Job Description

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

Senior Manager, Student Recruitment & Admissions

Job ID

71841

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

09/09/2025

Job Type

Continuing

Close Date

09/18/2025

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

RJC Student Experience

Salary Grade/Band

Band M

Salary Range

$101466.00 - $152200.00 (annual)

Hours per Week

35

Posting Details

The DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, located in Hamilton, Ontario is known for its high academic standards and innovative programs. It offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs in business, including a well-regarded MBA program. DeGroote is recognized for its focus on experiential learning, integrating real-world business challenges into coursework and providing students with opportunities to engage with industry leaders through internships, co-ops, and networking events.


The school emphasizes leadership, ethics, and sustainability, fostering an environment that prepares students to excel in an ever-changing global business landscape. DeGroote's research is world-class, with a focus on areas such as healthcare management, financial services, and business innovation. The school's strong connections with industry and its collaborative approach to learning provide students with a competitive edge in the business world. DeGroote's diverse community of students, faculty, and alumni contribute to a dynamic and forward-thinking business education experience.


Reporting directly to the Associate Director, Academic Programs, the Senior Manager provides high-level strategic leadership and oversight for all recruitment initiatives across undergraduate and graduate programs. This includes spearheading marketing strategies, data-driven decision-making, and long-term strategic planning to support institutional enrolment goals. As a senior authority in strategic enrolment management and marketing, the Senior Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the Faculty's recruitment vision, working in close partnership with the Associate Directors (Undergraduate and Graduate) to ensure both domestic and international enrolment targets are achieved.


The Senior Manager leads a team of recruitment professionals, setting direction, establishing priorities, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. The incumbent is accountable for the design, implementation, and continuous evaluation of a comprehensive, integrated student recruitment strategy, grounded in rigorous qualitative and quantitative research. In this senior leadership role, the Senior Manager serves as a key advisor and thought partner to Faculty leadership and academic departments, driving initiatives that align with the Faculty's strategic priorities and commitment to attracting exceptional students.


This role demands a visionary and analytical leader--someone who is proactive, creative, and deeply strategic. The Senior Manager is instrumental in expanding outreach and community engagement efforts, cultivating high-impact relationships, and enhancing the Faculty's reputation locally and globally.

Posting Details

Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm (Hybrid schedule)


Education Level
Minimum of a Bachelors degree in business, education or a related field. Graduate degree is preferred

Career Level
Minimum of 8 years of managerial experience, preferably in a post-secondary sector Experience in student recruitment considered an asset. Experience developing, coordinating, and implementing programs with multiple stakeholders; managing volunteers, staff and students


Location Ron Joyce Centre, Burlington and McMaster Main Campus, Hamilton

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Enrollment/Admissions

Collaborates with University central offices (eg. Central recruitment, the Office of the Registrar, Central marketing, Student Success Centre, Office of International Affairs etc.) and represents the faculty on all policies, practices and procedures related to student recruitment and strategic input and oversight of recruitment-related admissions annually. The Senior Manager shares the strategic recruitment direction for the Faculty with all stakeholders, and works with Central teams (e.g. Registrar's office Recruitment team and Admissions team) and departments/schools to attain input and builds/manages relations that are needed to best deploy these. Helps guide and influence outcomes by building strong and collaborative working relationships. Advocates for the Faculty and maintains a strong understanding and support for overall University strategies and mandates, resulting in the Faculty and University meeting enrolment targets, while developing innovative programing and recruitment materials for both domestic and international future and current students. In consultation with the DoFA, Dean, Associate Deans, and Associate Director advises on and proposes the annual domestic and international enrolment targets for the Faculty, utilizing year-on-year trends and market analysis data. Together with the Associate Director and Associate Deans, the Senior Manager is responsible for meeting the domestic and international enrolment targets for all programs, as set by the Faculty and the Enrolment Management Team. Senior Manger strategizes to ensure targets are met, including setting of admission averages. While knowing targets and setting admission averages from historical projections and experience, consults with Registrar/Admissions to ensure targets are met and not exceeded. Together with the Associate Director, assists with the review and monitoring of admissions and entrance awards structures and assessments. Specifically, the Senior Manager supports the Associate Director with managing the annual enrolment management processes for all incoming students. The Senior Manager and Associate Director will set program admission targets together. The Senior Manager will review and advise on admission averages, implement recruitment strategy, review transfer applicants, to ensure targets are met, while implementing new tactics to strengthen recruitment efforts. Together with the Associate Director, monitors admissions enrolment statistics for all programs. Works with central offices to document and carry out analyses related to other comparable faculties at competitor institutes. Evaluates, tracks and supports student transition supports (eg. webinars, info sessions the New Student Guide Development and deployment, new student transition program planning with central offices such as Student Success, and International services and other relevant programming) in collaboration with departments/schools, with the goal of supporting the Faculty student retention.

Strategic Planning & Leadership

Overall responsibility for undergraduate and graduate student recruitment for the Faculty Develop and implement full-cycle strategic plans, aligned with Faculty and University priorities, as well as competitor analyses and market reports to guide tactical recruitment efforts; create and implement systems to define and measure the effectiveness and impact of programs Accountable for identifying, recommending, and implementing new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategies for all outreach, recruitment, and admissions activities and processes; Report diversity data to senior leadership annually Budget and operational authority for all Faculty Student Recruitment initiatives; accountable for the creation and management of financial budgets, development of operational plans as well as policy, process, and reporting related to the unit Lead managers and specialists including coaching others through aspects related to human resources, including assignment of work, hiring, training, performance management, and professional development of all direct reports

Recruitment & Admissions

Develops and oversees the deployment of all student recruitment activities and strategies in the Faculty. Develops and oversees key relationship building with priority external schools and organizations, together with internal McMaster recruitment and admissions teams. The enior Manager builds and maintains high level relationships related to strategy development. This includes relationships with central offices (e.g. Registrar's office Aid & Awards team; Recruitment team; Admissions team; Student Success Centre; Archway program; Housing & Conference Services; Athletics & Recreation), other Faculties, other universities (provincially, nationally & internationally), governments (e.g. Ministry of Colleges & Universities), Embassy offices, national and international education representatives (interacts and meets to explore and develop scholarship opportunities, creation of new or deployment of existing programs of study, recruitment events, etc). Designs, implements, and maintains effective and efficient undergraduate and graduate recruitment strategies and initiatives, as they relate to annual domestic and international undergraduate recruitment goals, in alignment with increasing the diversity of the Faculty and University's student population. Represents the Faculty as a lead international recruitment contact (travel required), exploring and fostering emerging markets in alignment with the Faculty recruitment strategy. Develops a robust annual marketing and communication strategy in partnership with central offices for both domestic and international prospects, for each program during each stage of the student journey. Analyze historic and current data to determine future recruitment markets for the Faculty growth, including: strategic awareness campaigns, new market investment, conversion activities, cultural awareness, and best practices. Reviews and revises recruitment and provides strategic input and oversight of recruitment-related admission strategies annually to ensure consistency with the Faculty and University objectives and strategic priorities. Meets with and advises all Faculty departments and schools on matters related to undergraduate and graduate recruitment strategies, curriculum revisions or changes and how they relate to recruitment, and outreach initiatives that amplify unit strengths and innovations. Prepares statistical reports, together with cost and market analyses that are utilized to guide subsequent recruitment cycles year-on-year within the Faculty and are also shared broadly with other central recruitment teams. Assists the Manager of Graduate Recruitment and Manager, Specialized programs as well as the Undergraduate recruitment team in day-to-day recruitment tasks as necessary. In Partnership with the Associate Director(s) and Associate Dean's set admissions cut-offs using data-driven enrolment modelling Collaborate with partners across campus to develop strategies to ensure a smooth transition from applicant to enrolled student; build and executes annual retention strategy, incorporating new and innovative programs to actively engage new acceptances to minimize 'melt' of students from offer to matriculation Review and analyze detailed analysis of enrolment results against targets and provide guidance and support in addressing gaps with team to enhance performance/outcomes Partner with the Registrar's Office and School of Graduate Studies on campus-wide initiatives and then incorporates new processes into operational activities.

Scholarships & Partnerships

Manage the Faculty-based entrance award program for undergraduate applicants, developing application questions, evaluation criteria, and advertising scholarships to prospects Partner with external organizations to create recruitment pipelines through youth outreach and scholarships; develop and negotiate MOU or sponsorship agreements to support programs Develop and manage relationships with elementary and secondary school teachers and administrators to bring STEM programming to youth Create funding strategies to support outreach and access programs that consider grants, partnerships, public and private support; write grant proposals and coordinate partnerships across campus

Marketing & Communications

Collaborate with Faculty Marketing & Communications team to develop print and digital marketing materials, including advertisements, videos, and viewbooks, for prospects to increase awareness of the Faculty for undergraduate and graduate programs. Partner with the Marketing & Communications team for innovative content marketing initiatives that enable current students to tell their story through multiple platforms (web, social media, live events); spearhead student storytelling opportunities for recruitment

Other

The Senior Manager is dedicated to high level relationship building, bridging and strategic plan development. The Senior Manager will support the Managers who oversee the program recruitment initiatives during peak periods to ensure prospect inquiries are managed efficiently. Serves as the delegate of the Associate Director where requested. Within the Faculty, is a committee member or consultant (as applicable) on various committees. Outside of the Faculty, represents the Faculty on university-wide committees related to recruitment and admissions, including but not limited to: Enrolment Management Team and other committees as deemed necessary.

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the "Dish With One Spoon" wampum agreement.


The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.


The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.


As part of McMaster's commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.


Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Hybrid Work Language

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.