Director of Undergraduate Recruitment

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Admissions, this position provides leadership for the undergraduate student recruitment team and manages efforts to meet university enrollment goals. The role leads, supervises, and develops the Recruitment team, including the High School team, Transfer Services team, and the Assistant Director of International Admissions in the planning and execution of outreach, recruitment, and yield management initiatives.

The position assists the Executive Director in developing and implementing annual recruitment goals, and a comprehensive recruitment plan aligned with institutional enrollment priorities. This includes leadership of yield management strategies designed to increase the number of admitted students who ultimately choose to enroll at MSU Denver.

This role supports the Executive Director in coordinating recruitment efforts across the institution to ensure a cohesive and student-centered experience for prospective and admitted students. The position identifies and helps reduce barriers within the admissions process while partnering with academic and student support units to advance recruitment and enrollment initiatives. The Director provides leadership and coordination for institution-wide recruitment and yield efforts by fostering collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative areas. The role supports faculty and staff engaged in recruitment activities through training, communication, and strategic alignment that advances enrollment goals and enhances the prospective student experience.

The position oversees operational resources and provides strategic input on budget planning to support recruitment initiatives. It also oversees the development and maintenance of partnerships with advisors at local and regional community colleges, high school counselors, businesses, and community organizations to strengthen the university's recruitment network. The role also assists the Executive Director in providing strategic direction for communication, marketing, campus visits, and recruitment events that support enrollment goals. In collaboration with University Communications and Marketing and the Executive Director of Admissions, the position helps to develop and implement the university's annual undergraduate recruitment marketing campaign.

The position represents MSU Denver at recruitment events and maintains relationships with educational partners and community stakeholders. The role also provides strategic leadership for recruitment initiatives targeting key student populations, including out-of-state students and veterans.

This position supports the university's goal of maintaining its Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) status and may serve in place of the Executive Director of Admissions when needed.

50% - Strategic Leadership & Recruitment Operations

• Provides leadership and oversight for the university's undergraduate recruitment operations.

• Leads, supervises, and develops the Recruitment team, including High School, Transfer Services, and International Recruitment.

• Establishes operational priorities, performance expectations, and professional development opportunities for recruitment staff; conducts performance evaluations for direct reports.

• Convenes recruitment leadership meetings and facilitates regular team meetings focused on progress toward goals, strategic initiatives, and staff development.

• Applies principles of strategic enrollment management to guide recruitment strategy, yield activities, staff development, and operational planning.

• Monitors and reports on key performance indicators, including application growth, yield rates, and conversion metrics, and adjusts strategies accordingly.

• Oversees recruitment-related resource allocation and provides recommendations to the Executive Director regarding budget priorities.

• Leads the development and implementation of recruitment and yield strategies across diverse student populations, including first-time, transfer, adult, international, out-of-state, veteran, and readmit students.

• Oversees the day-to-day execution of outreach initiatives, campus visits, and recruitment events to increase prospect engagement, applications, and yield.

• In collaboration with the Executive Director, contributes to achieving undergraduate enrollment targets across all student populations.

20% - Institutional Recruitment Strategy & Cross-Campus Collaboration

• Serves as a primary Admissions liaison for coordinating campus-wide recruitment and outreach initiatives.

• Supports the Executive Director in leading Recruitment Hub coordination, including facilitating communication, alignment, and engagement across colleges/schools and student support units.

• Assists in aligning university resources to support a comprehensive recruitment strategy tied to institutional enrollment goals.

• Maintains strong working relationships with University Communications and Marketing to ensure a cohesive and effective experience for prospective students.

• Collaborates with University Communications and Marketing to help inform and implement the university's undergraduate recruitment marketing campaign.

• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with Academic Affairs to support enrollment pipelines and identify program-specific recruitment opportunities.

15% - Recruitment Outreach, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships

• Collaborates with Admissions Marketing & Communications staff to develop and refine recruitment communications, including digital, print, and web-based content.

• Partners with visits and events leadership to oversee the development and execution of on-campus and virtual visit programs that support recruitment and yield objectives.

• Oversees the development and maintenance of strategic partnerships with high schools, community colleges, businesses, and community organizations.

• Represents the university at recruitment events, high school visits, community colleges, and partner organizations.

10% - Admissions Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Advises the Executive Director on recruitment strategies, goals, and tactics aligned with institutional priorities, including the university's Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) mission.

• Serves as a member of the Executive Director's leadership team.

• Utilizes data and strategic enrollment management principles to guide development of the annual recruitment plan and evaluate the effectiveness and return on investment of recruitment initiatives.

• Ensures adherence to professional standards and ethical practices in college admissions.

• May serve in place of the Executive Director when needed.

Other Duties (5%)

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university

• Minimum of five years of experience in admissions or recruitment in a higher education setting.

• Minimum of three years of experience supervising professional staff.

• Experience creating and/or implementing strategic recruitment plans and yield management initiatives.

• Experience with data analysis in developing new student enrollment goals and outcomes.

• Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding enrollment targets.

• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, or system implementations in support of enrollment operations.

• Knowledge of research based best practices in the recruitment of a diverse student body and demonstrated experience working with diverse populations.

• Experience creating and managing admissions visits and events.

• Experience with office budget management.

• Experience with Microsoft Office, student information system, and CRMsystem.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

• Minimum of three years directing recruitment activities in a competitive enrollment market.

• Minimum of five years of experience supervising professional staff.

• Minimum of three years in a director level role or higher in a higher education setting

• Experience recruiting high school, transfer, adult, readmit, veteran/military connected students, and international students

• Experience with Workday and SlateCRMsystem.

• Experience creating and overseeing communications campaigns for college admissions with knowledge of marketing and accessibility requirements.

• Experience managing vendor contracts and relationships.

• Demonstrated experience with cross-team collaboration.

• Adaptability to emerging trends in student recruitment including but not limited to AI

• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Work Hours

• Full-time, 40 hours per week; Exempt

• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM MST

• Hybrid schedule; Minimum 4 days on campus required per week.

Open Until Filled

The University's benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as accessto a long-term disability (LTD) plan.Visit MSU Denver'sbenefits websiteto learn more.

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf.

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator attotalrewards@msudenver.edu.

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.