Job Purpose
The Student Marketing & Recruitment Specialist plays a pivotal role in supporting the successful delivery of KAUST’s student recruitment strategy. Working as part of a high-performing small team, the Specialist is responsible for co-creating, delivering and evaluating digital and in-person student marketing and recruitment campaigns and events, and using their experience to continually improve processes and outcomes. This role places a strong emphasis on data analysis to develop campaigns that align with institutional goals and enhance student recruitment success, so familiarity with CRM and data evaluation tools is an advantage.
Major Accountabilities
- Plan, create, and execute student marketing and recruitment campaigns across digital and in‑person channels to support KAUST’s student recruitment strategy.
- Organise, deliver, and coordinate digital and in-person student recruitment events domestically and internationally, including fairs, webinars, campus visits, and other outreach activities.
- Analyse student recruitment and marketing performance data to inform decision‑making, improve targeting, and optimise campaign effectiveness.
- Utilise CRM and data‑tracking tools to manage leads, monitor engagement, and enhance the applicant conversion journey.
- Work closely with the Head of Student Recruitment to support strategic initiatives, align on priorities, and ensure the achievement of team and institutional KPIs.
- Develop compelling marketing content and materials (digital assets, presentations, email campaigns, social content, etc.) aligned with KAUST’s brand and recruitment goals.
- Evaluate and report on the impact of campaigns and events, providing insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.
- Support process enhancement initiatives by identifying workflow gaps, proposing solutions, and contributing to improved efficiency and outcomes in recruitment activities.
Competencies
- Uses data analysis and CRM tools to manage leads, measure performance, and support evidence-based decision making.
- Understands international higher education systems, student mobility trends, and recruitment structures; can adapt strategies for different regions and audiences.
- Develops and implements clear, data-informed recruitment and marketing strategies with defined priorities, timelines, and KPIs.
- Communicates persuasively and clearly across written, verbal, and public formats; presents complex information in a structured and engaging way.
- Plans ahead, can manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, and delivers consistently under pressure with strong attention to detail.
- Applies creativity to improve engagement, experiment with tactics, and enhance the effectiveness of campaigns and events.
- Oversees the full lifecycle of projects and programs, coordinating resources and ensuring timely, high-quality delivery.
- Provides responsive, student-focused service and continuously enhances the recruitment and engagement experience.
- Works effectively both independently and as part of a team; aligns with leadership direction and contributes to shared goals.
- Plans and manages national and international recruitment events, representing KAUST professionally and effectively.
- Develops and executes targeted digital, email, and social media campaigns that support recruitment and conversion objectives.
- Demonstrates strong capability with Microsoft Office.
- Works closely with leadership to meet team and organisational KPIs, reporting progress and adapting actions as needed.
- Produces accurate, engaging, and on-brand marketing content tailored to diverse audiences and communication channels.
- Engages effectively with culturally diverse audiences; communicates fluently in English.
Qualifications
- Minimum of a B.S. degree; Masters level degree desirable.
- Proficiency in English language comprehension, written and spoken; professional fluency in additional languages desirable.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ marketing and CRM experience with at least 3 years in a higher-education environment.
- Self-driven to learn new skills and acquire the essential knowledge to support university operations.
- Ability to travel throughout the year overseas when needed.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends when a need arises, especially during events.
- Adaptability to evolving priorities and challenges.
- Additional languages an asset.
