Associate Director for Arkansas Recruitment

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

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The Associate Director for Arkansas Recruitment is a key leadership position within the University of Arkansas Office of Admissions, responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive in-state undergraduate recruitment strategy. This role provides direct supervision and professional development for a team of regional and campus-based admissions counselors who represent the university across Arkansas. The Associate Director ensures alignment with institutional enrollment goals, fosters relationships with high school and community college partners, and maintains a strong understanding of regional trends and student needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Management:

• Supervise a team of admissions counselors assigned to geographic territories throughout Arkansas.
• Provide training, coaching, and ongoing professional development opportunities to ensure counselor effectiveness.
• Set clear performance expectations and conduct regular evaluations.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and mission-driven team culture.

Recruitment Strategy & Execution:

• Lead the planning and implementation of in-state recruitment strategies to increase applications, yield, and enrollment from Arkansas students.
• Use data and analytics to inform territory management, outreach efforts, and counselor deployment.
• Collaborate with the Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services leadership to align Arkansas recruitment efforts with broader institutional goals.

Campus & Community Engagement:

• Build and sustain relationships with high school counselors, community college advisors, community leaders, and other stakeholders across the state.
• Coordinate high-impact recruitment events, including high school visits, college fairs, counselor luncheons, and on-campus programs.
• Represent the university at in-state events and serve as a public-facing ambassador for the University of Arkansas.
• Must be willing to travel frequently within Arkansas, including some overnight, evenings, and weekends.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Serve as a key liaison between the Arkansas recruitment team and other admissions and enrollment units, including communications, operations, and campus partners.
• Ensure consistent messaging and branding across all counselor communications and outreach.
• Maintain open lines of communication across teams and with university leadership.

Administrative & Operational Duties:

• Monitor recruitment data and key performance indicators for Arkansas territories.
• Oversee budget allocations for Arkansas travel, events, and initiatives.
• Participate in the admissions leadership team and assist with long-term planning and policy development.

Regular, reliable and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• At least three years of experience in enrollment services, higher education recruitment, or related field

• At least three years of supervisory or management experience

• Demonstrated event management experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• At least three years of experience working in a college admissions office

• Familiarity with the University of Arkansas and/or Arkansas secondary education landscape

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of university and admissions office procedures and policies

• Proven organizational skills

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form, including ability to present to a large audience

• Ability to prioritize tasks

• Ability to think creatively

• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations

• A deep understanding of the obstacles that first-generation, low-income students, and communities face with respect to college planning, attendance and completion

Required Documents to Apply:  Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Resume, Unofficial/Official Transcript(s)