Location: Chicago, IL plus regional and national travel

Employment Type: Full-time, exempt

Salary Range: $73,300 - $77,900

Benefits: High-quality health and dental insurance, paid vacation, employer-matched retirement plan

The Organization

At Thrive Scholars, we provide high-achieving students from under-resourced communities the opportunities they need to thrive at top colleges and in meaningful careers.

Our comprehensive and data-driven program model focuses on the key inflection points that can be the difference between graduating from any college and graduating from a top college with the grades, degree, career skills, and network needed to thrive in any career. Thrive Scholars originated in Los Angeles as South Central Scholars (“SCS”) twenty years ago. Over this time, the organization has refined its program model and, in the last five years, has focused on expanding nationally; reaching more high-achieving students from under-resourced communities, growing the number of Scholars we serve; and deepening our program impact. Thrive Scholars has begun to grow its footprint with new summer program offerings in three additional cities. The organization has approximately 75 year-round employees and close to 200 summer employees.

The Position

Thrive Scholars is seeking a Scholar Recruitment Manager to ensure that each year, the most talented, high-achieving underrepresented students across the country join the Thrive Scholars community. Each Scholar Recruitment Manager executes the end-to-end Scholar recruitment process for their designated regions, with a focus on growing the overall number of Scholars served and recruiting a highly qualified and diverse Scholar cohort with a strategic priority on recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds. Beyond leading within their own regions, each Scholar Recruitment Manager supports our national recruitment and selection process through leadership of key projects (i.e. recruitment marketing and communications; data management, etc.). 

This position reports to the Managing Director of High School & College Programs and will require some regional (Chicagoland and Midwest) travel and national travel, primarily in the fall during our key recruitment season.

Recruitment and Stewardship (40%)

• Strategically manage the recruitment efforts in assigned geographic territories by serving as primary contact to regional high-yield schools and community partners, and implementing a partnership strategy that will lead to Scholar referrals 
• Identify qualified students through high school visits, student meetings, direct mail follow up, and other admissions events as part of recruitment plan
• Use CRM (Salesforce) to track market performance, engage with prospective students, and accurately capture Thrive’s history and relationships with schools and CBOs

Admissions Operations and Evaluation (40%)

• In partnership with colleagues on the Recruitment team, inform the design and support the execution of the Scholar application and selection process, including through reading and evaluating applications, data tracking, rubric design, application administration, and reader training
• Ensure accuracy of data entered into admission systems through assessment and quality control reviews and manage the flow of data between the student information system platforms
• Facilitate key data analytics projects for Recruitment Team including breaking down application trends for strategic analysis during heavy recruitment seasons
• Provide logistical support to application processing and regional selection committees
• Respond to inquiries and concerns of applicants, both admitted and rejected, from assigned geographical areas

Enrollment (15%)

• Collaborate with Program Directors and Program Managers to support the onboarding and orientation experience for incoming Thrive Scholars 
• Assist in planning and/or facilitate virtual and in-person admitted student outreach, such as yield events and welcome calls to ensure a seamless transition from applicant to newly enrolled Thrive Scholar

Organizational Initiatives and Cross-Team Collaboration (5%)

• Support cross-departmental and organization-wide events and initiatives, including Summer Academy. 

Desired Experience:

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. The qualifications and experiences listed below are intended as a guide; we do not expect candidates to check every box.  

• 3+ years of experience in recruitment and/or college admissions
• ​​1 - 2 years of data management experience
• Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
• Alignment to Thrive’s mission
• Highly skilled relationship-builder, who is able to build trusting relationships in-person and virtually with colleagues, high school students, families, guidance counselors, and community-based partners
• Track record of effectively developing new partnerships, including the ability to navigate complex organizations, to understand key access points, and develop tailored and collaborative relationships
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead presentations and workshops for diverse audiences
• Entrepreneurial spirit that focuses on continuous improvement and innovation
• Skilled project manager with the ability to evaluate outcomes and make data-informed decisions
• Prior experience with a CRM database required; Salesforce preferred
• Experience working with data and complex systems

Competencies

Along with the specific qualifications and experiences noted above, the ideal candidate

for this position will be expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Commitment to Results: Takes action to produce high-quality work with measurable results in service of Thrive’s mission and Scholars.

• Strategic Collaboration: Understands how and when to work with others to drive strong results. Able to balance attention to both results and relationships.

• Learning Agility: Effectively adapts own approach in response to new information and/or situational changes.

• Fostering Thrive Community: Contributes to a work environment that embraces organizational values and works effectively across identities.

• Project Management: Effectively and consistently manages tasks and processes to on-time completion of clear and predetermined outcomes.

Travel Expectations: This position requires extensive in person recruitment activity from September – December. Regional and national travel may be required based on the recruiter's assigned region and organizational needs. The travel schedule will be set in consultation with the Managing Director of High School and College Programs. 

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Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org