Associate Director, Full-Time MBA Admissions (HR Title: Student Recruiter III)

Southern Methodist University

$75K — $95K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required, MBA or Master's in Higher Education Administration preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years of work experience required.
  • Experience in university admissions, advising, and/or marketing/sales strongly preferred.
  • Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills essential.
  • Proficient in MS Office and CRM systems (e.g., Slate, PeopleSoft) preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute recruitment strategy for full-time MBA programs.
  • Plan and manage recruiting-related projects in collaboration with stakeholders.
  • Oversee the MBA Student Ambassador team to enhance recruitment yield.
  • Develop and implement event marketing strategy and collaborate with marketing teams.
  • Streamline admissions processes using Slate and other tools.
  • Provide additional support to the Cox Graduate Admissions team as needed.
  • Participate in occasional evening/weekend events and travel as required.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans available.
  • Wide range of wellness programs to support employee health.
  • Commitment to various retirement programs for current and future employees.
  • Professional and personal development opportunities including tuition benefits.
Full Job Description
Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This position is responsible for recruiting high quality candidates for the full-time Cox MBA (FTMBA) programs (One & Two Year) and related dual-degree programs (MA/MBA, JD/MBA, & M.S. Engineering/MBA). These programs represent 165 students per year, compete amidst a highly-competitive market for top-tier students, and are critical to the reputation and rankings of the Cox school. The individual will travel domestically and internationally to recruit a diverse class of students. This position will review applications and conduct interviews to assess the applicant's success in the program and future career goals, making admissions and scholarship recommendations.

Essential Functions:
  • Student Recruitment Strategy & Execution: Develop strategy to recruit students for full-time MBA programs, aligning with team to translate into executable plan. Attend in-person and virtual recruiting events, pitching Cox programs. Steward prospects through application, interview, and assessment phases, making admissions and scholarship recommendations as part of the Admissions Committee.
  • Strategic Project Management: Plan and execute recruiting-related projects (e.g., on-boarding new recruiting partners / vendors) that may impact the entire Graduate Admissions organization. Operate with limited oversight and coordinate with diverse internal and external stakeholders to address complex challenges in an ever-changing market. Assess and provide recommendations on budget impacts.
  • Oversee MBA Student Ambassadors: Manage team of student ambassadors to enhance recruiting yield, including selection / on-boarding / training, task assignment (matching with prospects), and performance feedback.
  • Marketing & Events Strategy and Execution: Help develop and execute event strategy for full-time MBA programs. Collaborate with SMU Marketing team to promote events and drive leads.
  • Operational Excellence: Implement processes in Slate and other tools to streamline recruiting, application review, admissions, and yielding processes.
  • Additional support to broader Cox Graduate Admissions Team through other duties as assigned.
  • Occasional evening and/or weekend event support is required.
  • Occasional regional, national, and international travel is required.
Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree is required. An MBA or Master's in Higher Education Administration is preferred.

A minimum of five years of work experience is required.

Experience in University admissions, advising, and/or marketing/sales strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and to effectively interact with students, alumni, staff, faculty, and prospective students. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Experience with sales, student advising, or admissions is preferred. Knowledge of 1-20 international student visa process is preferred.

Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of MS Office. Experience with and/or knowledge of CRM systems (e.g. Slate or PeopleSoft) is strongly preferred.

Candidate must have the ability to generate new admissions strategies and ideas and execute them in order to increase enrollment.

Physical and Environmental Demands:
  • Sit for long periods of time
  • Carry/lift 25 lbs.
  • Stand

Deadline to Apply:

The position is open until filled.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by June 29, 2026

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities , including tuition benefits .

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