Associate Director, Graduate Programs for Experienced Professionals

Job Description Summary In 2022, Bentley University launched a bold 2030 strategic plan: Falcons Forward 2030. The plan is built around five key focus areas: (1) a Culture of Leadership & Innovation, (2) Market Oriented Collaboration, (3) Catalyst for Business-Driven Impact, (4) Access & Opportunity, and (5) Financial Sustainability. The Strategy & Innovation Division (SID) was established after the launch of the strategic plan with a mission to support impactful, scalable, and sustainable growth that maximizes the resources, assets, and capabilities of Bentley University and is aligned with the mission and Falcons Forward 2030.

As part of Focus Area 2, Bentley has ambitious graduate program expansion goals, which, in their early phases, are particularly focused on equipping experienced professionals with the skills they need to accelerate their careers.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategic Programs, the Associate Director of Graduate Programs for Experienced Professionals will play a pivotal role in supporting these experienced professionals throughout their graduate student journey, from their recruitment, through onboarding, and all the way through their post-graduation career aspirations. They will work with cross-functional teams across Bentley’s campus to implement the processes needed for these experienced professionals to thrive before, during, and after their time at Bentley.

The ideal candidate should have collaboration at their core – whether that manifests as needs-driven prospective student customer service or as cross-departmental process implementation. We value individuals who are excited to work alongside others but who also take ownership of their responsibilities and programs.

Essential Duties

• Be the primary recruiter and crafter of recruitment strategy for Bentley’s working professional Master’s programs. Identify how and where to recruit right-fit students and then shepherd students from burgeoning interest in Bentley’s programs to completed applicants.
• Meet with high potential working professional leads either in person or via Zoom, to their preference.
• Serve on the application reading committee for Bentley’s experienced professional Master’s programs, acting as the first reader on most applications.
• Conceptualize and host events – information sessions, faculty topic shares, coffee chats – to demonstrate the value of Bentley’s working professional programs. These events may be virtual, local, or require travel.
• Build pipelines of applicants for these programs, identifying and engaging employer or organizational partners who could feed applicants to these programs.
• Work closely with campus partners to devise effective communication and onboarding practices for specific program audiences; lead efforts to assess and improve the experienced professional student experience.
• Implement pre- and within-program communications plans that include data gathering, surveying, and helping students navigate through their program.
• Act as the administrative program manager for all co-curricular needs for working professional programs.
• Support community-building within these programs by taking on tasks including creating hotel blocks, scheduling dinners, and organizing community-building events.
• Serve as a key point of contact for working professionals enrolled in one of Bentley’s graduate programs, triaging them to the appropriate Bentley office to get their questions answered. Ensure that each student is treated with a high level of care and service.
• Participate in cross-functional campus conversations - with groups like the Program Directors, Graduate Deans Office, Graduate Academic Advising, Graduate Careers etc. - to build co-curricular programming for working professional graduate programs. Implement the administrative vision of those working groups.

Minimum Requirements

• MBA or Business Master’s or equivalent.
• 3-5 years of similar graduate recruitment, customer service, business development, or corporate sales experience.
• Experience with various recruitment-oriented tools such as Slate, project management tools, survey tools (Qualtrics), and Zoom.
• Demonstrated aptitude for leveraging an admission CRM, such as Slate, in the recruitment and enrollment process.
• Intermediate Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Alignment with Bentley values and interests especially regarding a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Ability to support and develop content quickly and with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage and work across collaborative teams.
• Demonstrated strong client service skills.
• Strong research and strategic analysis skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to write and speak professionally and persuasively and to engage diverse audiences through both group presentations and individual consultations.
• Strong organizational skills.

Work Environment

• Hybrid work environment, typical office setting with extensive computer use, and flexible working space. Candidates generally expected to be in the office two to three days a week on average.
• Travel up to 20% of time. Travel will be primarily domestic and will span both New England and major US metropolitan areas.
• Ability to travel around campus for work-related duties and meetings.
• Current and valid driver's license and ability to travel domestically.
• Flexible scheduling is available outside of active program dates. Please see the university’s Flexible Work Arrangements policy to learn more about Bentley’s workplace flexibility- https://www.bentley.edu/offices/human-resources/flexible-work-arrangements

Pay Transparency At Bentley we offer a “total rewards” package designed to attract, motivate, retain, and reward our employees. This includes competitive compensation, robust benefits, career development and opportunities, generous paid time off, workplace flexibility and a positive, engaging employee experience. In alignment with the Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act and our commitment to equity and transparency, we’re sharing the salary grade range for this role. The grade range is based on market data and the scope of responsibilities. Final pay will depend on your experience, education, and other relevant qualifications.

Salary Grade Range:

$67,960 - $113,126

If you have questions about the salary grade range or need additional information, please contact us at GA_HR_Employment@bentley.edu.

Bentley University requires references checks and may conduct other pre-employment screening.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Bentley University strives to create a campus community that welcomes the exchange of ideas, and fosters a culture that values differences and views them as a strength in our community.

Bentley University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, building strength through diversity. The University is committed to building a community of talented students, faculty and staff who reflect the diversity of global business. We strongly encourage applications from persons from underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, covered veterans and those with diverse experiences and backgrounds.