Posted: 09-May-25
Location: San Mateo, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $90,000 to $110,000
Categories:
Salary Details:
Preferred Education:
Assistant Director of Admissions - Upper School
The Position
The Assistant Director of Admissions plays a key role in supporting the PreK–12 admissions process, with primary responsibility for Upper School admissions and cross-divisional collaboration. Based on the San Mateo campus, this role leads the Upper School Maverick Ambassador Program, coordinates admissions events and outreach efforts, and helps guide prospective families through the application and interview process. The Assistant Director also serves as the main liaison for Communications, contributes to mission-aligned applicant evaluation, and plays an active role in creating an inclusive, welcoming experience for all families. Evening and weekend hours are required, as is occasional travel between campuses. Participation in student life, including serving as an advisor and chaperoning school trips, is also expected.
The Assistant Director of Admissions reports to the Director of Admissions and works closely with the Associate Directors and the full admissions team.
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the Upper School Maverick Ambassador Program.
- Plan, coordinate, and support all aspects of Upper School admissions events, including program previews, activity sessions, campus tours, revisit days, and welcome events for newly admitted families.
- Manage scheduling for all Upper School admissions events and provide support for cross-divisional events.
- Serve as a facilitator and observer during activity sessions, and as a tour host as needed.
- Manage all catering requests for San Mateo campus admissions events, including internal and external functions.
- Support all virtual events, including cross-divisional events.
- Represent Nueva at on- and off-campus events such as admissions fairs, school visits, and presentations to educators and prospective families.
- Develop and maintain relationships with Bay Area schools and educational non-profits/community-based organizations (CBOs).
- Assist with the coordination and implementation of outreach efforts.
- Monitor and support the applicant and family experience throughout the admissions process to ensure timely communication, clarity, and care.
- Collaborate with Lower and Middle School admissions colleagues to ensure consistency of messaging and a seamless cross-divisional applicant experience.
- Serve as the main point of contact for Kira Talent and ensure smooth integration with the admissions process.
- Act as liaison to the Communications team, working closely on Finalsite (admissions website platform), social media, and the creation and management of the monthly admissions newsletter.
- Support application and data management, including the preparation and organization of applicant files for review.
- Serve as a reader and active member of the Upper School admissions committee, contributing to thoughtful, mission-aligned decision-making.
- Assist with updates to Ravenna, the admissions website, and digital and print materials.
- Respond to inquiries via phone and email related to the Upper School admissions process.
- Provide backup support for Admissions Assistant responsibilities as needed, in collaboration with the Admissions Associate.
- Continually seek new opportunities to improve admissions practices and contribute to a culture of reflection, innovation, and inclusivity within the team.
- Promote the mission and core values of The Nueva School in all interactions.
- Participate in school activities and community gatherings, including serving as an Upper School advisor and trip chaperone.
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the Director of Admissions and the Associate Directors of Admissions.
Qualifications
- Three or more years of school admissions experience.
- Excellent organizational skills and high attention to details.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously and prioritize.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Exceptional people skills and phone etiquette.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Sensitivity, discretion, and a sense of humor.
- Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
- Teaching experience is a plus.
- Working knowledge of FileMaker Pro is a plus.
- Bilingual abilities– Spanish/English or Mandarin/English a plus.
Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, fully in-person, exempt position. Evening and weekend work is required.
The full-time salary range for this position is from $90,000 - $110,000. The starting salary is based upon, but not limited to, several factors that include type and years of experience, education level, and expertise.
We offer a compensation and benefits package that includes fully paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance for employees, employer contribution toward dependent insurance premium, a generous match on our retirement plan, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account, and free lunch. Eligibility rules must be met.
To Apply
Please submit your application information - cover letter describing your interest and preparedness for the position, a resume documenting your relevant experience and expertise, and contact information for three professional references including an explanation of your relationship - to the Nueva Employment Website. To address specific questions, please email Melanie Leon, at mleon@nuevaschool.org
The Nueva School is an Equal Opportunity Employer – we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability or sex. We welcome applications from people of color and those with experience outside the education field.
About The Nueva School
The Nueva School, an internationally recognized, nonprofit, independent day school, has served gifted learners since 1967. Today, Nueva serves nearly 1000 students in grades PreK–12. Nueva is located in the neighboring towns of Hillsborough and San Mateo, equidistant between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, serving six counties throughout the Bay Area of Northern California.
A constructivist school, Nueva is known for its distinctive inquiry-based interdisciplinary studies, project-based learning, and pioneering work in social-emotional learning and design thinking. The Nueva community instills a passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the imaginative mind. Our school has received the US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award, the US Department of Education National Green Ribbon Award, and the American Institute of Architects Award for School Design and Sustainability; has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program and appointed an Ashoka Changemaker School; co-founded the Common Ground Speaker Series; hosts the biennial Innovative Learning Conference, and was highlighted by the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times best-selling author Thomas Friedman in his book That Used to Be Us in the chapter “Average Is Over.”
For more information about The Nueva School, visit our website: www.nuevaschool.org.