The Assistant Director of MBA Recruiting

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Position Description

The Assistant Director of MBA Recruiting is part of the Owen Graduate School of Management Recruiting and Admissions Office (RAO) at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for leading recruiting and yielding top candidates for the MBA program. This position is expected to execute strategies to identify and attract high-quality candidates to the Vanderbilt Business program, respond to candidate inquiries, help candidates through the recruiting and admissions process, convert prospective candidates to applicants, and move them through the yield process. This position reports directly to the Director of MBA Recruiting for weekly progress and discussion of strategies, budget needs, and new initiatives.

The Assistant Director will initiate and lead front-line recruitment efforts (in-person, on phone, virtually, and via email) with a designated group of targeted prospective/admitted students with the goal of enrolling high-quality MBA candidates in the program.

About the Work Unit:

The OGSM is a professional school at Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, focused on graduate-level business education. Owen's mission is to create opportunities for its faculty, staff, and students to discover, grow, and thrive in business and beyond. Owen recognizes discovery in traditional forms, such as scholarly research, intellectual curiosity, and curricular learning. But it also celebrates discovery unique to the human experience, that is, the art of becoming, which is lived through a desire to connect with others, to find meaning in work and relationships, and to create something new. Owen sees transformation as foundational.

The Recruiting and Admissions Office proactively searches for top talent and engages with prospective students interested in the Vanderbilt MBA program. Each team member strives to showcase Vanderbilt values to prospective students through processes and interactions. The recruiting team engages with candidates as they navigate the search for a world class business education, while the admissions team thoughtfully selects top talent for the program. Together, the recruiting and admission teams work in tandem to deliver the most unique and personal experience for prospective students who are looking to pursue academic programs at Vanderbilt Business.

Key Functions and Areas of Responsibility:

Managing Recruiting and Admissions Processes

• Initiates and leads recruitment efforts (in-person, on phone, via Zoom and via email).
• Increases awareness, recognition, and reputation of Vanderbilt Business.
• Participates in aspects of marketing, admissions, recruitment and coaching.
• Manages a book of business of prospective students including:
  • Defining creative ways to identify, reach out, engage, and follow up with prospective candidates throughout the entire life cycle of the MBA admissions process.
  • Executing strategies to identify and attract high-quality candidates to the Vanderbilt Business programs.
  • Responding to candidate inquiries, counseling candidates through the admissions process, converting prospects to applicants, and applicants to enrolled students through yield and engagement activities.
  • Collaborating with the recruiting and admissions teams to develop and enhance team's strategy and execution.
• Promotes Vanderbilt Business programs (specifically the MBA program) to interested individuals and groups through various channels for program attendance and post-graduation employment.
• Devises, organizes, and participates in domestic and/or international recruiting events for prospective candidates.
• Collaborates with teams across Owen, Vanderbilt, and the MBA admissions landscape to drive recruiting initiatives and develop resources for team and candidates.
• Occasionally interviews and evaluates candidates as needed.
• Follows up with admitted applicants and facilitates interaction with students, faculty, staff and alumni; documents every candidate or applicant interaction in Slate (or other application software).
• Provides admission counseling and related career coaching throughout recruitment experience.
• Leads one or more major projects or events with Recruiting & Admissions, such as management of virtual or in-person events (strategy, preparation, and facilitation), or other initiatives such as student and alumni contact programs, weekend events, corporate relations, career coaching, or oversight of administrative processes and systems to support department.
• Takes the lead to create, set up, manage, drive attendance, execute, and follow up with attendees for recruiting events.
• Keeps up with current trends in graduate business education through GMAC or other industry publications.
• Devises a plan for professional development in conjunction with the Director of MBA Recruiting prior to budget submission in December each year.
• Actively and passionately contributes as integral part of the Recruiting & Admissions team and is respectful of others in the office.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Director of MBA Recruiting.

Education and Qualification:

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• Advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.
• Minimum of three years of experience in a recruiting role in corporate, higher education, or professional setting is necessary.

Experience and Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to interact with a diverse population ranging from students across multiple degree programs
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.
• Heavy customer service orientation, with preference for candidates with familiarity with MBA career functions and industries.
• Experience with interviewing and evaluation of candidates is a plus.

Ability to take initiative, think quickly, and handle multiple tasks at one time.