Job Description Summary

The Director of Online Recruitment is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving the strategic growth of Miami University's online programs. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Admission, and working closely with the Assistant Vice President of Online Learning and Professional Education as well as the Miami Online leadership team, this individual will provide strategic oversight of all aspects of online student recruitment, from lead generation to matriculation, with a strong focus on leveraging third-party partnerships for admission advising, lead generation, marketing, and recruitment, fostering a seamless student experience as they explore, select, and ultimately enroll in Miami’s online programs. The Director will be a strategic and influential leader, employing data-driven and relevant strategies to achieve ambitious enrollment targets and enhance the overall online student experience in a complex university environment.

Strategically, the Director is a senior team member in the admission unit who assists with setting overall enrollment goals, develops a comprehensive recruitment plan, monitors trends in the market, and works directly with the University's faculty and staff, and key strategic partners, to help ensure optimal enrollment across all online programs.

Miami University is a highly relational environment. The Director of Online Recruitment is responsible for creating and maintaining strong internal and external relationships with multiple university stakeholders to meet enrollment goals. Every program, initiative, communication, service, and process to enroll online students is developed in collaboration with appropriate university personnel and external partners. As a diplomatic and politically savvy colleague, the Director is a steward of Miami’s Code of Love and Honor, leading decision-making with an understanding of the impacts it will have on the stakeholders involved, working vigorously to earn and maintain trust with prospective online students, as well as staff and external stakeholders, displaying care for others, and approaching their work with a spirit of service, humility, gratitude, and a desire to foster a sense of belonging for students and their colleagues.

The Director is a highly ethical and accountable leader who balances decisiveness and adaptability needed to succeed in a fast-paced environment with the transparency and collaborative spirit that empowers others to succeed in their support of online enrollment growth. The Director is a problem-solver, proactively addressing issues through expert data analysis and trend monitoring, and collaborating with others, resourceful in moving hurdles to online enrollment success, and escalating challenges as needed.

This position is approved for remote work on a hybrid basis. Remote work is not a right, but a working arrangement that can be modified or revoked by Miami University at any time for any reason.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Enrollment Leadership: 20%

• In collaboration with the AVP of Admission, the AVP of Miami Online, and University Communications and Marketing (UCM), develop and implement a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan for all online programs, aligned with institutional goals and market demands.

• Lead efforts to achieve ambitious enrollment targets for online programs, continuously analyzing performance metrics and adapting strategies to optimize conversion rates.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in online enrollment management and digital marketing to ensure the university remains competitive.

• Work collaboratively with Miami transfer and strategic partnership personnel and partner organizations to grow and optimize enrollment through these channels. 

Third-Party Partnership Management: 20%

• Oversee and optimize relationships with third-party admission advising services and inquiry generation partners, ensuring alignment with university brand, quality standards, and enrollment objectives.

• Negotiate and manage contracts with external vendors, monitoring performance against agreed-upon KPIs and ensuring a strong ROI.

• Guide the development and implementation of robust communication flows and training programs for third-party partners to ensure accurate and effective representation of Miami's online offerings and continuous monitoring of performance.

Marketing and Digital Strategy Collaboration: 20%

• Serve as the primary partner with UCM to develop, execute, and optimize integrated advertising and digital marketing campaigns for online programs.

• Collaborate on the development of compelling messaging and creative assets that resonate with target online student audiences across various digital channels (e.g., paid search, social media, display advertising, email marketing).

• Provide insights and recommendations to Communications and Marketing based on lead quality, conversion data, and market research to continuously improve campaign effectiveness.

Lead Generation and Nurturing: 20%

• Lead the strategy for generating qualified leads for online programs, including the identification of new acquisition channels and optimization of existing ones.

• Develop and implement effective lead nurturing campaigns that guide prospective students through the enrollment funnel, from inquiry to application and matriculation.

• Utilize CRM and data-tracking platforms to track, manage, and report on lead progression, ensuring data integrity and actionable insights.

• Collaborate with admission colleagues and UCM to ensure prospective students are guided in each of Miami’s channels to the right program, the right team, and the right modality efficiently and effectively.

Operational Excellence and Leadership: 20%

• Collaborate with AVP of Miami Online and Miami Online team, UCM, academic departments, Student Financial Assistance, the Office of the University Registrar, the Bursar, and other internal stakeholders to ensure a seamless and supportive enrollment experience for online students in a highly competitive marketplace. Ensure a seamless hand off with academic and student success support teams that facilitates a sense of belonging and the development of high quality connections for new students 

• Develop and maintain comprehensive reporting and analytics from the moment a prospective student interacts with Miami, to recruitment, application submission, application processing, decision release, student communication, financial aid awarding, billing, orientation and registration, and matriculation, to provide regular updates on enrollment progress, identify areas for improvement, and inform strategic decision-making.

Additional Information

A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke- and tobacco-free campuses.

This organization participates in E-Verify.

Remote Work
For positions that are approved for remote work: Remote work is not a right, it is a work arrangement that can be modified or revoked by Miami University at any time for any reason, including the convenience of the University.

Reasonable Accommodations
Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560. Questions and follow-ups regarding requests should also be directed here.

Miami University Values Statement
Miami University is a scholarly community whose members believe that a liberal education is grounded in qualities of character as well as of intellect. We respect the dignity of other persons, the rights and property of others, and the right of others to hold and express disparate beliefs. We believe in honesty, integrity, and the importance of moral conduct. We defend the freedom of inquiry that is the heart of learning and combine that freedom with the exercise of judgment and the acceptance of personal responsibility.

For more information on Miami University’s mission and core values, please visit the Mission and Core Values webpage.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement
Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin (ancestry), pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADAFacultyStaff@miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560.

Clery Act
As part of the University’s commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe living, learning, and working environment, we encourage you to read Miami University’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report at: http://www.MiamiOH.edu/campus-safety/annual-report/index.html, which contains information about campus safety, crime statistics, and our drug and alcohol abuse and prevention program designed to prevent the unlawful possession, use, and distribution of drugs and alcohol on campus and at university events and activities. This report also contains information on programs and policies designed to prevent and address sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Each year, email notification of this website is made to all faculty, staff, and enrolled students. Written notification is also provided to prospective students and employees. Hard copies of the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report may be obtained from the Miami University Police Department at 513-529-2223.

Labor Law Posters for Applicants

Please visit our Labor Law Posters webpage to access all relevant and applicable labor law information.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in enrollment management or a related field, with at least 3 years specifically focused on online enrollment and digital marketing.

• Proven track record of successfully growing online enrollment and achieving ambitious recruitment targets.

• Demonstrated experience managing and optimizing third-party partnerships for inquiry generation and admissions advising.

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Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Slate, Salesforce).
• Experience with marketing automation platforms.

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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of current issues and trends in online education.

• Strong understanding of digital marketing principles, including SEO, SEM, social media advertising, and email marketing, with a focus on lead generation and conversion.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively engage a wide range of stakeholders.

• Strong analytical skills, with experience leveraging data for strategic decision-making and reporting.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Required Application Documents

Resume and Cover Letter

About Miami University

“Miami University, a student-centered public university founded in 1809, has built its success through an unwavering commitment to liberal arts undergraduate education, with complementary quality graduate programs, and the active engagement of its students in both curricular and co-curricular life. With a student body of 16,000, Miami effectively combines a wide range of strong academic programs with faculty who love to teach and the personal attention ordinarily found only at much smaller institutions. Faculty and staff are highly valued for their contributions toward the Miami experience. Employees enjoy a competitive benefits package and stable work environment as they work to support the university’s educational mission. Miami’s main campus is located in Oxford, Ohio, 35 miles northwest of Cincinnati, with regional campuses located in Hamilton and Middletown, Ohio, and a center in Luxembourg. Known as one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, Miami, the nation's tenth oldest public university, is recognized for its striking red brick Georgian-style architecture and tree-shaded lawns. Take a Virtual Tour from our website.”

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