Whitfield School serves students in suburban St. Louis in grades 6-12 by providing a coeducational, college preparatory education that cultivates ethical, confident, and successful students in a community of innovation, collaboration, and trust.  Whitfield School seeks an energetic and experienced professional to advance a successful admission program in collaboration with the Director of Institutional Advancement.  The successful candidate will have demonstrated a high level of professionalism, responsibility and customer service that will drive the department to meet annual enrollment and revenue goals.

The Director of Enrollment Management is one of four senior administrators who report to the Director of Institutional Advancement, along with the Director of Development, Director of Communications & Marketing, and Director of Alumni Relations. The Director of Enrollment Management also serves on the school’s administrative leadership team. 

Start Date: July 1, 2021

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The director of enrollment management will:

• Contribute to the mission and standards of the school by recruiting and retaining students who will benefit from the school’s unique culture and programmatic offerings and contribute to the school community.
• Formulate forward-thinking, strategic application, admission, and enrollment policies and practices.
• Manage two full-time employees: Admission Coordinator, and Admission Associate/Summer Camp Director. Set annual goals, motivate and provide direction for their work.
• Coordinate four essential elements to ensure a competitive admissions process and the long-term health of the student body and broader alumni/ae base:

Admission Management
the tracking of prospective students from applicant to enrollment and beyond

• • Design and oversee admission events, mass communications and individual outreach to promote school to prospective families.
  • Manage all aspects of application process including application submission, interview, and testing.
  • Develop applicant review criteria for individual readers, and implement an organized, efficient and effective process for applicant review by committee.
  • Design communication plan for prospective families.
  • Design and organize orientation events and transition process for new students and families.

Student Retention

• • Manage process of student and family conversations for those at-risk of leaving prior to graduation.
  • Collaborate with administrative team in discussions about overall student and parent satisfaction and engagement.
  • Collaborate with the business office to oversee contract renewals. 

Research
analyzing data that affect enrollment

• • Maintain comparative data to track trends in admission funnel, student body and local community.
  • Work strategically with data trends to meet goals.
  • Make annual projections for enrollment and tuition revenue.

Marketing

• • Collaborate with the student services team, academic administrators, faculty and student leaders to collectively communicate the Whitfield experience and our school’s unique differentiators.
  • Collaborate with the director of advancement and director of communications & marketing to develop a strategic recruitment and communication plan to reach targeted audiences, including identifying and implementing best-practice web-based technologies.

• Oversee enrollment management budgets in order to meet revenue goals and contribute to the fiscal health of the school.
• Understand the culture and climate of the school and the broader educational environment.
• Foster high ethical standards, integrity, and respect for colleagues, alumni/ae, parents, and students throughout the admissions process.
• Be sensitive to economic, cultural, and other issues present in the enrollment of a diverse student body.
• Communicate clearly and enthusiastically to all staff and prospective students.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The director of enrollment management will:

• Collaborate with the database manager to maintain accurate records for applicants, students and alumni.
• Manage director of summer camps; oversee coordination of summer camp programs.
• Play a leadership role with financial aid awards and international student enrollment:

Financial Aid

• • Manage financial aid decisions for new and returning students in context of tuition discount rate by grade level and overall enrollment goals.
  • Oversee collection of financial aid documentation from new and returning families.
  • Review financial aid documentation as compared to third party recommendations, to determine financial need.
  • Communicate financial aid awards, respond to all financial aid inquiries from current and returning families; work with the head of school to determine decisions and appeals.

International Student Enrollment

• • Manage international student recruitment and enrollment process.
  • Assist with oversight of SEVIS documentation required for school approval, and individual student documentation needs.
  • Collaborate with international program coordinator to support international students and to communicate with their parents regarding progress, enrollment and re-enrollment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five years of experience in education, with preference to admission work and experience working in an independent school.
• Ability to think critically and creatively.
• Proven success in a senior administrative role.
• Demonstrated leadership skills (public speaking, clear communications, personnel management, event coordination, volunteer coordination & training).
• The ability to work collaboratively with other members of the school community. 
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel as needed, including internationally.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and early mornings as needed. 

Interested candidates please submit three PDF files to Director of Institutional Advancement Emily Klimek, emily.klimek@whitfieldschool.org.

1. Cover letter as introduction to search committee
2. Resume detailing experiences and qualifications
3. List of three references with contact information