Executive Director of Recruiting & Admissions; HR Director of Student Recruitment

Position: Executive Director of Recruiting & Admissions (HR Title: Director of Student Recruitment)
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 unusual 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 program in arts management and arts entrepreneurship.

About the Position:

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

Director leads recruitment and admissions for all undergraduate programs and provides strategic support for graduate program recruitment across the Meadows School of the Arts. This role shapes and executes strategies to attract, engage, and enroll high-caliber students, with particular attention to dual-admit programs. The Director collects, analyzes, and leverages admissions, financial aid, and retention data to drive informed decision-making and sustain enrollment targets.

They collaborate with faculty, school leadership, and university offices to ensure a seamless and student-centered admissions experience. The Director represents Meadows at national conferences, recruitment events, and other outreach, while monitoring trends in recruitment to guide school-wide strategy. This position supervises recruitment staff, student employees, and volunteer ambassadors, fostering an environment focused on service, diversity, and creativity.

Essential Functions:

* Strategic Planning and Leadership:
Develop and implement recruitment strategies for undergraduate programs and coordinate graduate recruitment efforts across Meadows. Use data, trends, and best practices to guide enrollment planning and forecast program needs. Partner with faculty and academic leaders to align recruitment goals with program priorities.

* Recruitment Operations and Execution:
Oversee admission processes for undergraduate and dual-admit programs, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and strong student support. Manage recruitment and outreach budgets and align resources with strategic goals. Lead planning and execution of recruitment events, including auditions, visits, and national outreach.

* Collaboration Across Meadows and SMU:
Serve as primary liaison with key SMU offices, ensuring smooth processes and clear communication across units. Align recruitment messaging and admissions processes with campus partners and academic divisions. Collaborate with MARCOM on marketing materials and digital content for prospective students.

* External…