Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment and Business Development

Chapman University; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Chapman University seeks an experienced Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment and Business Development to lead graduate enrollment and external partnerships for the Argyros College of Business and Economics. The role blends strategy, marketing oversight, and executive-level relationship-building with corporate partners.

Reporting to the Dean, the ideal candidate holds an MBA, boasts a proven track record in sales leadership, and has deep connections in the Orange County business community to

Qualifications

• MBA required with AACSB accreditation.
• Demonstrated leadership and sales leadership experience.
• Strong ability to identify market trends and recruit graduate students.
• Proven ability to represent the college with corporate partners and donors.

Responsibilities

• Lead graduate recruitment strategies to meet enrollment targets.
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop materials and campaigns.
• Develop partnerships and enterprise education opportunities with corporate partners.
• Meet annual revenue targets and report outcomes to senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic communication

Market trend identification

Relationship building with corporate

Education

MBA (AACSB Accredited)

Job description

Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment and Business Development

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Position Information

• Position Title: Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment and Business Development
• Position Type: Regular
• Job Number: SA89824
• Full or Part Time: full-time 40 hours weekly
• Fair Labor Standard Act Classification: Exempt
• Anticipated Pay Range: $140,000-$165,000
• Pay Range Information: Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Position Summary Information

The Assistant Dean of Graduate Recruitment and Business Development will lead graduate recruitment strategies for the Argyros College of Business and Economics to ensure that annual recruitment targets are met and that new educational opportunities for the College are continuously created. In addition to providing marketing, recruiting, and administrative leadership, this role will personally engage in student recruitment, create top-of-funnel opportunities, and develop relationships with external partners to generate innovative educational programs. The Assistant Dean will represent the graduate programs at relevant Argyros College events and recruitment fairs.

In close collaboration and complementary efforts with the Director of External Relations and Partnerships, this role also serves as an additional bridge between ACBE and the business community—driving the expansion of the academic portfolio through innovative and contemporary corporate education, training/upskilling, and program pipelines, as well as ensuring academic programming remains aligned with evolving workforce demands. This role will leverage a robust professional network, entrepreneurial drive, and deep knowledge of the Orange County business landscape and beyond to create measurable impact for students, employers, and Argyros College.

A successful candidate will have an MBA, extensive connections with the business community, and a proven track record in sales and sales leadership, preferably in recruitment for the higher-education sector. This position reports to the Dean of the Argyros College.

Responsibilities

Graduate Program Recruitment and Administration

• Proactively create recruitment strategies to identify new graduate business candidates and develop enrollment target goals for all graduate programs, as well as coordinate with the University Graduate Admission Office.
• Collaborate with the University Marketing Office to develop marketing strategies and tactics and oversee the development and periodic updates of marketing materials and collateral for various channels.
• Develop compelling messaging and effective communication strategies in partnership with key stakeholders, including faculty, program leaders, alums, and employers.
• Develop systems, processes, and databases to guide student recruiting efforts and initiatives.
• Lead and empower the team to ensure that the yearly enrollment targets are met for all Argyros graduate programs and be deeply involved in each student’s entire life cycle to maximize educational outcomes.

Business Development

• Develop and execute a full-cycle enterprise sales strategy—prospecting, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding corporate partners to build robust pipelines for ACBE graduate programs and strengthen organizational talent capacity.
• Identify and capitalize on corporate education opportunities: Diagnose workforce upskilling needs at the organizational level and work with the faculty to design scalable, revenue-generating customized learning solutions by leveraging ACBE expertise.
• Partner with organizations to deliver desired executive education and professional development, custom corporate training and upskilling, professional certificates and micro-credentials, and digital badges.
• Meet or exceed annual revenue targets for corporate education, program pipelines, and partnership-driven initiatives, reporting outcomes to senior leadership every quarter.

Required Qualifications

• MBA at AACSB Accredited College.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Significant experience or track record in sales leadership, preferably in recruitment.
• Ability to identify current market trends.
• Ability to represent Argyros College effectively with corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and significant donors.
• Must be able to communicate effectively.
• Must be able to assess and implement universities policies during the recruitment process and ensure team members are also working within guidelines.
• Deep knowledge of current recruitment practices for graduate programs, ability to assess marketing opportunities, work with campus partners to build new pipelines for recruitment.
• Ability to create a positive and goal-oriented environment to ensure individual team member and department success.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education setting.

Special Instructions to Applicants

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives through in-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, and employees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staff each day to support our vibrant university community.

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.

Minimum Number of References

2

Maximum Number of References

3

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

1. Letter of Recommendation 1
2. Letter of Recommendation 2

Campus Locations

MAIN CAMPUS
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866
[phone]

RINKER HEALTH SCIENCE CAMPUS
9401 Jeronimo Road
Irvine, CA 92618

Contact Us

Office of Human Resources
One University Drive
Orange, California 92866

[e-mail]

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening, and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.