Shady Side Academy is a diverse, transformative PK-12 day and boarding school community that challenges students to think expansively, act ethically, lead responsibly and seeks an innovative, inspiring school leader to serve as its next Director of Enrollment, effective July 1, 2021. 

The Director leads strategic enrollment management planning, overseas student recruitment, all admissions processes and records, financial aid budgeting and allocation, institutional research and data analysis relevant to enrollment, as well as all retention and re-enrollment efforts. The Director inspires and supports a team of five admissions directors and four assistants and also manages constituent volunteer and admissions-oriented community partnerships. 

Reporting directly to the President, and collaborating regularly with SSA’s Chief Finance & Operations Officer, marketing and communications staff, and school heads, the Director is a member of the President’s Executive Leadership Team and helps to nurture and sustain the Academy’s culture, as well as execute the School’s developing strategic vision for the future. 

The Director will embrace and advance Shady Side’s equity and inclusion practice and a culture of mentorship and professional learning. In its search for the next Director, the Academy is eager to consider a highly diverse candidate pool. 

The next Director will embody the Academy’s Guiding Principles (Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, and Safety). The Director will also be of high character, approachable, collaborative, and dedicated to excellence and integrity in all s/he does. 

Relevant Leadership Experience 

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a track record of: 

• excellence in enrollment management strategy and operations 
• effective data curation and analysis 
• innovation in support of an organization's mission and strategy 
• collaboration across a range of organizational divisions and departments
• practice in promoting and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion
• effective communication with a range of stakeholders and constituencies 
• emotional intelligence, political savvy, and a sense of humor  

Opportunities & Challenges 

Shady Side plays an important role in the shaping of young people’s lives in greater Pittsburgh and beyond. As always, however, there is more work to do in the pursuit of excellence, and there are many exciting challenges and opportunities ahead for the next Director of Enrollment. 

Among the many challenges and opportunities, this new leader will need to: 

• Expand overall enrollment in alignment with the Academy’s developing core strategy
• Continue to build collaboration and integrated practice in admissions at all divisions
• Increase avg. student tenure, especially through improved Middle School enrollment
• Continue developing SSA’s customer service and overall hospitality in the admissions process 
• Leverage financial aid in support of SSA’s enrollment goals and developing core strategy   
• Expand student diversity and the enrollment of students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in particular
• Grow the enrollment of 7-day domestic boarding students
• Foster continued synergy between enrollment efforts at Country Day and the Junior School 

Other Responsibilities  

• As appropriate, serves as a student advisor, and/or coaches a sport
• Additional duties as assigned by the President
• Extends beyond the job description to support the mission and strategic goals of the School

Salary, Compensation, and Benefits

Salary, compensation, and benefits will be highly competitive in Shady Side’s regional independent school market and commensurate with experience. Housing and SSA’s tuition remission program are included as potential additional benefits. 

About Shady Side Academy

Founded in 1883, Shady Side Academy is a PK-12 independent day and boarding school in Pittsburgh. The Academy’s mission is to challenge students to think expansively, act ethically, and lead responsibly. Four age-specific campuses with extraordinary resources, teachers who actively mentor, a forward-thinking curriculum, a diverse and inclusive community, and a legacy of alumni accomplishments all inspire Shady Side students to high achievement in academics, the arts and athletics, and to meaningful ambitions in life. 

Application Deadline 

All candidates must submit a cover letter, and resume to the Shady Side Academy employment portal using this link https://www.shadysideacademy.org/about/employment. The deadline for submissions is January 22, 2021.