Director of Graduate Recruiting for Online Programs

Santa Clara University is seeking a Director of Graduate Recruiting for Online Programs to lead recruitment, outreach, and admissions strategy for graduate online programs. Compensation ranges from $91,800 to $114,785 annually, based on education, experience, relevant skills, and internal equity.

About the Role

The Director serves as the key leader in driving recruitment, outreach, and admissions strategy, bringing an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to expand the university’s profile and grow enrollment for graduate online programs. This role oversees enrollment projections, strategy development, and execution across all graduate schools, while providing leadership to the recruiting team to foster a culture of excellence in customer service and achieve admissions and enrollment growth targets.

Responsibilities

• Enrollment Management (20%)
  • Develop and implement recruitment strategies to meet application, admission, and yield targets for all programs.
  • Create reports on enrollment challenges and opportunities based on the funnel.
  • Utilize data to drive growth in the prospect pool, focusing on increasing qualified applicants.
  • Analyze and interpret data for each online program to support enrollment activities.
  • Develop and manage effective recruiting events for online graduate programs in collaboration with colleges and schools.
  • Partner with each graduate school to create recruitment strategies tailored to their student demographics and set enrollment targets, application procedures, and quality benchmarks.
• Recruitment (45%)
  • Work with the Associate Vice Provost for Online Graduate Programs and Graduate Assistant Deans to determine recruitment activities and lead outreach efforts.
  • Implement data-driven recruiting strategies based on best practices in enrollment management.
  • Identify and initiate new recruitment opportunities to increase program interest and enrollments.
  • Assess recruitment programs for maximum effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Provide input into advertising plans specific to graduate programs and participate in recruitment events and info sessions.
  • Establish prospect pools to meet or exceed targets for quality and quantity.
  • Collaborate with the Associate Vice Provost to implement strategic recruitment plans and goals.
  • Increase visibility of SCU online programs through outreach, graduate school fairs, training seminars, and presentations targeting specific communities.
  • Track and monitor student movement through the online application process and guide them to meet deadlines.
  • Provide accurate forecasting data to the Associate Vice Provost.
  • Maintain weekly communication with potential students to keep them engaged during the application process.
  • Communicate with potential students via phone, chat, and email.
• Day-to-Day Management of Recruitment Team and Processes
  • Execute daily recruitment activities, including outreach, prospect and lead generation.
  • Manage daily operations, providing training, motivation, and a positive work environment for a results-driven team.
  • Develop onboarding and training programs for new and growing team members.
  • Represent SCU graduate online programs at events on and off campus, including online events, undergraduate institutions, and partner agencies.
  • Utilize technology to support recruitment activities.
  • Maintain current knowledge of the university and its online degree programs.
• Market Analysis (10%)
  • Manage and provide content for recruitment presentations, including digital and print materials.
  • Work with the Associate Vice Provost and Director of Marketing and Communications to develop, implement, and assess marketing and communication plans.
  • Maintain and implement ongoing marketing campaigns in Slate, Meta, LinkedIn, and similar platforms.
  • Identify new opportunities and platforms to increase visibility and promote online programs.
  • Monitor and assess competitive programs to enhance marketing and targeting measures.
  • Engage current students and alumni to assist with program promotion and recruitment opportunities (e.g., social media and online events).
• Technology (5%)
  • Serve as the lead on the CRM (Slate), ensuring communication emails, events, and interviews are streamlined for online programs across all graduate schools.
  • Produce, maintain, and utilize weekly recruitment reports.
  • Assess the effectiveness of targeting strategies and communication channels for prospects.
• Financial Aid
  • Partner with graduate units to communicate financial aid and scholarship allocations.
  • Work with the Financial Aid and Bursar’s offices to ensure timely communication.
  • Use funds strategically to increase the quality and quantity of students, supporting recruitment, yield, and retention.
• Customer Service (10%)
  • Deliver exceptional customer service to prospective students throughout the inquiry and application process.
• Strategy (5%)
  • Serve on the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs leadership team and assist with reports and metrics as needed.
  • Provide leadership and strategy for recruitment activities and procedures in collaboration with the Associate Vice Provost for Online Graduate Programs.
  • Work with Assistant Deans of colleges/schools on strategic alignment of online graduate recruiting as needed.
• Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
  • Provide work direction to 2 Assistant Directors of Recruiting for Online Graduate Programs.
  • May work with student employees.

Requirements

• Education and Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
  • Minimum of 6 years of higher education admissions experience, preferably in graduate-level admissions.
  • Sales or admissions experience.
  • Comfortability with online technology platforms.
• Knowledge
  • Expertise in admissions and/or graduate school recruiting preferred.
  • Knowledge of graduate programs in various disciplines.
  • Understanding of higher education marketing.
  • Working knowledge of enrollment CRM, student information systems, and other technology solutions in student marketing and recruitment.
  • Commitment to the Jesuit tradition of education and the fundamental values of service to others, community, and diversity.
• Skills
  • Oral and written communication skills, including experience speaking to diverse groups.
  • Organizational skills, including time management, multitasking, and project completion.
  • Commitment to customer service, both internal and external.
  • Innovation and creativity in thinking and problem-solving.
• Abilities
  • Exceptional management experience and administrative skills.
  • Ability to manage complex processes and procedures with attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently carry out tasks of varying complexity.
  • Ability to exercise sound and appropriate judgment in a challenging work environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to cultivate collaborative interpersonal relationships with internal and external constituencies.
  • Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
  • Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations, operating as an integral part of the SCU Online team.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal. The role may require:

• Travel to other buildings on campus.
• Attendance at conferences and training sessions within the Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
• Travel to offsite locations, including clients, customers, vendors, or suppliers.

Work Environment

The work environment includes:

• Regular visits to offsite locations.
• A typical office environment, mostly indoors with windows.
• Equipment noise and frequent interruptions.
• A flexible hybrid work schedule, with telecommuting permitted within California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, or Illinois.

Pay

$91,800 - $114,785 annual salary, based on education, experience, relevant skills, and internal equity.