Graduate Admissions Recruiter-Business & Professional Programs

The Graduate Admissions Recruiter for Business and Professional Programs is responsible for recruiting prospective students and achieving established enrollment goals for assigned graduate programs at Gardner-Webb University, including graduate business programs and the Master of Public Administration. The Recruiter develops prospective-student pipelines, builds relationships with employers and professional and educational organizations, and provides consistent, personalized engagement with students from initial inquiry through enrollment. Working closely with the Associate Director of Graduate Admission, academic leadership, faculty, Enrollment Operations, Financial Planning, Marketing, and other university partners, the Recruiter executes program-specific recruitment strategies, maintains comprehensive knowledge of assigned programs, and provides a responsive, student-centered recruitment experience that clearly communicates Gardner-Webb’s mission, value, academic opportunities, and distinctive graduate experience.

Key Responsibilities 

Student Recruitment and Enrollment

• Recruit prospective students for assigned graduate business and professional programs, including the Master of Public Administration, and achieve established program and university enrollment goals. 
• Manage prospective students from inquiry through application, admission, registration, and enrollment through consistent, personalized communication and follow-up. 
• Communicate with prospective and admitted students through telephone, text, email, virtual meetings, in-person appointments, and other approved communication channels. 
• Develop targeted outreach and follow-up for inquiries, incomplete applicants, admitted students, and students who have not completed enrollment requirements. 
• Achieve established recruitment and enrollment goals and meet performance expectations related to inquiries, applications, completed applications, admitted students, and enrolled students. 
• Regularly review assigned student populations and enrollment funnels to identify students requiring additional engagement and opportunities to improve conversion.
  

Program Recruitment and Market Development

• Execute program-specific recruitment plans and develop recruitment activities for assigned programs based on established enrollment goals, market opportunities, and program priorities. 
• Generate new prospective-student interest through outreach, referrals, events, partnerships, professional networks, and other recruitment activities. 
• Build and maintain relationships with businesses, employers, government and public-sector organizations, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, colleges and universities, community colleges, alumni, and other sources of prospective-student referrals. 
• Identify and recommend opportunities to strengthen existing recruitment pipelines and develop new geographic, organizational, professional, and program-specific markets. 
• Represent Gardner-Webb at graduate fairs, career fairs, professional conferences, employer events, colleges and universities, community events, virtual programs, and other appropriate recruitment activities. 
• Maintain comprehensive and current knowledge of assigned programs, including admission requirements, curriculum, delivery formats, faculty, program outcomes, professional opportunities, and student experience. 
• Travel as needed and participate in evening and weekend recruitment activities

Prospective-Student Engagement and Service

• Provide prospective students with timely, accurate, personalized, and professional information throughout the recruitment and enrollment process. 
• Help prospective students understand program options, admission requirements, application procedures, enrollment expectations, and next steps. 
• Develop relationships with prospective students that support informed decision-making and progression through the enrollment process. 
• Identify barriers affecting application completion or enrollment and connect students with appropriate university resources for assistance. 
• Coordinate with Financial Planning to ensure prospective and admitted students receive timely information regarding financial aid, affordability, and available resources. 
• Provide exceptional student service while accurately representing Gardner-Webb’s academic programs, admission requirements, policies, costs, and student experience.

Academic and External Partnerships

• Develop strong working relationships with deans, program directors, faculty, and other academic partners within assigned graduate programs.
• Collaborate with academic leadership to understand program priorities, target audiences, program differentiators, recruitment opportunities, professional partnerships, and prospective-student needs. 
• Develop relationships with employers, government agencies, public and nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and other external partners that can strengthen recruitment pipelines and awareness of Gardner-Webb’s graduate programs. 
• Engage faculty, alumni, current students, business and public-sector professionals, employers, and other appropriate partners in recruitment and yield activities.  Partner with Marketing to support effective program-specific recruitment communications, outreach, and promotion. 
• Work collaboratively with Enrollment Operations, Financial Planning, the Registrar, Student Accounts, and other university offices to support a coordinated transition from prospective student to enrolled student.

Admission, Systems, and Process Coordination

• Maintain accurate, timely, and consistent documentation of recruitment activity and prospective student communication in Slate. 
• Monitor assigned prospective students and applicants to support timely progression through application, admission, registration, and enrollment. 
• Partner with Enrollment Operations and academic programs to identify and communicate application, admission, communication, or enrollment issues affecting prospective students. 
• Follow established graduate admission policies, procedures, and recruitment practices and ensure prospective students receive accurate information regarding university and program requirements. 
• Maintain the confidentiality and appropriate use of student information.

University Service

• Participate actively as a member of the Graduate Admission and broader Enrollment Management teams. 
• Represent Gardner-Webb University professionally with prospective students, business and public sector professionals, educational partners, employers, professional organizations, community partners, and the public. 
• Participate in university recruitment events, training, meetings, and other enrollment initiatives as assigned. 
• Support the Christian mission and values of Gardner-Webb University. 
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. 
• At least one year of professional experience in college admission, student recruitment, business, public service, relationship development, sales, customer service, or a closely related area. 
• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop productive relationships with prospective students, academic partners, employers, professional organizations, and community partners.
• Ability to communicate effectively and consistently with a high volume of prospective students while providing personalized service. 
• Ability to manage multiple programs, student populations, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and work collaboratively as part of a team. 
• Experience using technology to manage communication, records, or customer relationships. 
• Commitment to exceptional student service, ethical admission practices, confidentiality, and accurate representation of the university. 
• Personal and professional values consistent with the Christian mission of Gardner-Webb University. 
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel on behalf of the university. 
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required during recruitment seasons and enrollment events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree. 
• Experience in graduate or professional student recruitment. 
• Experience recruiting or working with students in business, management, accounting, public administration, public service, or related academic or professional fields. 
• Experience developing relationships with businesses, employers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, colleges and universities, or other sources of prospective-student referrals. 
• Demonstrated success achieving recruitment, enrollment, sales, or other measurable relationship development goals. 
• Experience with Slate CRM and Banner or comparable systems. 
• Familiarity with the enrollment environment of private, tuition-dependent, or faith-based higher education

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to travel by automobile and other forms of transportation for recruitment activities. 
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and maintain any credentials required by university policy. 
• Ability to work extended hours, evenings, and weekends during peak recruitment periods. 
• Ability to lift and transport recruitment materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Competitive Benefits:

• Retirement matching
• Tuition remission
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short term/long term disability
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave
• 17 paid holidays
• Wellness opportunities
• On-campus health center

University Background

At Gardner-Webb University, we’re called to help you find your God-given talents and use them to impact the world around us. Gardner-Webb University is a private, coeducational Christian institution located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, with easy access to Charlotte, Asheville, and Greenville-Spartanburg. Founded in 1905 and historically affiliated with the Baptist tradition, GWU offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs to approximately 3,000 students. The University is Carnegie classified as a Doctoral/Professional institution and is committed to academic excellence, leadership development, and service. GWU attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world and competes in NCAA Division I athletics with 22 teams and over 460 student-athletes.