Recruitment Lead

Outer Coast Recruitment Lead Position Description

Outer Coast aspires to be a two-year liberal arts college in Sitka, Alaska built on the pillars of academics, service & labor, and self-governance. We seek a Recruitment Lead to oversee recruitment of prospective students to Outer Coast programs. We offer an innovative model of higher education that bridges Indigenous and European ways of knowing and serves not only students but also families, elders, and community members. Our vision is to create a new pathway for students to unlock the promise of higher education: empowering young people whose talents could go unrealized, bridging the gap between high school and four-year institutions that match students’ potential, serving as a launchpad for their educational and career aspirations, and giving them the tools to transform their own lives, their communities, and the broader world. In August 2024, we launched our two-year undergraduate program as our next step toward realizing our vision. To date, we have run six academic programs for high school graduates and eight Summer Seminars for current high schoolers, serving more than 230 students from across Alaska and the globe. For more on Outer Coast, see outercoast.org.

Outer Coast

Our model is founded on the pillars of academics, service & labor, and self-governance, inspired in part by Deep Springs College in California. Outer Coast fosters a culture of excellence in liberal arts teaching and learning which extends beyond the abstract, cloistered, and didactic and into the concrete, place-based, and practical. Students are immersed in the real world rather than isolated from it by bearing responsibility for and contributing to the interconnected community of Sitka and Lingít Aaní, the land of the Tlingit people. An Outer Coast education does more than teach critical thinking and grant degrees: it provides students with the purpose, skills, and mindsets to tackle challenging problems. As co-creators and stewards of the institution, they develop the agency and ability to make decisions that have meaningful consequences for our world at large.

About half of all Outer Coast students are Alaskan—most of whom are Alaska Native and/or from rural Alaska. We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all students. After two years at Outer Coast, students are in a position to transfer, with the support and guidance of Outer Coast staff, to four-year institutions to complete their undergraduate education.

Recruitment Lead Role and Responsibilities

The Outer Coast Recruitment Lead drives the recruitment of undergraduate and high school students to Outer Coast. Serving as a key ambassador for the institution, the Recruitment Lead builds and sustains relationships with students, educators, counselors, families, and community partners across Alaska and the Lower 48. Through this work, the Recruitment Lead helps identify young people who are a strong fit for Outer Coast’s programs and supports them through the application and admissions process.

Based in Sitka, this role requires regular travel to communities in Alaska and occasional travel out of the state. The position provides a unique opportunity to think expansively about the future of higher education while engaging in deeply relational work to ensure that the students who will benefit most from Outer Coast can find their way here.

The Recruitment Lead is a primary collaborator on the Outer Coast operations team and reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Key responsibilities include:

• Serve as the lead recruiter to attract Outer Coast applicants for the undergraduate program and Summer Seminar
• Lead all aspects of student recruitment and admissions in close collaboration with staffulty and students
• Travel throughout Alaska (and occasionally beyond) to meet with prospective students, school counselors, educators, and community members
• Build and maintain strong relationships with prospective students, answering questions and supporting them through each stage of the application process
• Plan and execute campus visit events for educators and prospective students
• Maintain, strengthen, and iteratively improve recruitment systems, workflows, and organizational structures to maximize their effectiveness
• Engage current Outer Coast undergraduates in recruitment efforts, empowering them to contribute in high-impact ways that are aligned with their interests and skills
• Design, stock, and distribute compelling recruitment materials (flyers, booklets, stickers, etc.)
• Research and share findings on a range of recruitment-related topics (marketing and pipeline strategies, aligned organizations in Alaska, financial aid policies and procedures, innovative models of higher education, etc.)
• Draft and coordinate communications with prospective students, educators, and other stakeholders
• Meet with and learn from collaborators and community members to further Outer Coast recruitment goals
• Support the day-to-day operations of Outer Coast

This role offers a unique learning experience and the chance to shape the DNA of Outer Coast as a groundbreaking higher education model. It’s an immersive, fast-paced position that demands dedication and a detail-oriented mindset.

Individuals interested in this position should familiarize themselves with the Outer Coast website and these media articles (Alaska Beacon, EdSurge, New York Times, KCAW Raven Radio, Inside Higher Ed, and the Economist)

Required Qualifications

• Alignment with and commitment to Outer Coast’s mission
• Relationship-building experience and desire to engage with students, educators, and community members across Alaska and the Lower 48
• Strong organizational and systems-thinking skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and relationships simultaneously
• Ability to work independently while remaining deeply collaborative and responsive to team needs
• Self-motivated and directed
• Responsive to feedback and constructive criticism

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience recruiting for educational programs, particularly for high school and/or college-aged students
• Experience living, working, and/or traveling in Alaska
• Demonstrated familiarity with Alaska Native communities and contexts
• Experience managing complex systems with a high level of precision

We especially encourage applications from Alaskans and Alaska Natives, as well as other identities representative of the students we seek to serve.

Salary & Benefits

• The starting salary for this position is $50,000.
• Outer Coast provides staff with health insurance, including dental and vision coverage.

Application Requirements

To apply to the Recruitment Lead position, please submit the following materials as a single PDF:

• Statement of purpose addressing why you are interested in this position and which experiences (work, volunteer, community) have prepared you for this role
• Resume including all relevant work experience
• Three references to be contacted

Please submit all application materials to Rachel Thomson (rachel@outercoast.org) with the subject “[Name of Applicant]: Outer Coast Recruitment Lead Application”. The position is open until filled.

Questions? Email rachel@outercoast.org.

Outer Coast provides staff with health insurance, including dental and vision coverage.