Assistant Director of Student Recruitment

Department
 

Harris School Student Recruitment & Operations

About the Department
 

Why policy? For a better world. Why Harris Public Policy? Because when it comes to better policymaking, evidence matters. We work at the frontiers of data collection and analysis, using the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society. We conduct rigorous inquiry in an environment of innovation and risk taking, fearlessly questioning the status quo. We collaborate across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, adopting new methodologies to drive better solutions. We engage with our city, our world, and our leaders every day to evaluate and test our ideas. And we lead with our passion for driving social change, knowing that passion alone does not equal impact. With passion and precision, we figure out what’s best for society—and get it done. This is Harris Public Policy: Social impact, down to a science.

Job Summary
 

The Assistant Director of Student Recruitment, is responsible for working with key segments to meet revenue targets, serves as the initial point of contact for prospective students, organizes the execution of recruitment events and campus visits, conducts interviews and applicant evaluations, coordinates the admissions of students independently or with guidance from others, and supports key administrative functions for the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach office.  In this role, the Assistant Director helps ensure a high-quality prospective student experience by providing excellent customer service and support to applicants and Chicago Harris colleagues. The assistant director will report to the Senior Director of Student Recruitment and Operations.

Responsibilities

Serve as the initial point of contact for prospective students (academic/degree-based programs), ensuring a positive, personalized experience unique to Chicago Harris, while delivering on net tuition targets

• Manage a caseload of students for a targeted program or demographic, focused on improving conversion rates through the enrollment funnel and meeting net tuition revenue targets
  • Understand the historical conversion rates and revenue targets of key populations and use this information to inform execution toward current targets
  • Participate and lead targeted events and outreach for key segments
  • Conduct outreach in the form of student appointments, phone calls, emails, SMS, campus visits, virtual and in-person events (pending COVID restriction updates)
• Seek opportunities to enhance and personalize interactions and visits with the Recruitment team, making recommendations on larger changes to leadership
• Manage daily inquiries to the Student Recruitment and Global Outreach office
  • Respond to and forward email and phone inquiries to appropriate staff, ensuring quick and informative responses to prospective students and others contacting the office
  • Answer walk-in visitor inquiries professionally, efficiently and effectively

Coordinate the application process and oversee collection of appropriate application and enrollment documentation for caseload

• Coordinate the inflow of applications and ensure all required application documentation is secured within established deadlines
  • Confirm application status and troubleshoot issues that arise with the submission process
  • Resolve prospective student inquiries throughout the application submission cycle

Coordinate the execution of recruitment events with attention to detail and according to Harris event standards

• Assist with visitation programs and tours, conveying information about Harris and admissions process to prospective students
• Work with the Director of Recruitment and other leadership to understand the objectives of specific recruitment events and help create detailed event plans based on those objectives and oversee their execution
• Collaborate with Harris and UChicago events experts in order to utilize best practices and ensure all events are executed according to standards appropriate for Harris
• Coordinate logistical arrangements for all campus visits to ensure a positive experience for prospective students and their accompanying guests

Serve as the day-to-day administrator for the Recruitment office

• Update and manage the accuracy of the Recruitment office calendar, ensuring all aspects of the recruitment life cycle are accounted for, as well as large events and initiatives happening in other areas of Harris and the University
• Execute GEMs and reimbursement reporting for the Recruitment Office, prospective student visitors, and others as assigned
• Provide support to the Director of Recruitment including scheduling meetings, coordinating travel, preparing materials, itineraries, meeting briefs, etc.
• Oversee student workers and other administrative staff, as applicable
• Execute special projects as assigned by the Director of Recruitment
• Recruits and/or evaluates applicants for admission by interviewing, reading applications and summarizing evaluations. Completes these tasks independently or with some guidance and instruction from others.
• Travels and recruits in an assigned geography, assisting with planning and delivering public presentations, special events, and other recruitment activities.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Political Science, Economics, Policy or related field.

Experience:

• Administrative experience in Recruitment/Admissions, Student Affairs, Academic Support, Sales, or closely-related environment.
• Familiarity with higher education environment, interest in public policy, and knowledge of the University of Chicago’s unique culture and administrative systems.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Customer-service orientation with a strong aptitude for maintaining a positive demeanor in difficult customer exchanges, and experience recruiting or working with diverse populations.
• Experience with Slate or other CRM.
• Demonstrate ability to review and prioritize work to take appropriate actions without advance approval, set priorities, and meet deadlines ensuring close attention to detail.
• Effectively work on multiple projects simultaneously employing strong project management skills.
• Excellent project management and written/verbal communication skills, both presenting and writing or editing experience.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Internet, social media, and e-mail at an intermediate level.
• Driver’s license and willingness to travel to regionally and nationally as needed, pending COVID restrictions.
• Evening and weekend work required occasionally and during peak recruitment season.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.