Job Description:OLLU seeks an experienced, mission-driven Senior Associate Director of Graduate Admissions to lead recruitment and enrollment efforts across the university's graduate portfolio, including master's and doctoral programs offered in San Antonio, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley, as well as online. Reporting to the Dean of Admissions, the Senior Associate Director owns the full graduate recruitment cycle, from inquiry through enrollment, for OLLU's predominantly domestic graduate population, while helping build toward a small but strategically important international graduate presence over time. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who builds strong partnerships with academic program directors, champions prospective students through every step of their journey, and reflects OLLU's commitment to access, opportunity, and the communities it serves.
Performance Evaluation Metrics:Recruitment & Yield: Achieve graduate enrollment targets across OLLU's program portfolio; maintain strong conversion rates from inquiry through application, admission, and enrollment.
Program Partnership: Build effective, trusted working relationships with graduate program directors and faculty to align recruitment activity with program capacity and academic priorities.
Pipeline Development: Establish and grow sustainable domestic pipelines, including employer partnerships, alumni referral, and an undergraduate-to-graduate bridge, while laying the groundwork for measured international growth.
Operational Excellence: Ensure strong Slate data integrity and self-sufficiency; partner with the Director of Enrollment Operations and Analytics to build efficient, student-centered workflows.
Essential Functions:1. Recruitment Strategy and Execution- Own graduate enrollment targets and translate OLLU's graduate enrollment strategy into a detailed, program-specific recruitment and yield plan covering master's and doctoral programs across San Antonio, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley, as well as online and professional programs; drive disciplined execution every cycle.
- Develop and manage the annual graduate recruitment calendar, coordinating in-person and virtual events, webinars, chat sessions, employer information sessions, and graduate/professional fairs.
- Carry a personal recruitment portfolio, maintaining direct relationships with prospective students, employers, and referral sources, and modeling the standards expected of the team.
- Use Slate, enrollment analytics, and AI-enabled tools to monitor pipeline health and program-level performance, and maintain recruitment reporting, including ROI tracking, for review with the Dean of Admissions.
- Create and execute lead-nurturing communication and social media campaigns, in partnership with the Enrollment Communications Manager and MarCom, that move prospective students efficiently from inquiry to enrolled.
- Partner with the Assistant Director of Campus Visit and Student Experience to build a compelling admitted-student experience, including open houses, campus visits, tours, and program-specific yield communications.
- Serve as a thought partner to the Dean of Admissions in scoping a measured international graduate recruitment strategy, coordinating with the PDSO as needed.
- Ensure an unparalleled customer service experience for all prospective students throughout the recruitment cycle.
2. Team Leadership and Development- Lead, coach, and develop graduate admissions counselor(s), setting clear goals, maintaining accountability, and building a culture focused on results and student experience.
- Hire, train, and onboard graduate admissions counselor(s) as the team grows.
- Ensure the team is self-sufficient in Slate for all day-to-day tasks; maintain data entry standards and data integrity.
- Partner with the Director of Enrollment Operations and Analytics to build efficient, student-centered workflows.
3. Collaboration and Partnerships- Collaborate closely with graduate program directors and academic deans across schools to align recruitment activity with program capacity, curriculum changes, and academic priorities, and to engage faculty directly in recruitment and yield activities such as webinars and info sessions.
- Partner with Financial Aid on graduate aid and scholarship strategy that supports access and meets net revenue goals.
- Partner with MarCom and academic program departments to ensure all graduate-facing web content stays current and accurate, and to develop program-specific marketing assets and student stories.
- Engage Alumni Relations and employer partners on recruitment, referral, and yield opportunities.
4. Analytics and Operations- Develop and maintain graduate admissions policies, procedures, and operational workflows that ensure a smooth, equitable applicant experience; review and recommend updates to admissions criteria as needed.
- Maintain statistics on applicant demographics, program mix, and pipeline sources; use this data to refine recruitment strategy each cycle.
- Manage graduate admissions budget and vendor relationships with fiscal discipline, evaluating ROI and strategic fit across recruitment and yield activities.
Additional Responsibilities:Other duties as assigned by the Dean of Admissions.
Requirements:Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Proven ability to build strong relationships with academic partners and lead recruitment execution with accountability for results.
- Strong analytical skills; proficiency in Slate or comparable CRM and familiarity with AI-enabled recruitment tools and emerging enrollment technology.
- Deep knowledge of graduate and adult/professional student recruitment, including online program recruitment; familiarity with the South Texas higher education landscape and the HSI student experience is a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across a complex campus environment, including with faculty and academic program directors.
- Direct experience recruiting or advising international students strongly preferred.
- Ability to manage budgets and resources with fiscal discipline.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
Education and Experience:- Master's degree required in higher education, business, marketing, or a related field (required).
- Minimum of 5 to 7 years of progressive experience in graduate admissions or enrollment management at a mission-driven institution, with a demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding enrollment goals (required).
- Experience with domestic recruitment strongly required; experience with international recruitment or international student support strongly preferred (required).
- Willingness to travel during peak recruitment seasons; availability for evening and weekend work is expected (required).
Additional Information:Employment with Our Lady of the Lake University is contingent upon the applicant undergoing a background investigation.
Application Instructions:Please complete the online Application for Employment and attach a Cover Letter and CV or Resume.
