Music & Performing Arts Recruitment & Enrollment Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

  Position Summary

The Music & Performing Arts Recruitment &  Enrollment Manager provides leadership and coordination for undergraduate recruitment programs within the Department of Music & Performing Arts, part of the School of Arts & Humanities at Roberts Wesleyan University. Reporting directly to the Department Chair and working in close partnership with University Admissions and Enrollment personnel, the Recruitment & Enrollment Manager is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and enrolling prospective students for Music & Performing Arts degree programs while also engaging talented non-majors who may contribute to the University's ensembles and performing arts community.

The Recruitment & Enrollment Manager serves as a primary ambassador for Music & Performing Arts throughout Greater Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Western New York, with strategic outreach to the Buffalo and Syracuse markets. The position develops relationships with high school music programs, music educators, private instructors, community arts organizations, prospective students, and families in order to expand awareness of Roberts Wesleyan University and develop new recruitment pipelines.

The successful candidate will combine a strong background in music with exceptional relationship-building, communication, organization, and recruitment skills. The Recruitment & Enrollment Manager will communicate the distinctive value of pursuing music and performing arts within Roberts Wesleyan University's Christian educational environment and will seek students whose academic, artistic, personal, and faith interests align well with the Roberts community.

The position carries individual recruitment and enrollment goals and is responsible for managing prospective-student relationships from initial identification through application, audition, deposit, and enrollment.

Essential Responsibilities

Recruitment & Prospect Development

• Develop and implement an annual Music & Performing Arts recruitment plan in collaboration with the Department Chair and University Enrollment personnel.
• Proactively identify and recruit prospective students for all Music & Performing Arts degree programs, minors, ensembles, and other participation opportunities.
• Develop new prospective-student pipelines among students who may not currently be considering Roberts Wesleyan University.
• Conduct regular recruitment travel throughout Greater Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Western New York, with strategic outreach to Buffalo, Syracuse, and other markets as appropriate.
• Visit high school band, choir, orchestra, theatre, and other performing arts programs to establish relationships, identify prospective students, and increase awareness of Roberts Music & Performing Arts.
• Represent the department at festivals, honor ensembles, competitions, college fairs, conferences, community arts events, and other appropriate recruitment opportunities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with high school music educators, theatre educators, private instructors, community arts organizations, alumni, and other individuals who may serve as referral partners.
• Identify priority schools, programs, and recruitment markets and develop sustained relationships with key feeder programs.
• Serve as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic ambassador for Roberts Wesleyan University, clearly communicating the University's Christian mission and the distinctive academic, artistic, spiritual, and community experience available to students.

Prospect Relationship Management & Enrollment

• Serve as the primary departmental recruitment contact for assigned prospective students from initial inquiry or identification through enrollment.
• Build individualized relationships with prospective students and families through regular and timely communication.
• Encourage and facilitate campus visits, faculty meetings, sample lessons, classroom observations, ensemble rehearsals, performances, and other experiences that allow prospective students to engage meaningfully with the department.
• Coordinate faculty involvement with high-priority prospects, matching students with appropriate faculty members, ensemble directors, and current students while maintaining responsibility for ongoing follow-up.
• Guide prospective students toward appropriate degree programs and participation opportunities based on their interests, abilities, and educational goals.
• Maintain consistent contact with admitted students through the enrollment decision process and implement strategies designed to increase yield.
• Meet or exceed annual individual recruitment and enrollment goals established in collaboration with the Department Chair and Enrollment Management.

Admissions & Enrollment Partnership

• Serve as the Department of Music & Performing Arts' primary liaison to University Admissions and Enrollment personnel.
• Work collaboratively with Admissions to ensure coordinated and consistent communication with prospective students.
• Utilize Slate and other University enrollment systems to manage prospective-student records, recruitment activity, queries, communications, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain Slate queries that allow the department to identify prospective students with musical or performing arts interests within the University's broader recruitment pipeline.
• Identify students already considering Roberts who may be strong candidates for Music & Performing Arts programs or non-major ensemble participation.
• Monitor prospective students' movement through inquiry, visit, application, audition, admission, deposit, and enrollment stages and initiate appropriate follow-up.
• Maintain accurate recruitment records and provide regular pipeline and enrollment reports to the Department Chair.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Financial Aid, and other University offices as appropriate while maintaining clear departmental and institutional responsibilities.

Auditions, Scholarships & Campus Recruitment

• Coordinate the prospective-student experience surrounding departmental auditions and other recruitment events.
• Encourage qualified prospective students to complete auditions and ensure candidates and families receive timely information regarding requirements and expectations.
• Coordinate communication among prospective students, faculty, Admissions, and other appropriate personnel before and after auditions.
• Support faculty in providing an engaging and welcoming audition-day experience.
• Facilitate timely post-audition follow-up and continued cultivation of admitted students.
• Support the effective use of music scholarships as a recruitment and yield strategy while recognizing that artistic evaluation and scholarship recommendations remain the responsibility of appropriate faculty and departmental leadership.
• Participate in University open houses, accepted-student events, orientation activities, and other enrollment initiatives relevant to Music & Performing Arts.

Recruitment Strategy, Assessment & Planning

• Analyze recruitment and enrollment data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring additional attention.
• Track recruitment activity and outcomes by school, geographic market, program interest, instrument/voice area, recruitment source, and other relevant measures.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of school visits, recruitment events, communication strategies, and marketing activities.
• Recommend adjustments to recruitment priorities and resource allocation based on enrollment needs and recruitment outcomes.
• Work with the Department Chair and faculty to identify particular program, ensemble, instrument, or voice-area recruitment needs.
• Establish annual goals for prospect generation, campus visits, applications, auditions, deposits, enrollment, and other appropriate recruitment indicators.
• Contribute to long-term departmental enrollment planning and recommend opportunities for expansion into new recruitment markets as the department's recruitment strategy develops.

Requirements:

  Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated background in music or the performing arts and familiarity with collegiate and/or secondary music programs.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to connect effectively with high school students, families, educators, faculty, alumni, and community partners.
• Strong oral, written, and presentation skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple relationships and priorities, and provide consistent follow-through.
• Strong organizational skills; attentive to detail.
• Commitment to and ability to represent the Christian mission and educational values of Roberts Wesleyan University.
• Ability to communicate authentically and enthusiastically about the mission, programs, community, and student experience of Roberts Wesleyan University.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the regional recruitment territory and to work occasional evenings and weekends for recruitment events, performances, auditions, and other departmental activities.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet University requirements for recruitment travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in music, music education, performing arts, arts administration, or a related field.
• Professional experience as a musician, music educator, arts administrator, or other music/performing arts professional.
• Familiarity with high school music programs and the regional music education community in Western and Central New York.
• Experience in higher education admissions, recruitment, enrollment management, student services, or related work.
• Experience using Slate or another customer relationship management (CRM) system.
• Demonstrated success in networking, community outreach, sales, fundraising, recruitment, or another relationship-driven field.
• Familiarity with Roberts Wesleyan University and its Music & Performing Arts programs.