Recruitment Officers (Student Recruitment)
Engineering, Outreach
(JD00082)
Engineering a Brighter Future
https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/about-us/strategic-plan/
About the Faculty
Ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and worldwide, the Faculty of Engineering is on a mission to empower agile and globally conscious leaders in engineering who collaborate to create a brighter future. The Faculty is at the forefront of transforming engineering education, transitioning from traditional lecture methods to a project-based, hands-on learning approach. Our graduates emerge as resilient professionals, armed with invaluable skills and experiences from Ontario's second-largest co-op program, unparalleled research opportunities—the most extensive offered by any Canadian engineering program—and a multitude of clubs, teams, and projects.
Our community, comprising 265 dedicated staff, 220 esteemed faculty members, 7,600 undergraduate students, and 1,300 graduate students, is drawn to the Faculty of Engineering for its vision of being leaders in advancing engineering for global change. Our commitment is steadfast to cultivating a respectful atmosphere where everyone feels they belong, student success is central to all we do, and we are meaningfully reshaping an engineering field into one that reflects a diverse and inclusive society.
Unit/Project Description
The Faculty of Engineering Student Recruitment team is hiring two Recruitment Officers that play a vital part in advancing the Faculty of Engineering’s efforts to attract, engage, and recruit prospective students – both domestic and international – into our undergraduate and graduate programs.
Reporting to the Manager, Student Recruitment, these two roles contribute to our shared goal: connecting with prospective students and their families across Canada and around the world through dynamic outreach, exceptional events, and compelling storytelling. These positions are ideal for organized, energetic professionals who thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about engaging diverse audiences.
Both positions require strong public speaking and interpersonal skills, a high degree of professionalism and cultural sensitivity, and flexibility to travel domestically and internationally. While each Student Recruitment Officer will lead in a distinct area of specialization – Events or Communications – they will collaborate closely as part of a highly supportive team.
Events Focus:
This area involves leading the planning, execution, and evaluation of major recruitment events, such as Fall Preview Day, May @ Mac, and other Faculty-led initiatives. Responsibilities may include managing all aspects of event logistics - from concept to delivery - as well as coordinating travel arrangements for domestic and international outreach, participating in school visits and campus tours, and fostering peer-to-peer engagement through collaboration with current students and alumni.Communications Focus:
This specialization emphasizes the development of targeted digital and print content in collaboration with the Faculty’s Marketing & Communications Strategist. Responsibilities may include maintaining up-to-date website content, executing email campaigns through Microsoft Dynamics CRM, supporting the creation of publications and promotional materials, and using data insights to ensure consistent and impactful messaging to prospective students.
All Student Recruitment Officers contribute to the Faculty’s outreach and engagement strategy through a combination of in-person representation, content development, and collaborative planning. While individual portfolios may focus on one area of specialization, responsibilities may overlap, and portfolio assignments are subject to change based on operational needs and Faculty priorities.
All applicants will be considered for both roles. To help align your strengths with our needs, please indicate your preferred portfolio — Events or Communications — in your cover letter.
Job Summary
Responsible for attracting well-qualified applicants to the University through a variety of centralized recruitment efforts, programs, and initiatives. Delivers information to students at events as a means to promote the various faculties and specific programs within the University and to ensure the University meets its target enrolment.
Purpose & Key Functions
- Develop conceptual plans and budgets for projects.
- Implement projects and ensure adequate staffing and that projects come in on time and on budget.
- Develop and deliver presentations to potential applicants, families, and guidance counsellors.
- Plan and coordinate various University recruitment events and campus-wide activities.
- Develop estimates of time and resources required for a variety of events and activities.
- Develop and implement market research strategies to establish and remain current with market trends.
- Develop, implement, and coordinate a marketing plan for annual recruitment activities ensuring the image and reputation of the University is maintained.
- Analyze travel reports and previous year's statistics to develop the school visit schedule.
- Monitor and reconcile accounts, prepare financial statements, calculate program costs, travel expenses and develop budget proposals.
- Negotiate terms and prices with external suppliers for services, supplies and equipment.
- Design and develop learning and training materials for temporary staff.
- Develop and deliver training sessions to temporary staff.
- Update, maintain, and verify information in a variety of databases and spreadsheets.
- Write and edit a variety of documents including, but not limited to, marketing materials, reports, correspondence and email.
- Create, monitor, and update website and electronic request forms.
- Write and modify queries to extract data from databases.
- Facilitate focus groups to determine the effectiveness of current publications and to identify areas for improvement.
- Document and provide feedback to senior staff regarding the target audience’s perception of the University.
- Meet with and respond to inquiries from prospective students.
- Liaise regularly with stakeholders across the campus.
- Attend and represent the University at recruitment events.
- Travel to visit high schools and complete student registration activities.
- Ensure the confidentiality and safeguarding of student files.
- Maintain filing systems, both electronic and hard copy.
- Remain current with frequent changes in all academic areas, programs, admission policies and procedures, digital media and social networking.
Supervision
- Ongoing responsibility for supervising up to 9 casual employees at any one time
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related field of study.
- Requires 3 years of relevant experience.
Assets
- Familiarity with post-secondary education programs, services, and student experience is considered an asset
- Experience working in a post-secondary environment is considered a strong asset
- Fluency in a second language relevant to our priority recruitment regions is considered an asset
Additional Information
Minimum Requirements:
- Experience representing organizations at in-person events, school visits, and info sessions
- Experience writing and editing for digital and print platforms, including web and email campaigns
- Experience with event planning and execution, including managing timelines, logistics, stakeholder coordination
- Strong public speaking, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
- Strong collaboration skills for effective work with internal and external partners
- High degree of cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and professionalism
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours during peak recruitment periods (typically October–November and February–May)
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively, including occasional international travel
- A valid Ontario ‘G’ driver’s license
- Access to a personal credit card for work-related expenses (reimbursed). A Diner’s Card with extended reconciliation timelines is also available
- Ability to safely lift and carry items weighing up to 25 kg
This position will have hybrid work arrangements (ex. 3-4 days in the office per week), subject to operational changes and demands.
Preferred Skills and Experience
Preferred qualifications are assets, not requirements. We encourage all interested candidates to apply.
- Market and competitor analysis to support recruitment strategy
- Using data to evaluate and adjust strategies
- Familiarity with website content management (e.g., WordPress) and CRM tools (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics)
- Graphic design and marketing content creation (e.g., Canva, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign)
To apply for this job, please submit your application online via Mosaic.
As a reminder, all applicants will be considered for both roles. To help align your strengths with our needs, please indicate your preferred portfolio — Events or Communications — in your cover letter.
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.
The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.
The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.
As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.
Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:
- Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
- Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
- School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679
to communicate accommodation needs.
To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.
At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.
