Manager of Graduate Programs in Hillsdale, Michigan at Hillsdale College

1. Cultivate and recruit new students for the Steve & Amy Van Andel Graduate School of Government, focusing on but not limited to the admissions cycles of the School, with emphasis on person-to-person recruitment, targeted outreach, and admissions events.
2. Reach out to targeted leads and prospective applicants, cultivated by the Executive Director of Outreach, to guide, encourage, and assist them through the application process.
3. Prepare, organize, maintain, and present comprehensive applicant files for review by the admissions committee, while developing a thorough understanding of each applicant’s academic background, professional experience, leadership potential, and alignment with the mission and values of Hillsdale College.
4. In cooperation with the Executive Director of Outreach, maintain the recruitment databases, prospect tracking, develop and implement recruitment strategy, and streamline admissions communications to ensure accurate reporting, effective pipeline management, record keeping, and long-term improvements aligned with institutional priorities.
5. Organize academic events aimed at the intellectual and social development and enrichment of VSG students and alumni (minimum of one such event per term, Fall, Spring, Summer).
6. Identify and recruit candidates for the James Madison Fellowship.
7. Coordinate and execute at least two formal graduate school Admissions Information Sessions during both the Fall and Spring admissions cycles.
8. Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective students, fellows, and applicants throughout the recruitment and admissions process and represent the Graduate School of Government and Hillsdale College at recruitment events, networking functions, conferences, and mission-related programs throughout Washington, D.C.
9. Support and participate in Hillsdale in D.C. events and institutional programming, including select evening and weekend responsibilities as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2–4 years of professional experience, ideally in either recruitment, admissions, talent acquisition, enrollment management, higher education outreach, external relations, communications, or a related field.
• Familiarity with Washington, D.C. professional, academic, policy, or nonprofit networks.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, with the ability to build rapport with prospective students, fellows, alumni, and other stakeholders.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage timely admissions cycles, communications workflows, and recruitment priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, including public speaking, presentations, and individualized applicant engagement.
• Professional demeanor with the ability to represent Hillsdale College and its Washington, D.C. programs with maturity, credibility, and enthusiasm in a variety of academic, professional, and public settings.
• Strong work ethic with the ability to operate both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced and mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to maintain professionalism in handling sensitive applicant and institutional information.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings in support of recruitment events, admissions programming, and institutional initiatives.

• An advanced degree or relevant graduate-level experience preferred.
• Previous professional experience in Washington, D.C., including work on Capitol Hill, within presidential administrations, public policy organizations, mission-driven advocacy groups, educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations aligned with the principles of constitutional government, civic leadership, and the American political tradition.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively recruit, cultivate, and enroll high-quality applicants through relationship-driven outreach and strategic pipeline development.
• Experience utilizing CRM systems, prospect tracking systems, and recruitment analytics to assess performance metrics.
• Ability to analyze recruitment trends, applicant data, and enrollment outcomes in order to improve recruitment effectiveness and support institutional growth objectives.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter