Associate Director, Admissions & Recruiting (HR Title: Student Recruiter II)

Southern Methodist University; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Methodist University seeks an Associate Director, Admissions & Recruiting within the Meadows School of the Arts to lead undergraduate and graduate music recruitment and admissions efforts.

You will manage auditions, campus visits, scholarship strategy, and enrollment yield, working closely with faculty and Meadows leadership to shape admission policies, communications, and candidate experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Degree in Music, Communications or Business preferred.
• Minimum three years of professional work experience.
• Experience in higher education, music recruitment or admissions is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead undergraduate and graduate music recruitment and admissions efforts.
• Oversee audition, campus visit and applicant experience.
• Develop scholarship strategies and enrollment yield plans.
• Collaborate with faculty and Meadows leadership on admission policies and procedures.
• Coordinate with Student Affairs on orientation and communication with entering students.
• Hire, train and supervise student workers supporting recruitment activities.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Organizational skills

Time management

Customer service mindset

Data analysis awareness

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Music/Communications/Business preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word)

Job description

Job Description - Associate Director, Admissions & Recruiting (HR Title: Student Recruiter II) (MEA00000164)

Job Description

Associate Director, Admissions & Recruiting (HR Title: Student Recruiter II) - ( MEA00000164 )

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU Meadows School of the Arts educates visionary artists, scholars, and arts and communications professionals to create sustainable and transformative impact on both local and global society. Today, the Meadows School has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States and offers training in an unique mix of the arts – visual (art and art history), performing (dance, music, and theatre) and communications (advertising, film and media arts, corporate communication and public affairs, and journalism) – as well as a preeminent programs in arts management and arts entrepreneurship and creative computation.

About the Position:

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

The Associate Director of Recruiting & Admissions, Music provides leadership for undergraduate and graduate music recruitment and admission within the Meadows School of the Arts. The position manages the prospective student experience from recruitment through enrollment, including auditions, admission review, scholarship strategy and yield efforts.

In partnership with Music faculty and Meadows leadership, the Associate Director develops recruitment strategies and enrollment goals, analyzes results, advises on admission and scholarship decisions, and cultivates relationships that strengthen the quality and scope of the student applicant pool.

Essential Functions:

Recruitment & Prospective Student Engagement:

Lead recruitment efforts for undergraduate and graduate Music programs and serve as a primary resource for prospective students and families. Develop recruitment initiatives and cultivate relationships with music educators, private teachers and other partners to expand and strengthen the applicant pool and improve enrollment yield.

Admission & Enrollment Management:

Oversee Music admission processes and decisions in collaboration with faculty and Meadows leadership. Develop enrollment goals for studios and academic programs; monitor application, admission and enrollment results; identify emerging challenges; and recommend strategies to achieve enrollment objectives.

Auditions, Visits & Applicant Experience:

Plan and oversee Music audition and pre-audition activities and coordinate the prospective student experience, including campus visits, sample lessons, classes and rehearsal observations. Partner with faculty and staff to ensure effective communication, scheduling and a high-quality experience throughout recruitment and admission.

Scholarship Strategy & Yield Management:

Partner with scholarship and academic leadership to develop Music scholarship strategies that support enrollment goals. Recommend allocations by evaluating faculty input, artistic and academic qualifications, financial aid circumstances, student interest and enrollment priorities, and monitor scholarship effectiveness in supporting yield.

Recruitment Strategy, Communications & Outreach:

Develop and assess targeted recruitment communications, outreach and promotional strategies for Music. Partner with Meadows Marketing on digital and print materials, advertising and web content. Represent Music at admission programs and college fairs and coordinate strategic participation by faculty, alumni and students.

Admission Policy, Systems & Faculty Partnership:

Partner with Music and Meadows leadership to develop and maintain admission and audition policies, procedures and documentation. Improve processes and technology supporting admission and auditions; communicate requirements to faculty; and monitor developments and best practices in music admission to inform ongoing improvements.

Student Transition, Team Support & Program Administration:

Coordinate with Student Affairs on orientation, placement auditions, testing and related communications with entering students and faculty. Hire, train and supervise student workers supporting recruitment activities and provide operational coordination for Music recruitment and admission initiatives throughout the enrollment cycle.

Some evening and weekend work during peak admission season will be required.

Some travel me be required to attend conferences.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s is required. Master's is preferred.

A degree in Music, Communications or Business is preferred.

A minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience is required.

Experience working in higher education, music education, arts administration, student recruitment, admissions, or a related setting is required.

Experience in collegiate music recruitment and/or admissions, including familiarity with music auditions, applicant review, recruitment events, prospective student engagement, or enrollment activities is preferred.

Experience working collaboratively with music faculty and knowledge of collegiate music programs as well as the needs of prospective students is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships and partnerships with a wide range of constituencies (such as prospective students, families, faculty, staff, and other participants in the admission process). Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

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 as well as strong analytical abilities and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and detailed processes.

A strong customer service mindset will be essential for any candidate.

An appreciation and understanding of students seeking enrollment in performing and visual arts programs is required.

Candidates must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (particularly in Outlook, Excel, and Word) and must be able to learn new computer applications as the needs arise.

A valid drivers license is required.

Candidates with knowledge of data collection, analysis, and leveraging are preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Reach above shoulders
• Push/pull
• Carry/lift 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

September 25, 2026

Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by September 11, 2026

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand 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 SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.