Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment

XU01 Xavier University; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Retirement savings plans

Paid time off

Tuition remission

Job summary

Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, OH, seeks an Assistant Director for Graduate Recruitment to guide prospective students through the enrollment journey across certificates, online programs, professional programs, and doctoral degrees.

The role involves building relationships, communicating program value, and collaborating with academic leadership to achieve enrollment goals while reflecting Xavier’s Jesuit mission. Travel may be required for regional recruitment events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in sales, recruitment, business development, admissions, or relationship management; higher education experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, communicate value propositions, influence decisions, and achieve measurable results.
• Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and follow-up skills.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, digital communication tools, and data-informed recruitment practices.
• Ability to manage a broad portfolio of programs, collaborate across departments, and adapt to changing priorities in a team-oriented environment.
• Willingness to travel locally or regionally as needed and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Graduate Recruitment & Enrollment: manage funnel for assigned graduate programs from inquiry to enrollment.
• Proactively engage prospects via email, phone, text, virtual meetings, events to build relationships and advance decisions.
• Monitor engagement, identify enrollment barriers, and implement strategies to improve application completion and conversion.
• Meet recruitment activity and enrollment goals using CRM systems and metrics.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication

CRM proficiency

Strategic enrollment

Travel availability

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

Digital communications tools

Data-informed recruitment

Job description

Xavier University is seeking a dynamic and relationship-driven Assistant Director for Graduate Recruitment to serve as a key ambassador for our graduate programs and guide prospective students through every stage of the enrollment journey.

The Assistant Director for Graduate Recruitment is responsible for recruiting and enrolling prospective students across Xavier University’s portfolio of graduate programs, including certificates, online programs, professional programs, and doctoral degrees.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Graduate Recruitment & Enrollment Conversion

• Manage the recruitment and enrollment funnel for an assigned portfolio of graduate programs, guiding prospective students from initial inquiry through application, admission, and confirmation of enrollment.
• Proactively engage prospects through personalized email, phone, text messaging, virtual meetings, recruitment events, and other outreach strategies to build relationships and advance enrollment decisions.
• Maintain consistent, timely follow-up with prospective students, identify barriers to enrollment, and develop strategies to improve engagement, application completion, and conversion.
• Meet established recruitment activity, pipeline development, and enrollment goals using CRM systems and performance metrics to monitor progress and results.

2. Program Value Proposition & Competitive Positioning

• Develop a strong understanding of assigned graduate programs and articulate compelling, program-specific value propositions that differentiate Xavier from competing institutions.
• Communicate the benefits of Xavier’s graduate education, including academic quality, career advancement, flexibility, affordability, professional outcomes, and the university’s distinctive Jesuit mission.
• Collaborate with academic program directors, Deans, and faculty to understand program strengths, market demand, student needs, and career opportunities, translating these insights into effective recruitment conversations.
• Maintain working knowledge of all graduate programs to provide backup recruitment coverage, support team-wide initiatives, and ensure a consistent prospective student experience.

3. Business Development, Marketing & Partnerships

• Identify and cultivate relationships with regional employers, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to expand graduate recruitment pipelines and enrollment opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications and academic partners to strengthen program websites, recruitment materials, email communications, and other prospect-facing content to support engagement and conversion.
• Coordinate with third‑party marketing and recruitment vendors to execute outreach strategies, support recruitment initiatives, and evaluate effectiveness.
• Represent Xavier at graduate recruitment events, employer meetings, information sessions, and other engagement opportunities, including occasional evening and weekend commitments.

4. Team Collaboration & Student Transition

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director for Graduate Enrollment, fellow recruiters, academic units, and university partners to achieve shared enrollment objectives and maintain effective recruitment coverage.
• Ensure accurate CRM documentation, reliable prospect tracking, and a smooth handoff to the Student Success team following confirmation of enrollment. Student Success assumes responsibility for registration and ongoing follow-up through the start of the program.
• As a member of the Graduate recruitment team, this individual's results will have a major impact on Xavier's overall enrollment and university revenues. This is a primary sales position and results are needed in order to support university revenues.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in sales, recruitment, business development, admissions, or relationship management; higher education experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, communicate value propositions, influence decisions, and achieve measurable results.
• Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and follow-up skills.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, digital communication tools, and data-informed recruitment practices.
• Ability to manage a broad portfolio of programs, collaborate across departments, and adapt to changing priorities in a team-oriented environment.
• Willingness to travel locally or regionally as needed and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Review of applications will start on November 16, 2026 and applications will be accepted until the position closes at the University’s discretion.

Candidates selected for the final stages of the interview process will be asked to provide the names and contact information of three professional references.

Xavier University is part of the 500 year old Jesuit Catholic tradition of academic excellence in the liberal arts. Guided by our mission and values, we welcome and support members from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. We unreservedly commit to open and free inquiry, deliberately seek out multiple perspectives, and create a campus where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Our campus is located in the vibrant and thriving city of Cincinnati, which has an array of neighborhoods and activities to suit many interests.

Benefits - applies only to full-time positions

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage.
• Tax advantaged accounts including health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and dependent care account.
• Financial security via life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Tuition remission for employees and their eligible dependents.

At Xavier University, we are more than an academic institution — we are a mission-driven community grounded in the Ignatian tradition. Our values of reflection, service, and the pursuit of justice inspire everything we do, from our teaching and research to the way we treat one another. We believe in the power of collaboration, and we cultivate an environment where every voice is valued and diverse perspectives enrich our shared work. Our faculty, staff, and students form a vibrant, inclusive community united by a commitment to excellence, compassion, and a greater good. Whether you're applying for your first role in higher education or bringing years of experience, we invite you to explore how your journey might align with ours. Come be a part of something meaningful.