Director of International Admissions and Enrollment Management  

Classification: Exempt
Status: Regular, Full-Time
Reports To: President
Department: Admissions
Work Year: 12 Months

Position Summary

The Director of International Admissions and Enrollment Management provides strategic leadership for all aspects of student recruitment, enrollment, international admissions, and student retention in support of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy's Catholic, Dominican mission. This position develops and executes a comprehensive enrollment strategy that attracts, enrolls, and retains mission-aligned students while ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the Academy's day and boarding programs.

As one of the school's primary ambassadors, the Director cultivates meaningful relationships with prospective students, families, educational consultants, feeder schools, alumnae, community partners, and international organizations. The Director collaborates closely with the President, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Residential Life, Advancement, Strategic Communications & Marketing, Financial Aid, and the Business Office to provide an exceptional enrollment experience from inquiry through graduation.

The Director serves as a member of the School Leadership Team and advises the President on enrollment strategy, demographic trends, market conditions, enrollment forecasting, and long-term institutional growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive enrollment strategy aligned with the Academy's mission, strategic plan, and long-term enrollment goals.
• Establish annual enrollment objectives for day and boarding programs and monitor progress through measurable performance indicators.
• Analyze enrollment trends, demographic data, competitor activity, and market conditions to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Develop enrollment forecasts and provide strategic recommendations to the President and Board of Directors.
• Utilize enrollment data and predictive analytics to improve recruitment, yield, retention, and overall enrollment performance.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President regarding enrollment planning and institutional growth.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen enrollment sustainability while maintaining the Academy's mission and educational excellence.

Admissions Operations

• Direct all aspects of the admissions process from inquiry through enrollment for day and boarding applicants.
• Lead the Admissions Committee and facilitate mission-centered admissions decisions.
• Ensure a welcoming, personalized, and high-quality admissions experience for prospective students and families.
• Develop and maintain admissions policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Oversee applicant review, admissions decisions, enrollment contracts, and waitlist management.
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality of admissions records and enrollment data.

Recruitment & Community Engagement

• Develop innovative recruitment strategies that increase awareness and strengthen the Academy's visibility locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with feeder schools, pastors, educational consultants, community organizations, and prospective families.
• Represent Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy at recruitment events, school fairs, conferences, parish events, and community functions.
• Plan and oversee a comprehensive annual calendar of admissions events, including Open House, Information Nights, Preview Days, campus tours, receptions, virtual events, and admitted student programs.
• Recruit, train, and support student, parent, faculty, staff, and alumnae ambassadors to assist with admissions initiatives.

International & Boarding Enrollment

• Develop and execute a comprehensive international student recruitment strategy aligned with institutional enrollment goals.
• Work collaboratively with the Admissions Team for Grades 9–12 to align international recruitment priorities with overall admissions planning, policies, and yield strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with secondary schools, recruitment agents, educational consultants, and strategic partner organizations worldwide.
• Represent Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy at international recruitment fairs, school visits, educational conferences, agent training events, and other recruitment opportunities.
• Manage the admissions process for international applicants from inquiry through enrollment in collaboration with the Admissions Team.
• Collaborate with Residential Life, Student Services, Academic Affairs, Strategic Communications & Marketing, Financial Aid, and the Business Office to ensure a seamless transition for newly enrolled international and boarding students.
• Support compliance with applicable U.S. immigration regulations, including F-1 visa requirements, SEVIS reporting, and related documentation.
• Establish annual international enrollment targets, monitor performance metrics, evaluate market effectiveness, and provide regular reports and recommendations to the President.
• Identify emerging international markets and enrollment opportunities that strengthen the Academy's global presence.
• Travel domestically and internationally to support recruitment initiatives, establish strategic partnerships, and expand the Academy's global enrollment. Domestic and international travel is expected approximately 6–8 weeks annually, with additional travel as institutional priorities require.

Student Retention

• Lead school-wide student retention initiatives in collaboration with school leadership.
• Analyze retention data and identify trends impacting enrollment.
• Facilitate regular retention meetings to support student success and persistence.
• Conduct exit interviews and evaluate trends to improve the student and family experience.
• Develop strategies that strengthen student engagement, satisfaction, and long-term retention.

Marketing & Strategic Communications

• Partner closely with the Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing to ensure consistent messaging, branding, and storytelling throughout the enrollment lifecycle.
• Collaborate on admissions publications, digital marketing campaigns, website content, social media, and recruitment communications.
• Ensure all admissions materials accurately reflect the Academy's Catholic, Dominican mission, values, and educational experience.

Financial Aid & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Business Office regarding tuition assistance strategies that support enrollment objectives.
• Counsel prospective families regarding tuition, financial aid, scholarships, and enrollment options.
• Partner with Academic Affairs, Student Life, Residential Life, Advancement, and other departments to support enrollment goals and student success.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate Admissions Department staff.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and service-oriented department culture.
• Conduct regular department meetings and establish annual departmental goals.
• Encourage professional development through organizations such as NAIS, AISAP, EMA, TABS, and WCEA.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, accountability, and exceptional service.

Data, Reporting & Budget Management

• Prepare enrollment reports, dashboards, forecasts, and presentations for the President, Board of Directors, and Leadership Team.
• Monitor admissions performance metrics and recommend operational improvements.
• Develop and manage the Admissions Department budget.
• Utilize Blackbaud Enrollment Management and related technology systems to improve operational efficiency and reporting.

Other Duties

• Participate as an active member of the School Leadership Team.
• Attend evening and weekend admissions events, school functions, and community activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Performance Expectations and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Success in the Director of International Admissions and Enrollment Management role will be measured by the achievement of key performance indicators, including but not limited to:

• Meet or exceed annual enrollment goals for both domestic and international students, as established by the Academy's strategic enrollment plan.
• Achieve annual net tuition revenue targets through effective recruitment, enrollment, and yield strategies.
• Expand the Academy's geographic reach by increasing the number of represented states and countries while developing new recruitment markets.
• Improve year-over-year conversion rates throughout the admissions funnel, including inquiry-to-applicant, applicant-to-admit, and admit-to-enrolled (yield).
• Develop and execute data-driven enrollment strategies that support sustainable long-term enrollment growth.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with feeder schools, educational consultants, recruitment partners, and community organizations that generate qualified applicant pipelines.
• Monitor and analyze admissions and enrollment data to identify trends, evaluate recruitment effectiveness, and recommend strategic improvements.
• Enhance the prospective student and family experience by ensuring a timely, responsive, and personalized admissions process.
• Collaborate with internal departments to support student enrollment, retention, and successful onboarding.
• Strengthen the Academy's visibility and reputation through strategic outreach, recruitment events, and community engagement aligned with institutional goals.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible admissions, enrollment management, or independent school leadership experience.
• Experience in Catholic or independent schools preferred.
• Demonstrated success in domestic and international student recruitment, enrollment strategy, and relationship management.
• Experience with boarding school admissions strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Mission Alignment

• Demonstrates a commitment to the Catholic, Dominican mission, values, and educational philosophy of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.
• Serves as a positive ambassador of the Academy and its mission.

Communication

• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, families, faculty, administrators, Board members, educational consultants, and international partners.

Enrollment Strategy

• Strong understanding of enrollment management, admissions best practices, independent school trends, and market dynamics.
• Ability to analyze data and translate findings into strategic recommendations.

Collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to build effective partnerships across departments and constituencies.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, emotional intelligence, and sound judgment.

Organization

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.

Technology

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with Blackbaud Enrollment Management, Blackbaud Student Information Systems, CRM platforms, and enrollment reporting tools preferred.

Leadership Competencies

The Director of Admissions is expected to model the leadership values of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy by demonstrating:

• Mission-Centered Leadership: Advances the Catholic, Dominican mission and integrates faith, integrity, and service into all aspects of the admissions process.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops forward-looking enrollment strategies that support institutional priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Relationship Building: Establishes trust and fosters meaningful relationships with prospective families, colleagues, alumnae, educational partners, and the broader community.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Uses enrollment metrics, market analysis, and institutional data to guide strategy and measure success.
• Collaboration & Influence: Works effectively across departments, builds consensus, and leads through partnership and shared purpose.
• Change Leadership: Embraces innovation, responds proactively to changing enrollment trends, and leads continuous improvement efforts.
• Stewardship & Accountability: Demonstrates sound judgment, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability while advancing the Academy's mission and enrollment goals.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout a multi-building campus.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds.
• Frequent use of computers, telephones, and standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone.
• Ability to attend evening and weekend events as needed.
• Ability to travel locally, domestically, and internationally (approximately 6–8 weeks annually, or more as institutional needs require).
• Valid driver's license and ability to use a personal vehicle for school business as needed.
• The employee must be able to navigate the school campus, including the regular use of stairs, as many buildings and work areas require stair access.

Compensation & Benefits

FSHA offers a competitive full-time hourly range of $120,000- $150,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous paid days off for holidays, vacation, personal days, and sick time
  
  
• 100% employer-paid long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance
  
  
• Professional development reimbursement
  
  
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% employer contribution after one year
  
  
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with shared premium costs
  
  
• Free lunch provided daily
  
  
• A welcoming, collaborative work environment on a beautiful hilltop campus in La Cañada

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is a vital element of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy’s mission. We seek to create and sustain a vibrant, inclusive community that honors the dignity and uniqueness of every individual as part of the diversity of God’s creation. FSHA is committed to fostering a culture of belonging, respect, and equity.

Equal Opportunity & Fair Chance Employer

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is an equal opportunity employer and evaluates all applicants without unlawful consideration of race, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

In accordance with California’s Fair Chance Act, FSHA will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable laws. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process. Applicants requiring assistance may contact jruffalo@fsha.org.

California Compliance Notice

In accordance with California law (Education Code §44939.5, as amended by SB 848), applicants for positions with educational institutions are required to disclose all current and former employment with California educational institutions. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon the completion of required employment verifications.

About Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

Connections working at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy