Assistant Director of Recruitment: Natalie L Haslam College of Music - UTK

This position will be an independent, self-driven individual, reporting to the Director of Admissions & Student Engagement in the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music (NLHCOM). This position is the lead recruiter for the NLHCOM and is responsible for administration of the NLHCOM tour program, assisting in leading the NLHCOM Ambassador program, assisting in all audition/interview day planning and execution, and partnering with faculty, staff, and student ambassadors to create meaningful experiences for prospective students. This person will serve as the head administrator of the Community Music School (CMS) and serve as an admissions representative for the NLHCOM.

As an integral part of the NLHCOM team, the Assistant Director will influence decision making and large-scale planning for students, faculty, and staff. This role requires a high level of organization, creativity, collaboration, innovation, and strategy.

50% Recruitment & Student Engagement:

• Lead NLHCOM in music-specific recruitment efforts at high schools, community colleges, and music events/conferences.
• Collaborate with faculty and event staff to create recruitment strategies for festivals, workshops, and conferences.
• Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the NLHCOM Recruitment and Retention Committee and support its coordination of an annual on-campus recruitment event (VIP Day).
• Travel to honors ensembles, conferences, and other events to connect with prospective students.
• Partner with the Director of Admissions to engage top recruits, especially juniors and seniors.
• Plan and manage NLHCOM specific recruitment events.
• Represent NLHCOM at campus-wide events such as Big Orange Preview, New Vol Admit Day, College Connect, and Welcome Week.
• Oversee recruitment materials, including inventory and ordering.
• Build and maintain relationships with music educators and programs, both in-state and out-of-state.
• Assist in evaluating recruitment events through data collection and analysis.
• Support all audition and interview days.
• Contribute to student engagement initiatives and program development.
• Assist in assessing and enhancing college culture through programming aligned with NLHCOM values.

30% Tour Program & Ambassador Management:

• Lead all on-campus visits and recruitment events in collaboration with the Events Coordinator.
• Communicate with faculty to identify high-level recruits and build individualized experiences for their campus visits.
• Annually review and update tour programs (e.g., Music Major for a Day, Tour+, Tour).
• Work with campus partners to coordinate additional tours and visits at the university level.
• Coordinate Student Ambassadors in their roles as tour guides, office assistants, MMfaD schedulers, and event staff.
• Assist with hiring and training of Student Ambassadors.

10% Recruitment Administration & Communication:

• Use campus recruitment software to access and analyze recruitment data.
• Maintain a recruitment database in collaboration with faculty and staff.
• Communicate with prospective students and families about auditions/interviews, admissions, and scholarships.
• Manage the College of Music Admissions inbox in coordination with the Director and student ambassadors.
• Coordinate with campus admissions and visitation teams to organize NLHCOM programming for university-wide events.

10% Community Music School:

• Manage all aspects of the Community Music School (CMS), including private lessons, ensembles, festivals, and camps.
• Oversee student and teacher policies, track lesson records, and manage student payments.
• Develop and assess marketing and recruitment strategies for CMS programs.
• Supervise CMS faculty and student workers, ensuring timely communication and support.
• Monitor attendance and maintain accurate records.
• Assist with payroll and time reporting in coordination with accounts payable staff.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in music, education, PR, communication, student affairs, or related.

Experience:

• 1-2 years working in higher education with recruiting, student success, engagement or related field

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge and use of databases, spreadsheets, and social media.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and ability to give oral presentations for large groups.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to create and maintain relationships.
• Ability to communicate with students and families from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Ability to manage sensitive issues.
• Ability to create reports using available data.
• Ability to manage several projects at one time.
• Ability to learn new software, as needed.
• Ability to think independently and solve problems

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in music, education, PR, communication, student affairs, or related.

Experience:

• Music background and knowledge of music curricula, College of Music procedures, and/or knowledge of UT.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of best practices in student recruitment.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize recruitment and retention data.
• Ability to mentor and motivate others.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• High attention to detail.

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Hybrid (after 6 months)

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: MR 10
• Anticipated hiring range: 55,000 - 62,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College:

With a rich history of music excellence at the University of Tennessee, the former School of Music officially became a college in July 2023. As one of the few standalone music colleges among state universities in the United States and one of only four named colleges at UT, the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music affords music students a wide variety of professional experiences. Students can explore music through the lenses of analysis, business, composition, conducting, education, musicology, performance, and technology. Now is an exciting time to join our college as we expand our team to empower the next generation of musicians.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!