Marketing Recruitment Strategist

Position Title:

Campus:

Employment Type:

Department:

Start Date:

Job Description:

Summary:

The Marketing Recruitment Strategist plans, writes, and executes the recruitment marketing campaigns and content that support Illinois Central College’s enrollment goals. Working under the direction of the Manager of Marketing and Content Strategy, this role translates campaign strategy into coordinated, multi-channel marketing execution, ensuring alignment with audience needs, enrollment cycles, and institutional priorities.

The Strategist serves a wide range of prospective students, from traditional-aged students transitioning out of high school to adult learners balancing work, family, and career change. Campaigns support enrollment growth across priority areas including 8-week classes, adult learners, Early College, and workforce development. The Strategist helps define what success looks like, analyzes results, and directs timely adjustments when the data supports a change.

To submit a complete application, please include a resume and a portfolio of writing samples demonstrating multi-channel campaign copy.

Compensation for the Marketing Recruitment Strategist is $52,915.20-$59,529.60 annually.

Essential Functions:

This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develop and refine the ongoing recruitment personas for ICC’s prospective student audiences, including traditional-aged students and adult learners.

• Manage prospective student journey maps from first inquiry through enrollment, identifying key decision points, barriers, and communication gaps.

• Use personas, journey maps, and enrollment data to shape campaign strategy with the Manager of Marketing and Content Strategy, including audience segmentation, message mapping, and channel planning.

• Work closely with Admissions to align campaign strategy with recruitment priorities, funnel stages, and communication timing.

• Project manage enrollment campaigns so deliverables are clearly defined, tracked, completed, and evaluated.

• Write recruitment campaign copy across channels, including email and drip/lead nurturing campaigns, text (SMS) messages, direct mail, paid social ads, landing pages, and ad hoc communications such as deadline reminders, event invitations, and yield messages.

• Write for distinct prospective student audiences, including traditional-aged students (recent and upcoming high school graduates) and adult learners, adapting voice, tone, and motivators to each persona and funnel stage.

• Translate messaging frameworks, audience segments, and personas into clear, scannable copy with strong, action-oriented calls to action.

• Develop copy variations for A/B testing (subject lines, headlines, ad copy, CTAs) and revise copy based on performance results.

• Edit and proofread all campaign content for accuracy, grammar, and adherence to ICC brand voice and editorial style.

• Partner with Brand & Creative so copy and design work together across print, social, and web deliverables.

• Define campaign success measures and determine which metrics to track across channels and funnel stages.

• Analyze campaign performance and engagement data (e.g., open, click, response, and conversion rates) to identify what is and is not working.

• Direct quick campaign pivots (messaging, audience, timing, or channel) when data supports the change.

• Recommend longer-term strategy and persona adjustments based on campaign results and audience feedback, using dashboards and debriefs.

• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English, or related field.

• 3 or more years of professional writing experience in marketing, advertising, communications, or enrollment marketing, including conversion-focused campaign copy.

• 3 or more years of project management or campaign coordination experience.

• Demonstrated ability to adapt writing for different audiences, channels, and formats.

• Strong editing and proofreading skills with close attention to detail.

• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education recruitment marketing.

• Experience writing for both traditional-aged students and adult learners.

• Experience writing email and SMS campaigns in a CRM (e.g., Slate).

• Experience writing paid social ads and landing pages, including A/B testing.

• Familiarity with AP Style, plain language, and accessible writing practices.

• Experience with project management systems (Asana, Wrike, TDNext).

• Experience with audience segmentation and user experience journey mapping.

• Experience with digital marketing channels and analytics.

Illinois Central College provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, order of protection status, use of VESSA rights, genetic information, military or veteran status (including discharge status), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• paid time off;
• 11 paid holidays;  2 floating holidays
• medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance;
• tuition waivers for employee, spouse and dependent children;
• on-site childcare center;
• 403(b) retirement plans; and
• State University Retirement System pension plan.