Director, Recruitment & Partnerships
- Troy, NY, New York, United States
- Full Time

Job Summary:
The Director of Recruitment and Partnerships provides strategic leadership for student recruitment, enrollment partnerships, and outreach initiatives for the Lally School of Management. This position develops and implements comprehensive domestic and international recruitment strategies; cultivates partnerships with educational institutions, corporations, and approved external organizations; and collaborates with campus stakeholders to achieve enrollment goals. The Director serves as the primary liaison for recruitment partnerships, oversees recruitment events and marketing initiatives, analyzes enrollment trends, and works across the Institute to enhance the prospective student experience from recruitment through enrollment.
Who we are:
Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎
Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world.
With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- Five (5) years of experience in admissions, marketing, recruitment, or a related field.
- An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.
Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Related Field
- Valid Drivers License
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to engage, develop relationships with, and influence prospective students, alumni, and professional audiences.
- Ability to identify opportunities and successfully implement innovative recruitment initiatives.
- Ability to establish and sustain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment requiring flexibility, responsiveness, and sound judgment.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Ability to effectively present information to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with diverse populations.
- Strong customer service orientation and the ability to balance the needs of multiple constituencies.
Representative Job Duties:
- Recruitment Events and Stakeholder Engagement. Organize and lead events that support partner cultivation and recruitment strategies to promote enrollment in the Lally School of Management. Oversee the recruitment and engagement of internal and external stakeholders to assist in achieving recruitment goals and enrollment objectives.
- Campus Collaboration and Recruitment Planning. Collaborate with Admissions, the Office of Graduate Education (OGE), Procurement, the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), and the Office of Community Engagement and Communications to develop recruitment strategies and partnership opportunities. Work with Admissions and OGE to identify and cultivate approved external recruitment partners. Partner with Lally leadership to develop performance plans and performance-based budgets that support recruitment initiatives.
- Partnership Development. Cultivate relationships with schools, research centers, and other approved external organizations that serve as recruitment partners. Organize and participate in campus and off-campus events that increase awareness of Lally School of Management academic programs and recruitment opportunities.
- Strategic Recruitment Initiatives. Develop and implement domestic and international recruitment strategies that identify organizations and institutions serving as potential sources of prospective students. Collaborate with Lally leadership and Institute Advancement to identify approved corporate partnership opportunities that expand recruitment efforts and professional development opportunities for the School.
- Summer Program Recruitment. Partner with the Summer Programs Office to support recruitment and outreach efforts for prospective applicants to Lally School of Management pre-college and college-level summer programs. Serve as the primary point of contact within Lally for summer program initiatives.
- Student Recruitment and Enrollment Experience. Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Research, Undergraduate Program Director, Graduate Program Directors, the Office of Graduate Education, the Registrar's Office, student organizations, and Lally leadership to develop and implement recruitment strategies for targeted student populations. Coordinate plans for prospective student visits, onboarding activities, orientation, and the successful transition of new students into the Lally School of Management.
- Recruitment Marketing and Communications. Collaborate with the Office of Community Engagement and Communications to develop and implement marketing strategies and recruitment materials supporting enrollment initiatives. Assist in developing recruitment messaging and communication methods, including print and digital materials, website content, recruitment events, virtual communications, videos, presentations, and other promotional materials designed to engage high-affinity prospective students.
- Alumni Engagement. Partner with Institute Advancement and the Dean of the Lally School of Management to develop and maintain an engaged alumni network that supports student recruitment efforts through participation in recruitment events and other enrollment initiatives.
- Recruitment Analytics and Reporting. Regularly monitor application, admissions, and enrollment data to identify trends, evaluate recruitment effectiveness, and prepare reports for Lally School of Management leadership that inform strategic planning, identify opportunities, and address recruitment challenges.
- Other Duties. Perform other duties and special projects as assigned in support of the mission and strategic priorities of the Lally School of Management.
Shift:
This position is expected to work primarily during standard business hours; however, evening and weekend hours may be required to support recruitment events, open houses, orientations, alumni engagement activities, conferences, and other enrollment-related initiatives.
Travel:
Travel is required to support recruitment efforts and partnership development. This includes local, regional, domestic, and occasional international travel to attend conferences, recruitment fairs, campus events, partner meetings, and other activities that promote the Lally School of Management and support enrollment objectives. Regular overnight travel is required (up to 25%)Driving:
A valid driver's license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle are preferred. The incumbent must be able to travel independently to on- and off-campus locations and may be required to transport recruitment materials and equipment in support of events and outreach activities.
Starting Salary/Rate:
Expected hiring range: $70,000 - $85,000
Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.
Application instructions:
Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.
If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.
Job Posted Date:Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Total Compensation and Benefits Information:
Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is committed to the cultivation of a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and above all values learning. We welcome candidates who bring a variety of perspectives to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's work and campus communities. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or other characteristic protected by law.