Collegiate School seeks a dynamic and dedicated leader to serve as the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management. The Director of Admission and Enrollment Management provides strategic leadership for the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of a diverse, highly qualified student body. The Director leads the Admission Team and partners closely with all school divisions to design, implement, and evaluate best-practice enrollment strategies and communications that position Collegiate School as a JK-12 college preparatory day school of choice for prospective students and families. As a visible presence in the Collegiate community and a member of the Administrative Team, the Director reports to the Head of School and collaborates with leadership, faculty, and staff to set direction and policy that support an excellent student experience across the full JK-12 journey.

This is a full-time, benefitted 12-month position.

General responsibilities will include:

Leadership and Management

• Develop long-term strategies and implement plans in accordance with enrollment priorities and the mission of Collegiate School; partner with leadership team, faculty, staff, and other constituencies to set goals and articulate admission priorities and philosophy.
• Lead and manage the Admission Team by providing clear vision, objectives, and timely feedback that supports the Admission Office in meeting defined goals.
• Provide regular reports and planning documents to leadership team, the Board, and faculty and staff on admission outcomes and trends; initiate research studies and projects to evaluate the effects of admission and financial aid policies and practices, and seek feedback from applicant families.
• Work collaboratively with the Communications Team to develop and implement strategic marketing plans, communications, publications, and programs consistent with the School’s mission and strategy.
• Work in close coordination with the Business Office to align enrollment strategy with the School’s financial plan, including yield strategy, financial allocations, and budget management.
• Develop and oversee the School’s yield strategy, ensuring that marketing and recruitment efforts are tied to the School’s financial plan.
• Determine financial strategy and allocations in partnership with the Business Office and leadership team.
• Prepare and manage the departmental budget, monitoring expenses to ensure compliance with School policies.
• Work with the Development Office to promote a fuller understanding of admission and financial aid policies and issues within the alumni body; meet with donors interested in supporting the financial aid scholarship program.
• Represent Collegiate at external organizations and associations; serve as the chief spokesperson during the admission process by articulating the School’s history, culture, and the benefits of a strong JK-12 co-educational experience.
• Develop, manage, and evaluate admission staff to meet changing department needs; meet regularly with staff to discuss workflows, provide guidance, delegate projects, and assess progress through frequent feedback and coaching.

Admission

• Organize and manage activities to attract a diverse class of highly qualified applicants to Collegiate School; oversee the planning of all admission events.
• Build relationships to support a broad and thoughtful funnel and outreach strategy with a range of professionals and sectors in the greater community.
• Conduct presentations to promote and attract prospective students and their families throughout the greater Richmond area.
• Provide direction for outreach activities and implement strategies to retain highly qualified applicants from underrepresented groups in support of the School’s goals.
• Analyze application data, interview prospective students, and respond to inquiries; counsel students and families on the admission process, including testing strategies, curriculum guidance, and other aspects of the School’s educational program.
• Design a comprehensive admission cycle that prioritizes personalized communication and professional responsiveness from initial inquiry to decision notification and beyond.
• Ability to articulate and deliver sensitive information to families with the highest level of professionalism, compassion, and discretion.
• Administer the evaluation and decision process of the Admission Committee by establishing admission standards and making final admission decisions.
• Formulate and periodically update application, admission, and enrollment policies.

Retention

• Be a visible and known presence in the life of the School.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate retention and re-enrollment strategies to meet applicant and enrollment goals.
• Evaluate communications, experiences, and continuity of care across divisions and campus experiences to strengthen the JK-12 journey for students and families.
• Use family feedback to understand what inspires families to stay and to refer other prospective families; engage constituents in ongoing conversations and programs that support retention.
• Create and nurture systems for student support and deliver timely, consistent communication strategies that support re-enrollment and retention.
• Align the School’s outward-facing identity and internal culture and help celebrate the unique attributes of the School.

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred, in a related field that supports the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Minimum of 5 - 7 years of leadership experience in admissions and/or communications and marketing, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• A welcoming, ethical leader with a passion for educational communities and team building.
• Understanding of independent school culture with an appreciation of, and commitment to, a diverse, co-educational experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Clear understanding of cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills.
• Resourcefulness, flexibility, maturity, sound judgment, and problem-solving skills with the ability to both lead and execute.
• Proficiency with social media applications, data management systems, and standard tools such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

It is critical that candidates demonstrate a commitment to the School’s Core Values and Mission

HONOR

Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair.

LOVE OF LEARNING

A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change.

EXCELLENCE

A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.

RESPECT

Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual.

COMMUNITY 

A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world. 

Required Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate the School’s shared purpose; builds trust among colleagues; is accountable; lives up to commitments.
• Proven cross cultural competency skills demonstrating self awareness, awareness of others and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging in the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to a servant leadership model focusing on the growth and development of the team to successfully fulfill shared goals.
• Understands the big picture and handles areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the School’s mission and values.  Offers assistance within the office especially during busy times.
• Relates to the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents and applicants in a cooperative manner.
• Meets deadlines, demonstrates effective use of time and handles multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Understands the need for growth and is receptive to constructive feedback.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Who we are 

Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school located in Henrico County, within 20 minutes of downtown Richmond, Virginia, for students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than 100 years, Collegiate has nurtured inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders. Grounded in the values that have sustained it over the course of more than a century, Collegiate provides its nearly 1,700 students with an engaging academic environment dedicated to preparing them for a globally connected and changing world.

The essence of Collegiate School is the richness of relationships among students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This exceptional educational environment enables students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service.

About Collegiate School

Collegiate School is an independent, JK-12 college preparatory, coeducational school with almost 1,700 students in Richmond, VA with a vibrant community of learners where students thrive. We aspire to create an inclusive environment that promotes engaged citizenship and encourages compassionate leadership. With our core values of honor, love of learning, excellence, respect and community, we develop minds that seek and hearts that serve. Our exceptional faculty and staff not only deliver preeminent programs but prepare the next generation of inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens and compassionate leaders. The School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Employment decisions at the School are based on merit, qualifications and skills.

Connections working at Collegiate School