Associate Director of Recruitment

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 01/01/2025.

Position Summary:

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Office of Admission is seeking an inclusive, experienced, and enthusiastic admissions professional to join our team as the Associate Director of Recruitment. This position reports directly to the Director of Admissions and plays a key role in leading our undergraduate strategic recruitment efforts. As a member of the admissions team, the Associate Director of Recruitment is expected to align with the office’s mission, vision, and service values while supporting external stakeholders.

The Associate Director of Recruitment directly supervises three assistant directors and indirectly supervises six full-time admissions counselors each focused on strategic territory management, admissions counseling, and meeting undergraduate enrollment goals for new first-time first-year and transfer students (including second-bachelors), domestic and international.

This individual will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds as they implement and evaluate UNC’s undergraduate Strategic Recruitment and Yield Plan. Responsibilities will include developing strategies for travel and outreach, application generation and completion, holistic application review, and yield/melt initiatives. The Associate Director will play a crucial role in executing the university’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan, advancing UNC’s commitment to students first mindset and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Job Duties:

Strategic Recruitment (40%)

• Lead the development and implementation of the annual undergraduate strategic recruitment and yield plan working in partnership with the Director of Admissions to establish application and admit goals by territory/staff member.
• Develop strategies for outreach and yield aimed at increasing qualified applicant, admit and enrolled student numbers promoting a data-informed, relationship-based, and highly collaborative approach to recruitment
• Oversee coordination and training around strategic activities including recruitment travel, campus visit presentations, outreach and engagement activities, yield strategies, data integrity, customer service values, and support requests.
• Evaluate and provide feedback, coaching and interventions as appropriate to ensure assistant directors are communicating and executing strategic recruitment and yield efforts as expected related to transfer initiatives, diversity and access, and talented recruitment.
• Primary decision-maker regarding requests for UNC presence at events including but not limited to high school visits, college fairs, college nights, application events, school and program recognition events, etc.
• Work in partnership with the Associate Director of Events & Visits to deliver campus visit & event experiences that are authentic, engaging and impactful. Ensure requests for approval and support around all virtual and in-person events are timely and complete.
• Mentor and coach staff in the use of tools and applications to support strategic recruitment in key areas such as territory management, use of queries and reports, undergraduate application review, and vendor applications.
• Serve as the staff-assigned for a primary market and/or assist as staff assigned territory manager during staff transition and hiring periods.
• Provide transparency and leadership in working cooperatively and collaboratively with campus stakeholders to develop, refine and implement admissions and stakeholder led initiatives.

Leadership and Supervision (30%)

• Lead and inspire nine full-time staff collectively responsible for the execution of a strategic recruitment and yield plan in support of meeting enrollment goals for new student populations including domestic and international first-year and transfer students studying on the Greeley Campus.
• Responsible for annual goal setting and performance evaluations for three direct reports; the Assistant
  Director of Transfer & International Recruitment, Assistant Director of Diversity & Access, and the Assistant Director of Talented Recruitment.
• Plan and lead weekly recruitment team meetings and training/professional development sessions that serve to enhance knowledge and confidence of the team in executing strategic priorities and providing ethical admissions counseling to prospective students, families, and support systems at each stage in the recruitment and enrollment process
• Set expectations, provide mentorship, and create positive feedback systems for recruitment team staff to ensure ongoing growth and professional development and to enhance team effectiveness in strategic territory management and admissions counseling.
• Responsible for managing and maintaining an accurate and up-to-date Undergraduate Recruitment Handbook.

Application Management (20%)

• Assign and monitor application reader queues and reader expectations to expedite counselor review and timely decision release for undergraduate applicants
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with the Associate Director of Operations and undergraduate processing team to provide data-informed suggestions for improvement to application review forms and workflows, decision communications, queue assignment rules, etc.
• Support the Director of Admissions in the release of undergraduate admissions decisions and review of committee and decision appeals
• Lead annual application reader training for recruitment team staff; provide ongoing training and support as needed to ensure accurate and timely processing of admissions applications
• Develop initiatives for application generation and completion, ensuring a seamless process for prospective students.
  Facilitate holistic application review processes that align with institutional values and standards.

Departmental Leadership (10%)

• Work in partnership with the Director of Admissions to leverage third-party profiles and maintain a strong presence on external planning sites
• Proactively contribute to efforts to create and sustain a radically inclusive work environment including actively participate in trainings and learning opportunities focused on social justice, inclusion, diversity, and issues that impact historically marginalized groups in higher education.
• Liaise with internal and external teams to support the development and execution of authentic, engaging and impactful in-person and virtual presence and programming across all related communications and promotional platforms.
• Serve as a conduit between and across units communicating perceived and actual needs and opportunities to increase awareness of UNC academic and programs, campus resources, unique opportunities for study, university policies and procedures, the university brand and value proposition, etc.
• Contribute to the development and prioritization of strategies to grow efficiency across teams in the areas of undergraduate and graduate recruitment, campus visits and events, communications, and processing/operations
• Seek out opportunities to receive feedback and expand professional skills and knowledge including performance feedback, professional conferences, and presentation opportunities
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institute of higher education
• Minimum of three years of increasing responsibilities working in admissions, enrollment management, higher education, or related field
• Demonstrated experience working directly with high school or college students and/or their families and support persons in a leadership or service role
• Minimum of one year professional experience supervising full-time staff
• Excellent written communication and oral presentation/public speaking skills
• Sustained and ongoing commitment to creating inclusive spaces and advancing knowledge in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• A valid driver's license with the ability to travel and work nights and weekends as necessary

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Higher Education or a related field
• Six years of progressively increasing responsibility and leadership within Higher Education Admissions/Enrollment Management
• Proficient in ability to learn and leverage use of technology (Microsoft Office Suite, Slate CRM Database)
• Outstanding interpersonal, customer service, collaboration, and relationship-management skills
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively, critically, strategically, and analytically
• Experience with and continued interest in recruiting and serving historically marginalized populations and their families/support networks
• Bilingual Spanish language speaking and writing
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice

Certification/Registration/Licensing:

• Must have a valid driver's license or the ability to obtain a driver's license by the employment start date

Ability:

Beyond the minimum and preferred qualifications posted with the position, the following are desired Core Competencies:

• Vision and ability to implement innovative ideas
• Is culturally responsive and maintains a mindset and awareness that creates and promotes an environment that embraces values of radical inclusion
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, collaborative and consultative work environment
• Ability to lead and effectively manage change in a dynamic organization
• Assume accountability/dependability for quality of work
• Capacity to supervise and provide oversight of staff including effective training, task management, and assessment of job performance of staff
• Generate sound judgment, makes timely and informed decisions, and analyzes options to determine appropriate course of action
• Ability to resolve conflict and problems as they arise
• Exhibits behavior and leadership style that promotes teamwork and mutual support to achieve goals

Benefits:
Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position. Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.

About UNC
The University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral/research institution located in Greeley, Colorado. UNC’s commitment to education began in 1889 and continues to be a transformational force for our students. According to CollegeNet’s Social Mobility Index, UNC ranked #1 in social mobility (2022). UNC is also committed to providing our faculty and staff with the support they need to succeed as professionals, educators, and in life. Please visit UNC’s Career Hub,to learn more about UNC’s strategic plan, school programs, and employee benefits. Go Bears!

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The University of Northern Colorado believes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is the pathway to achieving an inclusive community and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. UNC supports the growth of individuals who care about race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability – to honor the intersectionality of our campus. Please visit UNC’s Career Hub to learn more about UNC’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

AAEO Employer
The University of Northern Colorado is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer that is committed to a culturally diverse staff, faculty, and student body.

The University will not engage in unlawful discrimination in employment or educational services against any person because of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Veteran status and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. It is the University’s policy to prohibit discrimination in employment or educational services on the basis of sexual orientation or political affiliation. The University will likewise take affirmative action to ensure that student applicants and enrolled students are treated during the enrollment at the University without regard to race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. Such affirmative action shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff, retirement, or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. Furthermore, the University will post in conspicuous places, notice setting forth the provisions of this University’s Equal Opportunity Policy.

Federal regulations require that the University of Northern Colorado retain all documents submitted by applicants. Materials will not be returned or copied for applicants.

Background Check
Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.

This position is contingent on funding from the Colorado State Legislature, approval by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the policies and regulations of the University of Northern Colorado.

Clery Act
In compliance with the Clery Act, the most recent University of Northern Colorado Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. A paper copy can be requested at the UNC Police Department. This report contains crime statistics and policy statements related to safety, conduct processes and Title IX investigations.