Director of Admission and Strategic Recruitment

OBLATE SERVICE CORPORATION

OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

JOB OPENING

The Oblate School of Theology is seeking candidates for the following employment opportunity:

Position Title: Director of Admission and Strategic RecruitmentPosition Status: On-Site, Full-Time, Exempt

About Oblate School of Theology

Mission Statement: Inspired by the charism of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Oblate School of Theology (OST) educates, forms, and renews men and women to "preach the Gospel to the most abandoned."

Oblate School of Theology (OST) is a Catholic graduate and professional school that educates and forms pastoral leaders-lay and ordained-for service to the Church and world, especially in the context of the U.S. Southwest and the Church's global mission. OST offers graduate theological and ministerial degrees including the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Sacred Scripture, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, La Maestría en Ministerio Pastoral, Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Spirituality, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Philosophy in Spirituality, and Spiritual Direction programs, as well as specialized programs in chaplaincy and pastoral ministry. The school is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

OST is entering an exciting moment of growth and strategic investment in its recruitment and admissions infrastructure, particularly to expand its chaplaincy programs and strengthen pipelines from hospitals, CPE programs, diocesan offices, service corps, and other ministry partners.

Summary of Description

The Director of Admission and Strategic Recruitment will lead OST's student recruitment and admissions efforts, serving as the primary driver of strategies to attract, admit, and enroll mission-aligned students.

This is a one-person office role, responsible for hands-on recruitment and admissions work while also implementing a comprehensive recruitment plan. The Director will build strong partnerships with faculty, leadership, ministry organizations, and external partners to strengthen enrollment pipelines, while shaping a modern admissions operation that reflects OST's mission and strategic priorities.

This position will report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, and will work closely with the Registrar, Communications/Marketing, IT, and program directors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Recruitment & Pipeline Development

• Develop and implement an annual recruitment plan aligned with institutional enrollment goals and program priorities (e.g., chaplaincy, M.Div., D.Min., Spiritual Direction).
• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with key feeder organizations including hospitals, CPE programs, diocesan and denominational offices, service corps, and faith-based undergraduate institutions.
• Represent OST at recruitment events (virtual and in-person), including conferences, campus visits, ministry fairs, and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) gatherings.
• Coordinate targeted outreach campaigns to prospective students through email, digital marketing, and personal engagement.

Admissions Operations

• Manage the full admissions funnel: inquiry, application, review, admission, and enrollment.
• Communicate proactively with prospective students, providing personalized guidance throughout the process.
• Collaborate closely with the Registrar's Office to ensure smooth application processing, data integrity, and handoffs.
• Maintain and update application procedures and admissions policies in alignment with ATS standards.

CRM, Data, & Communications

• Partner with IT and the CRM provider (Sonis/Jenzabar) to develop inquiry-to-enrollment workflows and automated communications.
• Draft and manage admissions and recruitment messaging templates (inquiry responses, nurture campaigns, yield communications).
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs), including funnel metrics by program, source yield, time-to-application, and enrollment trends.
• Use data to inform recruitment priorities and continuous improvement.

Collaboration & Strategic Initiatives

• Work closely with program directors and faculty to align admissions criteria, identify ideal student profiles, and communicate program strengths.
• Partner with internal Communications/Marketing staff and external branding/advertising vendors to ensure consistent messaging and outreach.
• Contribute to scholarship strategy by helping identify prospective students who qualify for internal and external aid opportunities.
• Participate in strategic planning conversations related to enrollment growth and institutional sustainability.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree, required, Master's degree in Theology, Education, Communications, or related field, preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in admissions, recruitment, or enrollment management, preferably in graduate theological education or higher education, required

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated success managing admissions or recruitment pipelines in a small or mission-driven institution, required
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage missionally diverse audiences. Must be bilingual (English and Spanish), required
• Strong organizational skills and comfort managing multiple priorities independently, required
• Proficiency with CRM system and data reporting, required
• Experience in Catholic or theological education, preferred
• Familiarity with ATS accreditation standards and federal financial aid processes, preferred
• Knowledge of chaplaincy pathways (CPE programs, healthcare systems) and/or ministry leadership development, preferred

Work Hours

Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary range: $58,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience. OSC-OST offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, company paid life insurance, FSA Health and Dependent Care, AFLAC, Holidays, PTO, and 401K with matching contributions.

Must pass background check and pre-employment drug testing