University of Waterloo Looking for Graduate Studies Marketing & Recruitment Specialist at Waterloo, ON Full Time

Responsibilities:

• Identify and profile appropriate audiences for the Faculty’s graduate programs including, but not limited to, research-based programs, course-based programs and online programs
• Develop and execute the annual strategic graduate recruitment and communications plan, utilizing appropriate marketing and communications strategies, aligned with the Faculty-level recruitment objectives and institutional strategic priorities
• Track and report on in-market recruitment initiatives from our competitors, monitoring the effectiveness of recruitment strategies. Evaluate current and potential student markets for recruiting opportunities
• Commission market research as appropriate to gain insight of key audience interests aligned with program delivery
• Develop strategic approaches, key marketing messages, audience identification, communications collateral, and evaluation measures for graduate student recruitment and enrolment management initiatives
• Plan and organize the promotion of new engineering graduate programs
• Report on success and outcomes of recruitment efforts, make recommendations for improvement
• Develop and manage recruitment budget
• Remain current on issues, trends, technologies, demands and approaches in marketing communications and communicate relevant best practices to stakeholders

• Project manage Faculty-wide graduate recruitment & confirmation events, both in-person and virtual
• Collaborate with Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), other faculties, departments, and other universities (i.e. CGEC) as required
• Organize and execute appropriate recruitment events including management of event logistics, providing event updates and liaising with key stakeholders (internal to UW and external partners) for event management and connecting with appropriate individuals to arrange faculty, staff and student leader participation in events
• Prepare and/or coordinate required event and program promotional materials (i.e. posters, e-mail campaigns, social media, grad brochure)
• Evaluate post-event and provide recommendations for continual improvement
• Research and identify graduate recruitment fairs in which to participate
• Represent the Faculty, including oral presentations to large and small groups, and one-on-one as a means to recruit potential students, both in-person and virtually

• Develop and implement marketing communication initiatives to support the Faculty’s graduate recruitment and enrolment strategies, attracting the top students to apply for admission, accept their offers, and enrol
• Research, write and produce graduate studies brochures, digital content, and other appropriate promotional materials to both raise the profile of Engineering Graduate Studies in general and for recruiting for individual programs
• Lead brand assets (e.g. photography, video, advertising, logos, stories, etc.) and graduate studies brand activities across owned, shared and paid media (websites, social media, print and digital advertising, publications, email/direct marketing)
• Identify key individuals to profile for recruitment materials and social media, and, as required, research, interview and write student and/or professor profiles
• Regularly review and update the online content aligned with recruiting for Engineering Graduate Studies, coordinating new photography, stories, video production, social media strategy as appropriate
• Work with the Faculty’s Marketing Communications team to develop social media strategies and initiatives as a means to engage with prospective applicants
• Work with UWaterloo Creative Services in the development of print and digital assets

• Lead working groups and other events to influence (progress) the knowledge and culture of graduate recruitment practices for the Faculty
• Develop positive relationships within Engineering and with its stakeholders, both internal and external, and identify opportunities for collaboration and consultation with departments, partners and campus colleagues
• Collect data related to leads, applications and enrolments from lead-generation tools and EGSO staff and use data to inform departments and give context to recruitment effort outcomes
• Ensure the effective project management of recruitment projects, including departmental goals, personnel needs and resources, as well as the definition, monitoring, reporting, and refining of appropriate measuring and reporting metrics
• Develop and manage project methodology that ensures successful project integration with all stakeholders, ensuring thorough and open communication with all teams involved to deliver project goals
• Working with the Faculty’s Marketing Communications team to develop web best practices with Engineering academic units for marketing, graduate student recruitment and student engagement
• Oversee the hiring and management of co-op students, freelance vendors, and external service providers as required

• Ensure that University of Waterloo and Faculty of Engineering branding, visual identity and styles are consistent in all graduate recruitment communications
• Coordinate prospective graduate student visitation events
• Direct graduate prospect inquiries to appropriate office or individual
• Facilitate faculty member visits to businesses and other groups to promote graduate student recruitment
• Stay informed of developments related to engineering graduate studies
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or Communications is required
  Education or training in project management, public relations and digital media are an asset
• 3-5 years’ experience in a business marketing and/or communications role is required, preferably in higher education
• Proven experience working with integrated marketing and communications strategies ideally in a a highly complex institution and competitive marketplace
• Strategic-planning proficiency, with evidence of critical-thinking and analytical skills, to enable communications and marketing plan assessment
• Demonstrated project planning and implementation experience
• Experience preparing strategic plans for marketing communications including: CRM, media, consumer behavior/trends, and direct/addressable marketing
• Experience in engaging internal and external stakeholders to work collaboratively and build consensus in a complex environment characterized by competing priorities
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to persuade, demonstrate and reinforce the value of graduate studies for prospective students as well as internal and external stakeholders
• The role covers a broad set of responsibilities requiring expertise in strategic recruitment, communications, marketing and working knowledge of website best practices, digital and content marketing, as well as communications design, development and execution
• Strong organizational and project management skills coupled with proven ability to effectively handle multiple tasks, and excel in a fast-paced environment characterized by changing priorities and short deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with all levels of an organization
• Ability to build consensus, foster teamwork among a variety of stakeholders, and lead integrated project teams
• Self-starter who can move quickly to find the right solution. Able to work independently, usually within a complex and often-ambiguous environment, and collaborate on team marketing communication plans
• Intermediate to expert use of current project and data management tools including:
• Marketing Automation Platform or CRM (MailChimp)
• Adobe Creative Suite, Canva
• Project Management Software (ex. Airtable, Wrike)
• Microsoft Teams and Zoom
• Web content management software
• Quest experience an asset
• Office software:
• Document preparation: Apple Pages or Microsoft Word
• Spreadsheet: Apple Numbers or Microsoft Excel
• Presentation: Apple Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint

Equity Statement: