Director of Data Jobs

About us

Middle Georgia State University (MGA), a multi-campus, baccalaureate and graduate degree-granting public institution, is the most affordable public state university in Georgia. MGA has five campuses—Macon, Cochran, Dublin, Eastman, and Warner Robins, all located in central Georgia—and global outreach through its fully-online campus. Its enrollment of 8,400 students is largely comprised of students from most of Georgia's 159 counties. The University has six academic schools, including Georgia's flagship aviation program, that support its mission to educate and graduate inspired, lifelong learners whose scholarship and careers enhance the state.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Admissions Operations, the Assistant Director of Recruitment Marketing & Data provides strategic leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of recruitment marketing communications and data-driven enrollment initiatives. This position leads targeted communication strategies designed to move prospective students from initial interest through application, admission, and enrollment.

The Assistant Director serves as a functional leader for recruitment communications within Salesforce/TargetX and related platforms, overseeing campaign execution, audience segmentation, data quality, performance analysis, and process improvements. The position collaborates with Admissions, Recruitment, Marketing and Communications, and other University departments to ensure coordinated, timely, and effective recruitment initiatives aligned with institutional enrollment goals.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, strategic thinking, analytical skills, effective communication, and the ability to independently manage complex projects and competing priorities while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and a student-centered approach.

Responsibilities

Recruitment Marketing Content and Campaign Execution (65%)

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of comprehensive recruitment marketing and communication strategies aligned with institutional enrollment goals. Independently identify opportunities to strengthen prospective student engagement, improve application completion, and increase admitted-student yield through targeted, data-informed initiatives.

• Develop and execute annual and term-specific recruitment communication plans aligned with enrollment goals and institutional priorities.

• Oversee and manage recruitment campaigns across email, text messaging, direct mail, and other approved communication channels.

• Design and implement coordinated communication journeys for major enrollment stages, including inquiry nurturing, application completion, admitted-student yield, financial aid and enrollment readiness, orientation, registration, and summer melt prevention.

• Manage communication calendars, campaign assets, mailing projects, vendors, and production schedules to ensure timely and effective campaign execution.

• Establish and maintain quality assurance standards for recruitment communications, ensuring accuracy, clarity, tone, accessibility, brand alignment, personalization, functional links, correct dates, and mobile readability before release.

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to ensure recruitment communications reflect University brand standards, voice, visual identity, and institutional priorities.

Enrollment Campaign Analysis and Improvement (30%)

• Analyze recruitment funnel activity and campaign performance to identify enrollment trends, communication gaps, and opportunities for targeted interventions that improve student engagement and conversion.

• Develop and present campaign performance reports and strategic recommendations to Admissions leadership, highlighting audience engagement, campaign effectiveness, enrollment outcomes, and opportunities for improvement.

• Lead structured testing and evaluation of subject lines, calls to action, content, timing, communication channels, and audience segmentation; apply findings to improve future recruitment strategies.

• Partner with Marketing and Communications and Admissions leadership to plan, monitor, and evaluate recruitment and brand campaigns across digital, email, text, print, events, and other communication channels.

• Establish and maintain a campaign learning log to document successful strategies, areas for improvement, recurring student questions, and recommendations for future recruitment initiatives.

• Evaluate the relationship between recruitment marketing activities and enrollment outcomes by analyzing audience reach, engagement, conversion, cost per inquiry, cost per applicant, cost per enrolled student, admitted-student yield, and other established performance indicators.

• Recommend data-informed adjustments to recruitment communication strategies, campaign priorities, and resource allocation to maximize effectiveness and support institutional enrollment goals.

Coordination and Project Support (5%)

• Lead and coordinate assigned cross-functional recruitment communication initiatives involving Recruitment, Admissions Processing, Dual Enrollment, Graduate Admissions, Financial Aid, academic programs, Marketing and Communications, and other appropriate offices.

• Manage project timelines, deliverables, approvals, status updates, and follow-up activities to ensure assigned recruitment campaigns and communication initiatives are completed accurately and on schedule.

• Serve as a resource to departmental staff by providing guidance on recruitment communication processes, campaign procedures, and CRM-related best practices.

• Represent Admissions Operations in assigned meetings, planning sessions, and collaborative initiatives related to recruitment marketing, communications, and enrollment improvement.

• Participate in recruitment events and occasional evening or weekend activities when campaign execution or student communication support is needed.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in marketing, communications, public relations, business, data analytics, higher education, English, journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience as permitted by University policy.

Required Experience

At least two years of professional, internship, graduate-assistantship, or comparable experience involving marketing communications, email campaigns, content development, CRM use, student recruitment, data management, or a related function.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with email quality assurance, basic HTML, mobile-responsive email, accessibility, personalization, consent, and opt-out practices.

• Portfolio or work samples demonstrating clear, persuasive, audience-appropriate writing.

Preferred Experience

• Experience using Salesforce, TargetX, or another CRM or marketing-automation platform.

• Experience building email campaigns, text-message campaigns, direct-mail campaigns, automated journeys, or segmented communications.

• Experience in higher education, admissions, student recruitment, enrollment marketing, nonprofit marketing, or another mission-driven organization.

• Experience using Microsoft Excel or similar tools to validate lists, organize campaign data, and summarize performance.

• Experience coordinating print production, mailing lists, vendors, or fulfillment schedules.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of content marketing, audience segmentation, digital communication, campaign execution, and basic marketing performance measurement.

• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, storytelling, and message-development skills, with the ability to make complex information clear, engaging, accurate, and actionable.

• Ability to write for different student populations and enrollment stages while maintaining a consistent institutional voice.

• Working knowledge of CRM systems, email marketing platforms, text messaging platforms, spreadsheets, databases, or comparable technology tools.

• Ability to create and validate audience lists, interpret basic campaign and funnel data, recognize anomalies, and communicate findings clearly.

• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly when working with large audiences, personalized communications, dates, links, student records, and time-sensitive campaigns.

• Skill in organizing multiple campaigns, deadlines, reviews, and dependencies in a fast-moving environment.

• Ability to learn new technology, follow established approval and quality-assurance processes, and document work clearly.

• Ability to collaborate productively with Admissions, Marketing and Communications, Financial Aid, academic departments, technical staff, vendors, and other partners.

• Sound judgment and discretion in handling student information, institutional communications, and matters that may affect student trust or the University's reputation.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Institutional Values

Middle Georgia State University is committed to four core values in what we do and represent: CORE VALUES: Stewardship - Engagement - Adaptability - Learning

Equal Employment Opportunity

Middle Georgia State University is committed to ensuring a safe learning environment that supports the dignity of all members of the University community. Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG) and Middle Georgia State University. Pursuant to Board of Regents Policy Section 6.6, federal and state laws and regulations, and our vision, mission, and values, Middle Georgia State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Other Information

This is a full-time, 12-month, exempt (salaried) staff position and includes a comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include:

• Health insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Life Insurance
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Leave
• Parental Leave
• Retirement
• Employee discounts
• Tuition reimbursement

Background Check

Employment offer is contingent upon completing a background investigation, including a criminal background check demonstrating your employment eligibility with MGA, as determined by MGA in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application material, and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check.