Director of Enrollment Management

At a Glance:

Position Title: Director of Enrollment Management

Location: Friends School of Baltimore - Baltimore, Maryland

Reports To: Head of School

Employment Type: Full-Time

Pay range: $130K - $150K DOE

Position Overview

Simplicity. Peace. Integrity. Community. Equality. Stewardship. These Quaker values and a rich academic program that honors the journey of learning are the hallmarks of Friends School of Baltimore. Serving 800 students in grades PK-12, Friends, the oldest school in Baltimore, graduates empathetic, competent, curious seekers who use their voices and talents in service to others. Friends' community members feel challenged and supported to become their best selves in a welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment that encourages growth and sees "that of God" in every person.

Friends seeks a Director of Enrollment Management (DEM) to begin Summer 2025. The DEM will report to the Head of School, serve on the Administrative Council (leadership team), and lead a collaborative, hard-working, and mission-aligned team of five that includes a Senior Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid, an Associate Director of Admission, two Admission Associates, and an Admission Office Manager.

Key Priorities, Opportunities, and Challenges

The next Director of Enrollment Management (DEM) will be:

• Aligned with Quaker Values

The Friends School of Baltimore community lives the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship, and the DEM will center these values while bringing mission-aligned families to the school. The impact of these values is evident in the school's longstanding commitment to a rigorous academic program and to diversity of all kinds with a belief in fostering the personal growth of each individual. While many schools struggle with trying to be all things to all potential constituents, Friend's core values provide a clear touchstone to guide enrollment management.

• A Student of the Baltimore Market

Baltimore families have many choices in the independent school market, and long-standing narratives tend to influence their choices. The DEM will think innovatively about how to reframe old narratives, to leverage the School's rich history, and to inject new energy and creativity into stories about Friends while remaining true to the values of the school.

• An Innovative and Strategic Thinker

The DEM will approach the work with curiosity, an appetite for gathering and analyzing data, and a willingness to interrogate existing systems, assess their effectiveness, and push for innovation. The DEM has the opportunity to partner closely with and learn from a Head of School with deep enrollment management experience. From developing and executing a ground game in the competitive Baltimore market to stewarding systems, analysis, and care of the pipeline, inquiry and applicant pools, and yield processes, all aspects of enrollment management are open to refinement and reimagining.

• A Strong Manager and Leadership Developer

The DEM will motivate and support a strong and dedicated team to coalesce around a compelling vision for enrollment management. Mission-driven and talented, the current team would appreciate more opportunities for professional growth and cross-training to extend their areas of expertise and their potential as future leaders. Of note are the warm partnerships and relationships the team has built across the school to engage all members of the Friends community in supporting enrollment and retention.

• A Collaborator on the Leadership Team

Head of School Christian Donovan and his leadership team welcome thought partnership, respectful interrogation of existing systems, and creative imagining of how the school can continue to evolve. While humility is valued in a Quaker institution, the team possesses a healthy institutional pride and will appreciate a partner willing to hustle on behalf of Friends. The DEM also has the opportunity to share important information gathered in the admission processes with colleagues to ensure students' successful transitions to Friends and to foster relationships with students' families.

• A Partner Across Externally Facing Departments

Healthy collaboration already exists among Enrollment, Marketing & Communication, and Advancement, all of which have deep benches of talent and a strong understanding of the history of the community. The DEM will work with these leaders to ensure the sharing and leveraging of information that supports positive engagement of Friend's families, from their first inquiry through alumni engagement.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

The most competitive candidates will offer the following:

• Significant admission/enrollment experience in independent schools or higher education with responsibility in growing and developing markets.

• Knowledge of, experience with, and the ability to research and adopt changes in best practices in strategic enrollment management, financial aid, and communications and marketing.

• An outgoing, genuine ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds; an enthusiastic and thoughtful approach to bringing people closer to an organization and helping them see themselves as integral parts of the community.

• Leadership and workstyle informed by curiosity and willingness to learn; genuine commitment to the Quaker ideal of "continuing revelation."

• Excellent communication skills across a range of community stakeholders-particularly strong and empathetic listening ability, dynamic and engaging speaking skills, and clear and compelling writing style.

• A relational leader with a roll-up-one's-sleeves and willingness to jump in ethos, ability to coach, build teams, and cultivate and foster trust among colleagues as well as a strong manager and communicator with experience leading diverse teams.

• A transparent and collaborative leader who can convey information and thinking in an inspiring and understandable fashion and who welcomes feedback.

• A nuanced understanding of competitive markets and how well-calibrated messaging to a diverse audience of stakeholders can positively influence outcomes.

• A clear understanding of and experience with the execution of a strategic enrollment management program.

• A proven track record and commitment to striving for inclusivity.

• A deep understanding of human development, demonstrated by knowledge of child development PreK-12, a growth mindset, and belief in the capacity of humans to be life-long learners.

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred.

Friends School of Baltimore actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in all programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, and hiring. To form a community that strives to reflect the world's diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends School of Baltimore is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of color and members of other underrepresented groups who might enrich and diversify the school community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Friends School of Baltimore has retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates / The Baker Group to assist in the recruitment of the Director of Enrollment Management. Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current and thorough résumé of no more than four pages;
• Two writing samples, such as a parent/guardian communication, newsletter, open house speech, blog, or article;
• Contact information for five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate's permission) to:

Jennifer Wong Christensen

Senior Consultant, Carney, Sandoe & Associates

jennifer.christensen@carneysandoe.com

Karen Whitaker

Senior Consultant, Carney, Sandoe & Associates

karen.whitaker@carneysandoe.com

We would appreciate expression of interest and receipt of

application materials prior to January 31, 2025.

Salary : $130,000 - $150,000