Community Development Executive - OP

Ottawa University; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Ottawa University seeks a Community Development Executive to lead a student recruitment program and cultivate enrollment partnerships with feeder schools and community organizations. You will drive targeted leads for our online markets and support a campus outreach strategy in collaboration with academic and administrative leaders.

The role requires strong communication, CRM proficiency, and the ability to coordinate events, track outcomes, and travel locally/regional to build relationships that

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s preferred.
• Minimum one year recruiting or sales experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally.

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with feeder schools and corporate/community partnerships.
• Recruit and generate qualified student leads aligned with enrollment targets.
• Coordinate campus outreach strategy with department and campus leaders.
• Maintain data entry in CRM and produce reports on outreach results.
• Collaborate with financial aid, registrar, and advisors to ensure enrollment success.
• Represent Ottawa University at community events and partnerships.

Skills

Recruiting

Sales

Customer Service

Lead generation

Verbal communication

Written communication

Time management

CRM proficiency

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM tool

Student database systems

Job description

Responsible for administration of an effective community recruitment program and associated processes which are aligned with Ottawa University’s student centric philosophy. Responsible for developing relationships and measurable qualified student leads through feeder schools and/or corporate/community partnerships for our online markets specifically. Also, provides support to the overall community and corporate relations strategy. Maintains relationships established as a Community Development Executive, within a specific community or vertical, and refines/develops these relationships toward building meaningful and enrollment partnerships. Local and regional travel required.Essential Functions:Provides daily support of comprehensive community relations strategy.Coordinates campus outreach strategy, working in conjunction with department/campus leaders and other Community Development Executives. Expands on, and further develops these relationships toward meaningful enrollment partnerships.Responsible for development, implementation, tracking, and assessment of organized plans for recruiting new students and cultivating relationships with key external constituents. Remains in communication with key external constituents to ensure the continuation or expansion of these relationships.Responsible for formalizing strategic alliances with specific academic programs/schools to create streamlined pathways from associate’s to bachelor’s to master’s degree.Responsible for identifying and coordinating opportunities for when additional Ottawa team members could support an Outreach function.Responsible for assuring the accuracy and appropriate distribution of campus marketing material.Responsible for scheduling student generating events on a weekly basis to ensure the campus/unit is on track to hit enrollment targets.Work with departmental/campus leaders to establish meaningful and measurable enrollment goals, and monitoring performance against those goals. Responsible for generating a pre-determined number of targeted leads to meet term and annual enrollment goals.Maintains close working relations with supporting offices including financial aid, registrar’s office, business office and academic advisors to ensure a smooth and successful enrollment process for students and to provide accurate information and meet student expectations.Advises external constituents concerning University program options in relation to making the decision of which program(s) will most closely fit their background, strengths, needs, and preferences.Responsible for the accurate and timely entry of all data pertaining to outreach activities into database.Prepares reports as requested (weekly/monthly/quarterly/annually) and/or as needed.Coordinates with Registrar to develop and maintain transfer guides and articulation agreements with feeder school partners.Represents OU to the external community through engagement in community events, civic organizations, and associations with the goal of increasing brand awareness and generating referrals for new student enrollmentOccasionally calls graduation or community college lead lists.Other duties as assignedRequired Education: Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s Degree or equivalent experience preferred.Required Experience: Minimum one year related experience in recruiting or sales.Additional Eligibility Requirements:Customer Service orientation with strong written and verbal communication skillsDemonstrated experience with leveraging a CRM tool to guide and track day-to-day activitiesExperience in developing professional contacts, relationships, and lead generation through personal contact, as well as contact via telephone and other electronic meansAbility to facilitate resolution of problems; effectively meet time sensitive deadlinesMust possess the skills to self-initiate and manage a diverse set of activities/duties with accuracy, organization and attention to detailProficiency with a PC including, Word, Excel and student database systemsAbility to work independently, make sound decisions, and effectively manage timeEffectively lead others toward closure/decisionsWorking Conditions:(Physical attributes required to perform job duties with or without reasonable accommodation - examples: sitting, lifting, bending, driving, environmental factors or elements, noise level, stairs in a building, or other factors that will affect working conditions)Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. This may involve some lifting, carrying, moving, pushing and/or pulling of objects/materials of light weight (up to 50 pounds).Work occasional irregular hours, including some nights and weekends.Articulate verbal communication with students, faculty and staff expected.Travel is expected.Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.Travel Requirements:If travel is required, list type and approximate percentage: 75-80% Local and regional travel associated with student recruitment and community partnership buildingResponsible for driving students and University vehicles as part of job duties: NoStandard University Expectations:Be mindful and supportive of the Mission of Ottawa UniversityUnderstand and follow the University’s policies and procedures and exercise good judgment accordingly. Assure that University and student information is managed in a confidential and ethical manner in accordance with the University’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.Manage your staff in accordance with University personnel policies. Encourage collaboration among the staff, provide regular evaluation and feedback, and facilitate developmental opportunities.Model and encourage collaboration among University offices and campuses assuring effective communication and operations.Provide leadership through conduct, attitude, and professionalism. Represent the University to students, external groups, faculty, and staff in a way that reflects positively on the University.Exercise inclusivity in your daily actions in accordance with the University’s Mission Statement, Statement of Spiritual Identity, and Statement of Inclusion, Openness, and Community.Our UniversityOttawa University “prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment, and service to God and humanity” from residential campuses in Ottawa, Kansas (established 1865) and Surprise, Arizona (established 2017) and from professional and online campuses in Kansas City, Phoenix, and Milwaukee.Ottawa University is a regionally accredited, church-related, student-centered, private comprehensive university that strives to integrate faith, learning, and life in the academic experiences of students.This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.Ottawa University is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not unlawfully discriminate in recruitment or employment on the basis of race, age, sex, color, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.