Position Overview
The Department of Recruitment in Student and Enrolment Services is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Student Recruitment Advisor.
Reporting to the Assistant Registrar, Student Recruitment and Applicant Relations, the Student Recruitment Advisor, is accountable for planning and executing defined regional recruitment of undergraduate students to the University of Calgary to meet the goals of the institutional Comprehensive Institutional Plan and Recruitment Strategy. They will work with a high degree of independence to ensure the objectives and strategic plans related to student recruitment at the University of Calgary are effectively implemented and provide research and analysis to strengthen student recruitment. The Student Recruitment Advisor will exercise a high level of expertise in admissions requirements for applicants to the University of Calgary and a strong understanding of the admissions and recruitment trends and best practices in Alberta, across Canada and internationally. This involves performing outreach activities throughout Canada and internationally, depending on the defined region, as well as providing one-on-one general and admission and career related advice to prospective students.
The Student Recruitment Advisor will be responsible to uphold policies and standards related to all admissions requirements, with specific focus on their assigned region. This portfolio requires effective relationships across campus and as such, the incumbent will collaborate with all stakeholders in the university community in support of education related to national and international recruitment, including admissions, academic advising, career services, student centre, client services, etc. The incumbent will represent the University of Calgary and build collaborative working relationships with government agencies, high school counselors, partner institutions, educational agents, schools and programs in Canada and around the world.
This position requires flexibility and travel and will include working evenings and weekends as necessary, depending on travel and event plans. Self-motivation that yields results in a timely manner, sound judgment, exceptional communication skills, discretionary decision-making, the ability to work without direct supervision, and to set and monitor their professional priorities are essential for success in this role. Accuracy and confidentiality are critical and the consequences of errors will have a severe impact to the student, Recruitment and Admissions, and the University of Calgary. The incumbent ensures compliance with internal policies and regulation. This position is a demanding, high energy, high profile, public relations role. It requires exceptional public speaking skills as well as dealing with the campus community and the public in a calm, tactful, efficient and effective manner that projects a polished, professional and helpful image. In addition, this position is a highly skilled service role that demands exceptional customer service and advising skills and a strong student-focused orientation. The work is driven by the admissions cycle with multiple and often simultaneous deadlines occurring throughout the year. This position requires that the incumbent must be able to function in an environment where there is ambiguity, continuous change and shifting priorities.
The Student Recruitment Advisor plays an important role in the University of Calgary’s recruitment activities through a variety of methods. This includes delivering recruitment presentations, researching and contributing to the development of programs, strategies and market research, as well as providing admissions and career advisement and application pre-screening. The Student Recruitment Advisor contributes to the University of Calgary’s strategic recruitment goals of developing a vibrant, diverse, and highly academic group of applicants and incoming class of students annually.
Position Description
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Student Recruitment and Liaison
- Recruits qualified undergraduate applicants to the University from various markets using tactics such as personal visits, presentations, one-on-one meetings, telephone, correspondence, volunteers and electronic media. To achieve this goal, the Student Recruitment Advisor is responsible for providing up-to-date, accurate information about the University and its programs in order to actively promote and market those programs to prospective applicants.
- Provides advisement to prospective students and their families on the Canadian educational system(s), University of Calgary programs, admissions criteria, requirements and processes.
- May provide pre-screening of application credentials to facilitate the application and admission process.
- Organizes, implements, and conducts varied on- and off-campus informational/promotional sessions for prospective applicants.
- Travels extensively to regions within Canada and/or internationally to deliver information via presentations and brochures about the University to prospective international students and their families.
- By working with the other members of the Recruitment and Admissions team and other university units, identifies innovative ways of bringing information to its stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner
Student Recruitment Marketing
- Using their well-developed knowledge of intercultural customs and traditions in assigned regions, the Student Recruitment Advisor assists the Assistant Registrar, the Associate Registrar, and the Director, Marketing and Communications, and the departments Student Recruitment and Applicant Relations, Admissions and Recruitment, with input for marketing publications and other materials required for direct mail campaigns, electronic media, presentations, etc. that target prospective students and key influencers (e.g. guidance counsellors, teachers, parents, etc.). This may include assisting with the editing of copy, writing of electronic invitations, suggestions for content in print and on the Web, conducting research, etc.
- Assists in the planning and implementation of multi-channel marketing and communications plan which may include: region specific social media, direct-mail, electronic communications (e.g. e-mail newsletters/bulletins) and telephone campaigns related to the recruitment objectives of the University for both attracting students and conversion activities.
- Contributes to the development and ongoing refinements of marketing strategies for student recruitment.
Outreach and Network
- Plans and targets visits strategically-defined regions within Canada and abroad to meet the University of Calgary’s student enrolment goals.
- Investigates invitations to attend education fairs and recommends the University of Calgary’s participation to the Assistant Registrar, Associate Registrar, and the departments of Student Recruitment and Applicant Relations and Admissions and Recruitment as appropriate.
- Identifies and targets key contacts/organizations in student recruitment to facilitate University of Calgary’s recruitment initiatives, conversion strategies, and applicant follow-up.
- Develops contacts and networks, including government representatives abroad, for the purpose of strengthening the ongoing presence and reputation of the University and to encourage applications to the University.
- Develops a wide range of contacts within the University community (e.g., faculty offices, departments, faculty members, administrative areas, etc.), to sustain both a broad information base about the University and to be able to draw on such resources as part of recruitment-related activity.
Market Development and Analysis
- Conducts research and remains current of major trends, issues and developments (e.g., demographic, economic, political, etc.) affecting the University’s prospective applicants.
- Maintains an ongoing awareness of available material pertaining to past and present accreditation standards for both Canadian and foreign secondary and post-secondary institutions (e.g., grading systems, credit practices, etc.)
- Tracks and keeps abreast of competitors’ activities.
- Tracks the number of international student enquiries received through various sources (e.g. email, vendors, etc.).
- Researches and implements effective conversion activities in conjunction with the Assistant Registrar, Student Recruitment and Applicant Relations for the international student market.
Campus Tours
- Assists in the delivery of campus tours to support the visitor experience including VIP tours, daily tours and group tours.
- Collaborates with and build strong relationships with UCalgary constituencies including alumni, parents, high schools and community college programs to build a successful campus tour program.
Administration
- Review of applications for processing and to be considered with accuracy and timeliness to ensure applicants are treated fairly and meeting required deadlines.
- Summary reports of trips and activities.
- Prepares recruitment proposals and completes planning documents to further recruitment efforts.
- Responding to emails, phone calls and other inquiries from prospective students when required.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- This position requires an undergraduate degree from a recognized/accredited university. A degree from the University of Calgary is preferred.
- Demonstrate excellent writing, public speaking, and presentation skills; demonstrated abilities in project management; and strength in answering multiple complex enquiries per day.
- Fluency in a second language relevant to our student recruitment focus in one of the regions of priority will be an asset.
- Demonstrated experience with event planning and public relations.
- Knowledge of Campus Alberta and the Canadian university system admissions criteria, university programs, and strong familiarity with Canadian and international educational systems.
- Advising/counselling skills.
- Ability to work in a confidential setting and demonstrate good judgment in dealing with sensitive or problematic situations.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly for identifying trends in markets, generating original ideas and innovative solutions, and working effectively in a team environment.
- Experience in effective relationship building.
- Knowledge and sensitivity to cultural issues; tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality are essential requirements.
- Good judgment, initiative, and creative problem solving skills.
- Excellent organizational skills including ability to work independently, meet deadlines, coordinate a number of projects/programs simultaneously in response to changing/conflicting priorities.
- Effective, calm, and energized under pressure of high-volume, fast-paced working environment.
- A valid Class 5 driver’s license (cannot be a graduated license) with proven good driving record (abstract required).
- A valid passport.
- A criminal record check will be required as a condition of employment.
- This position requires the incumbent to travel within Canada and/or internationally for extended periods of time with minimal or no direct supervision.
- Risk, responsibility and accountability overlap all aspects of this role. On-the-spot decision making will be required and the opportunity to consult with someone more senior will not be possible for most of the time while travelling.
- There is a high degree of risk associated with recruitment travel, specifically internationally and therefore a high degree of personal responsibility and accountability associated with this role.
- Ability to quickly adapt to new technology programs.
- Experience working with Microsoft Office applications, an electronic document management system, a Student Information System (PeopleSoft preferred)
- Willing to be cross-trained and to assist other departments across the Office of the Registrar
- Ability to lift and carry boxes with a weight of 20-25 pounds.
- Ability to work in a confidential setting and demonstrate good judgment in dealing with sensitive or problematic situations.
- 1 year of undergraduate student recruitment or undergraduate admission experience required
Application Deadline: July 18, 2022
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
Additional Information
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 2.
To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
About the University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.