Student Recruiter III

Iowa State University; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Iowa State University - College of Design is seeking a Student Recruiter III to lead graduate recruitment initiatives, develop strategic outreach, and support a team dedicated to guiding prospective graduate students from first inquiry through enrollment.

The role requires collaboration with the Graduate College, academic programs, and campus partners to strengthen recruitment strategies, engage domestic and international students, and use data-driven approaches to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience.
• Experience in higher education graduate student recruitment.
• Experience supervising, coaching, mentoring, or providing leadership to staff or teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate graduate recruitment strategies for on-campus, online, and hybrid master's programs.
• Supervise and develop staff through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Oversee recruitment outreach, handling territory and prospect engagement through enrollment.
• Guide prospective students on programs, admissions requirements, and enrollment processes.
• Plan and execute recruitment events and campus or virtual visits.
• Build partnerships with Graduate College, departments, scholarships, international student services, and external recruiters.
• Lead recruitment communications and follow-up campaigns using Salesforce Journeys.
• Use data to drive decisions; create dashboards and analyze trends.
• Coordinate domestic and international recruitment travel and budgeting.
• Improve recruitment operations and staff training for consistent service.
• Evenings/weekends and travel as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Data analysis

Salesforce / CRM

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Position Title: Student Recruiter III Job Group: Professional & Scientific Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience

Help shape the graduate student experience at Iowa State University by connecting prospective students with opportunities to advance their education and achieve their goals. The Office of Admissions is seeking a collaborative, student-focused Student Recruiter III to lead graduate recruitment initiatives, develop strategic outreach efforts, and support a team dedicated to helping prospective graduate students navigate their path to Iowa State. In this role, you’ll work closely with the Graduate College, academic programs, and campus partners to strengthen recruitment strategies, expand engagement with domestic and international students, and create meaningful experiences from initial inquiry through enrollment. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, communication, relationship‑building, and organizational skills, along with the ability to use data and innovative approaches to improve recruitment outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Graduate Recruitment Strategy: Collaborate with the supervisor to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of graduate recruitment strategies, including those for on‑campus, online, and hybrid non‑thesis master’s programs.


• Supervise and Develop Staff: Provide leadership and direction to recruitment staff through coaching, mentoring, performance management, employee development, and team engagement.


• Manage Recruitment Outreach: Oversee an assigned recruitment territory or prospect population, coordinate outreach efforts, and guide team strategies to engage prospective students from initial inquiry through enrollment.


• Support Prospective Graduate Students: Provide guidance on graduate programs, application requirements, admission decisions, enrollment processes, and available resources. Assist with complex inquiries and provide guidance to recruitment staff.


• Coordinate Recruitment Events and Visits: Lead the planning and execution of graduate recruitment events, campus and virtual visits, information sessions, and yield activities. Deliver presentations to prospective students and other audiences.


• Build Campus and External Partnerships: Develop and maintain relationships with the Graduate College, academic departments, scholarship representatives, international student services, educational institutions, and external recruitment partners.


• Lead Recruitment Communications: Develop and coordinate targeted recruitment campaigns, Salesforce Journeys, and follow‑up strategies to strengthen prospective student engagement and support enrollment goals.


• Use Data to Drive Decisions: Analyze recruitment trends, develop dashboards, evaluate outreach effectiveness, and use enrollment data and student feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.


• Support Recruitment Travel and Budget Planning: Coordinate domestic and international recruitment activities, oversee team travel and event coverage, monitor recruitment spending, and evaluate recruitment outcomes.


• Improve Recruitment Operations: Provide guidance on recruitment systems, staff training, communication practices, and process improvements to ensure consistent, responsive, and effective service to prospective students.


• This position includes occasional evening and weekend commitments, as well as domestic and international travel to support recruitment activities, events, and professional development opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education graduate student recruitment.


• Experience engaging with domestic and international student populations or supporting recruitment initiatives across different geographic markets.


• Experience supervising, coaching, mentoring, or providing leadership and direction to staff or teams.


• Experience building and maintaining collaborative relationships with academic programs, campus partners, external organizations, or other stakeholders.


• Experience using customer relationship management (CRM) systems, such as Salesforce, to manage prospective student engagement, communication campaigns, and follow‑up activities.


• Experience analyzing recruitment, enrollment, or outreach data to evaluate outcomes, identify trends, and guide strategic decisions.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Compensation

• Appointment Type: Regular


• Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12


• Month Work Period Time Type: Full time


• Pay Grade: PS809


• Original Posting Date: November 5, 2026


• Posting Close Date: November 26, 2026


• Job Requisition Number: R20175

Why Choose Iowa State University?

• Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work‑life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as:


• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans


• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans


• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)


• Life insurance and long‑term disability


• Flexible Spending Accounts


• Various voluntary benefits and discounts


• Employee Assistance Program Wellbeing program


• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.

Inquiries regarding non‑discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515‑294‑7612, email [e-mail].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.

Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub.

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensiveland‑grantmission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community.

Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land‑grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran.

Inquiries regarding non‑discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515‑294‑7612, email [e-mail].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.

Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [e-mail] or call (515) 294‑4800 or Toll‑Free: (877) 477‑7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7‑1‑1 or (800) 735‑2942.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.