Assistant Dean of Marketing and Recruitment

5386

The Knauss School of Business at USD embraces a stewardship approach to business education. Stewardship requires businesses to protect and care for society in pursuit of a greater good. The Knauss School community of faculty staff students and graduates embrace stewardship by applying values-driven free-enterprise skills to improve businesses industries and the lives of people in our community and around the world. We provide academically rigorous relevant and values-based education and research. Degree programs in the Knauss School of Business are AACSB accredited with the undergraduate and MBA programs being highly ranked both domestically and internationally. Description:

The University of San Diego an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972 USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any or no religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanitys urgent challenges.

Reporting to the Dean the Assistant Dean of Marketing and Recruitment provides strategic leadership and oversight of all marketing recruitment rankings employer and alumni relations efforts within the Knauss School of Business. The Assistant Dean oversees the Knauss Schools marketing and communications strategy leading campaigns and initiatives that enhance awareness and reputation while ensuring brand alignment and consistency with USDs visual identity messaging platform and brand. Additionally the Assistant Dean leads the strategic oversight of business recruitment efforts by directing and executing differentiated lead generation marketing campaigns implementing conversion-centric nurturing strategies and streamlining processes that drive enrollment growth for the Knauss Schools degree programs. The Assistant Dean provides leadership and direction of Industry and Employer Relations ensuring alignment of employer engagement and partnerships with the Schools mission academic priorities and student career outcomes. This position also oversees the tracking and submission of data for school-wide rankings and reporting as well as alumni relations strategies. The Assistant Dean serves as a member of the Dean Team and is expected to occasionally travel and work nights and weekends.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision and direction for marketing admissions rankings alumni and employer strategies to ensure they are integrated and mutually reinforcing.
• Translate institutional goals and market data into actionable School-wide strategies.
• Serve as senior advisor to the Dean and leadership team on enrollment reputation and external positioning.
• Establish clear performance indicators and ensure accountability across all reporting units.
• Ensure compliance with AACSB standards and alignment with PRME and other mission-driven commitments through marketing communications. Collaborative in completing required reports for AACSB and PRME.

Recruitment Strategy Enrollment Analysis and Product Marketing Leadership

• Leads an internal agency model designed to support all Knauss School of Business programs setting overall enrollment goals and ensuring alignment of recruitment strategies with institutional targets.
• Provides leadership on planning prioritization and process improvement initiatives in the enrollment cycle.
• Collaborates with department chairs assistant directors of recruitment and outreach and undergraduate admissions to support their efforts in the recruitment of graduate and undergraduate students.
• Leads planning and implementation of program-specific strategic integrated and multi-channeled marketing plans and recruitment strategies for all business programs to reach and exceed enrollment targets.
• Leads marketing strategy and efforts aimed at driving lead generation inbound marketing nurturing strategy and conversion-centric marketing strategies and processes for student enrollments into new and existing programs.
• Ensures the Knauss School of Business participates in and has representation at the GMAC and other external organizations that support the growth of current and future programs.
• Drive marketing efforts deliverables annual budgets and marketing plans across all Knauss School of Business supported programs. Ensure effective and efficient use of assigned resources.
• Define and monitor enrollment pipelines for undergraduate graduate international military-connected and other key student groups.
• Establish the philosophy and strategic use of scholarships and financial aid to support enrollment and diversity goals.
• Ensure admissions strategies are data-driven and responsive to QS GMAC and peer benchmarking insights.
• Analyzes market data for current and potential Knauss School of Business programs to set marketing strategies that optimize student recruitment and retention efforts.

Oversee School-Wide Marketing Branding and Communications

• Leads the strategic planning and execution of marketing and communications for the Knauss School of Business and its portfolio of programs.
• Oversees the development and implementation of a marketing and communications strategic and operational plan for the Knauss School of Business brand as well as ensures consistency across the entire portfolio of brands and sub-brands.
• Develops executes and oversees a comprehensive internal and external marketing communications and brand strategy and plan designed to support the Knauss School of Business thought leadership initiatives development and alumni activities taking into consideration institutional image message positioning mission goals priorities and accomplishments of the school.
• Supervise the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications ensuring that campaigns and initiatives align with strategic priorities.
• Ensure Knauss brand standards are represented consistently across platforms and initiatives.
• Serves as a senior marketing and communications counselor of the dean and the Schools departments and centers providing marketing and communications leadership and expertise.
• Responsible for advancing the reputation of the Knauss School of Business among its stakeholders in news and social media and in rankings.
• Reviews revises proposes and manages the Knauss School of Business marketing lead generation communications and alumni relations budgets.

Oversee School-Wide Industry and Employer Relations Efforts

• Provide strategic oversight and direction for the Senior Director ensuring alignment of industry and employer engagement with the Knauss Schools mission academic priorities and institutional goals.
• Approve and prioritize major employer partnerships strategic initiatives and resource allocations to maximize student career outcomes and industry visibility.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex negotiations high-level employer relationships or conflicts that require senior academic leadership.
• Ensure cross-departmental collaboration by integrating employer relations with curriculum innovation faculty engagement alumni relations and business career services. Monitor and review data reports and outcomes related to job placements internships and employer satisfaction to inform long-term strategy.

Oversee School-Wide Rankings and Reporting Efforts

• In collaboration with Knauss leadership and Data Analytics and Reporting Manager direct rankings strategy across programs; ensure accurate timely submissions.
• Analyze rankings outcomes and market trends to guide continuous improvement.
• Oversee strategic outreach efforts to key ranking influencers.
• Collaborate with the Associate Dean of Academic Programs & Curriculum Innovation and program directors to incorporate data-driven recommendations into program development.
• Oversee data gathering strategy to ensure meeting data gathering requirements for rankings.

Oversee School-Wide Alumni Relations Strategies

• Responsible for overseeing a comprehensive strategy that takes into account the lifecycle of an alum from student to graduation through retirement and the corresponding levels of involvement including level of engagement giving rates etc.
• Guides the assistant director of alumni relations in designing implementing and managing a comprehensive strategy that builds a lifelong connection between the Knauss School of Business and the alumni community with the ultimate goal of increasing alumni giving rates alumni engagement loyalty and increased industry connections
• Oversees the creation of alumni referral program and alumni recruitment events/initiatives in collaboration with the assistant director of alumni relations.

Department Administration

• Hires trains supervises and evaluates department admin and staff members.
• Creates departmental budget manages budget to achieve operational goals approves expenditures and ensures overall compliance with the budget.
• Identifies and implements cost-saving budgetary efficiencies.
• Works with Finance and Administration Team on multiple vendor agreements to ensure compliance with university policies.
• Negotiates vendor contracts as they relate to marketing and recruitment strategies.
• Provides creative viable solutions to operational challenges.
• Represents departmental concerns and perspectives within the Knauss leadership team.
• Provides regular updates to Knauss internal and external stakeholders on departmental initiatives efforts and outcomes.

Other duties as assigned

Special Conditions of Employment:

• This position is expected to occasionally travel and work nights and weekends.

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Masters degree required MBA or related field of study from an accredited college or university.
• 8 years of experience in marketing recruiting and/or sales roles.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 years of progressively responsible administrative experience in higher education.
• 8 years of professional management experience in strategic marketing and/or recruitment in higher education.

Performance Expectations- Knowledge Skills andAbilities:

• Proven ability to develop direct and implement strategic marketing recruitment and yield strategies to fill programs with high quality students
• Proven leadership and effective strategic planning skills
• Lead generation lead nurturing and conversion skills using the latest in digital marketing technology
• Experience and strong knowledge of CRM (customer relationship) and CMS (customer management) systems
• Experience planning developing directing implementing and evaluating strategic marketing and communications plans programs and activities applicable to a university
• Experience with higher education rankings and reporting topics
• Experience interacting with the professional business community
• Ability to manage motivate and teach staff and vendors to deliver high quality executions of campaigns on multiple concurrent projects
• Experience translating complex data into easy-to-digest findings
• Experience and strong knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) systems
• Experience managing budgets and allocating resources to effectively achieve operational goals
• Proven ability to collaborate with individuals of diverse backgrounds
• Operational knowledge of information data and digital technology management and best practices
• High level of budgetary and financial experience which includes development of marketing and lead generation budgets
• Ability to negotiate and demonstrated leadership skills and abilities
• Proven experience leading a high-functioning team including the ability to hire manage and motivate staff and lead in a team environment
• Solid understanding of university marketing and admissions trends and best practices
• Experience developing and delivering executive level presentations to a wide variety of audiences
• Computers and software (including MS Word Access or other databases Internet Web Hubspot Salesforce Google Analytics CMS and CRM systems etc.)
• Excellent knowledge of SEO web traffic metrics and digital marketing platforms including Facebook Google LinkedIn YouTube and others
• Modern office practices systems and procedures
• Using judgment to respond appropriately to inquiries
• Writing reports
• Being comfortable in working with others from different cultures and countries
• Human relations and interpersonal communications
• Exercising self-initiative and creativity
• Be able to function with the highest degree of autonomy
• Operation of personal computer equipment and web management
• Time management and organization of multi-tasking work requirements
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing
• Working with diverse personalities
• Working independently using good judgment initiative and creativity
• Familiar and comfortable in working with students
• Being flexible and versatile in coping with evolving and work situations
• Being able to handle the stress of last-minute deadlines and changes
• Ability to assume responsibility and effectively resolve problems by exercising independent judgment
• Project or event management
• Interacting with professionals in the business community
• Interacting with faculty academic administrators and students

$9583.33 - $12500 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical dental vision a retirement contribution given to you by the University and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.USD: Human Resources: Benefits

In addition the Knauss School of Business also offers two different compressed work schedule options following a 9/75 structure in which employees have 1 to 1.5 days off over every two-week period as well as a hybrid work schedule allowing for some work to be completed remotely.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience education and other factors including departmental budget.

Click the Apply Now button to complete our online addition please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date:November 9 2025

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information visit