students and families through presentations, events, and individual outreach.
• Conduct pre-admission advising and support students through the application process.
• Resolve complex student issues related to recruitment, application status, or admissions processes.
• Represent the institution at on- and off-campus events.
• Partner with internal units, Enrollment Management, and campus partners to align outreach efforts.
• Participate in planning and execution of major recruitment events and initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in college admissions, college recruitment, or enrollment management.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse student populations.
• Knowledge of admissions processes, enrollment strategies, and student development principles.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g., Slate) and with data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience supervising or mentoring full-time staff.
• Experience managing recruitment territories or outreach strategies.
• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into action.
• Experience collaborating across functional teams.