Associate Director, Admissions & Recruiting (HR Title: Student Recruiter II)
Southern Methodist University Inc

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU Meadows School of the Arts educates visionary artists, scholars, and arts and communications professionals to create sustainable and transformative impact on both local and global society. Today, the Meadows School has achieved prominence as one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States and offers training in an unique mix of the arts - visual (art and art history), performing (dance, music, and theatre) and communications (advertising, film and media arts, corporate communication and public affairs, and journalism) - as well as a preeminent programs in arts management and arts entrepreneurship and creative computation.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Associate Director of Recruiting & Admissions, Visual Arts, provides leadership for undergraduate and graduate visual art recruitment and admission within the Meadows School of the Arts. The position manages the prospective student experience from recruitment through enrollment, including auditions, admission review, scholarship strategy and yield efforts.

In partnership with art, art history, film and advertising faculty and Meadows leadership, the Associate Director develops recruitment strategies and enrollment goals, analyzes results, advises on admission and scholarship decisions, and cultivates relationships that strengthen the quality and scope of the applicant pool.

Essential Functions:

• Recruitment & Prospective Student Engagement: Lead recruitment efforts for undergraduate and graduate visual art programs and serve as a primary resource for prospective students and families. Develop recruitment initiatives and cultivate relationships with visual art/film educators, private teachers and other partners to expand and strengthen the applicant pool and improve enrollment yield.
  
• Admission & Enrollment Management: Oversee visual art admission processes and decisions in collaboration with faculty and Meadows leadership. Develop enrollment goals for studios and academic programs; monitor application, admission and enrollment results; identify emerging challenges; and recommend strategies to achieve enrollment objectives.
  
• Portfolio Reviews, Visits & Applicant Experience: Plan and oversee visual arts applications & pre-portfolio review activities and coordinate the prospective student experience, including campus visits, sample classes and observations. Partner with faculty and staff to ensure effective communication, scheduling and a high-quality experience throughout recruitment and admission.
  
• Scholarship Strategy & Yield Management: Partner with scholarship and academic leadership to develop visual art scholarship strategies that support enrollment goals. Recommend allocations by evaluating faculty input, artistic and academic qualifications, financial aid circumstances, student interest and enrollment priorities, and monitor scholarship effectiveness in supporting yield.
  
• Recruitment Strategy, Communications & Outreach: Develop and assess targeted recruitment communications, outreach and promotional strategies for the visual arts. Partner with Meadows Marketing on digital and print materials, advertising and web content. Represent the visual arts at admission programs and college fairs and coordinate strategic participation by faculty, alumni and students.
  
• Admission Policy, Systems & Faculty Partnership: Partner with the visual arts departments and Meadows leadership to develop and maintain admission and audition policies, procedures and documentation. Improve processes and technology supporting admission and auditions; communicate requirements to faculty; and monitor developments and best practices in music admission to inform ongoing improvements.
  
• Student Transition, Team Support & Program Administration: Coordinate with Student Affairs on orientation, placement auditions, testing and related communications with entering students and faculty. Hire, train and supervise student workers supporting recruitment activities and provide operational coordination for Music recruitment and admission initiatives throughout the enrollment cycle.
  
• Some evening and weekend work during peak admission season may be required.
  
• Some travel may be required to attend conferences.
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's is required. Master's is preferred

A degree field in music, communications or business is preferred.

A minimum of three (3) years of experience working in higher education, music education, arts administration, student recruitment, admissions, or a related setting is required.

Experience in collegiate music recruitment and/or admissions, including familiarity with music auditions, applicant review, recruitment events, prospective student engagement, or enrollment activities is preferred.

Experience working collaboratively with music faculty is desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies such as, prospective students and their families, faculty, staff, and other participants in the admission process. A strong customer service orientation is essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and detailed processes.

An appreciation and understanding of students seeking enrollment in performing and visual arts programs is required. Knowledge of collegiate music programs and the needs of prospective students is preferred.

Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly in Outlook, Excel, and Word. Must also be able to learn new computer applications as the need arises.

A valid driver's license is required.

An understanding of recruitment and admissions data collection, analysis, and leveraging is preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Bend, stand, kneel
• Reach above shoulders
• Push/pull
• Carry/lift 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by October 2, 2026.

Deadline to apply is October 16, 2026.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

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