Job Description

Director, New Student Recruitment Strategy

Department: New Student Strategy & Engagement

Location: Jerry Sue Thornton Center

Reports To: AVP, New Stud Strategy & Engag

Recruitment Type: External/Internal

Requisition ID: req7200

Employment Type: Administration and Professionals

Union Position: Non-Union

Work Schedule: Standard College Hours: M-F, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm; some evenings and weekends may be required

Number of Openings: 1

The Director of New Student Recruitment Strategy serves as the College’s chief architect of intentional, data-informed recruitment strategy. This role is responsible for identifying and prioritizing target populations, designing differentiated recruitment and conversion approaches, and ensuring alignment with workforce, community, and institutional goals. The Director focuses on strategy, segmentation, and yield—not daily admissions operations—and works in close partnership with Marketing & Communications, academic leadership, and community stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and prioritizes new-student recruitment populations aligned with institutional goals and capacity.
  
• Designs differentiated recruitment and conversion strategies by population, geography, and modality.
  
• Establishes recruitment yield targets in collaboration with the Associate Vice President (AVP).
  
• Partners with Marketing & Communications to align messaging, campaigns, and outreach channels.
  
• Analyzes recruitment and enrollment data to inform strategic adjustments and decision making.
  
• Ensures recruitment strategy aligns with workforce demand and community needs.
  
• Recruits, selects, trains, coaches, and manages the performance of assigned staff
  
• Develops and maintains relationships with high schools, community-based organizations, employers, and partner agencies.
  
• Provides strategic guidance to admissions concierge leadership without managing daily operations.
  
• Supports external partner understanding of Tri-C’s centralized admissions and Welcome Center model.
  
• Prepares strategy briefs, analyses, and recommendations for executive leadership.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE/TRAINING

• Bachelor’s degree required in education, marketing, communications, or related field.
  • Significant related experience may substitute for education.
    
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in admissions, enrollment management, or recruitment strategy.
  
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing recruitment strategies that improve yield and enrollment outcomes.
  
• Prior experience working in complex or multi-campus environments.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of recruitment strategy, enrollment funnels, and yield optimization.
  
• Ability to analyze market trends and enrollment data to inform strategic decisions.
  
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  
• Ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners.
  
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
  
• Intermediate proficiency with CRM systems, enrollment technologies, and Microsoft Office applications.

COMPETENCIES

CRITICAL
COMPETENCIES

• Service Focus
  
• Continuous Improvement
  
• Quality of Work
  

VERY IMPORTANT
COMPETENCIES

• Communication
  
• Collaboration

IMPORTANT COMPETENCIES

• Adaptability
• Time Utilization
  
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE/TRAINING

• Master’s degree in higher education, business, marketing, or a related field.
  
• Demonstrated experience leading recruitment strategy in higher education.
  
• Experience partnering with workforce and community organizations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

(The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• The work is performed in a normal, professional office environment.
  
• The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.
  
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the duties of the job and will perform repetitive motions with hands/fingers using a computer mouse and keyboard to type. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items such as papers, files, pamphlets, books, etc.
  
• Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite.

Target Starting Salary Range: $90,000 to $95,000

The final offer for the successful candidate is targeted to fall within this range but will be based upon an assessment of internal equity, the unit’s available budget, and the candidate’s qualifications in relation to the minimum and/or preferred job requirement(s). 

Special Note: If hired, you must reside in the state of Ohio and be within commuting distance of this work location/campus to respond to onsite work demands upon the employment start date and throughout the duration of your employment with the College, as outlined in 3354:1-40-01.1 Recruitment and Selection Procedure

Special Instructions to Applicants: During the application process, you may be required to attach a cover letter and/or resume. It is recommended that you have these documents ready to be attached electronically to the online application. This system accepts only MS Word or PDF attachments. Any employment with the College is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check and drug screen.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Cuyahoga Community College is committed to attaining excellence through the recruitment and retention of a qualified workforce. Cuyahoga Community College is an equal employment/educational opportunity institution.