Admissions & Enrollment Management Director

Sinai Akiba Academy is a preeminent private Jewish day school in Los Angeles, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 8. Sinai Akiba Academy is undergirded by our school mission to engage students in the joy and discipline of learning, and nurture a community of ethical, critical thinkers who, shaped by our evolving Jewish tradition, walk through the world with confidence and humility.

POSITION SUMMARY

Sinai Akiba Academy is searching for an Admissions & Enrollment Management Director who is a vibrant, engaging leader responsible for ensuring the school’s strong student enrollment through strategic recruitment and retention processes. This role is designed for a thoughtful and collaborative individual who is capable of balancing detailed, day-to-day operations with long-term strategic planning. As part of the Advancement Department, and directly supervised by the Associate Head of School for Institutional Advancement (AHOS), the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the school’s future by attracting and retaining mission-aligned prospective families, guiding them through the application, admissions, and enrollment journey so that they thrive within the Sinai Akiba community. Key responsibilities include leading efforts to grow enrollment, articulating the value of a Sinai Akiba education, and utilizing admissions and other key data to inform strategic decision-making for recruitment and retention practices.  The Admissions & Enrollment Management Director will innovate and respond to evolving market forces and leverage technology to effectively market the school’s mission.

As a member of the senior administrative team, the Admissions & Enrollment Management Director reports to the Associate Head of School for Institutional Advancement and supervises the Assistant Admissions Director (AAD). This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and relational leader to contribute to the growth and sustainability of Sinai Akiba Academy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Model and demonstrate Sinai Akiba’s Core Values of: Kehillah Kedoshah (Sacred Community); Talmud Torah (Academic Excellence); Derech Eretz (Kindness, Empathy, & Respect); Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof (Ethical Responsibility); Avodat Halev (Soulful Intention), and Ahavat Yisrael (Love for Israel) as reflected on the School’s website at https://www.sinaiakiba.org/about/mission-and-values
• Serve as an excellent collaborator, articulate communicator, and credible ambassador for Sinai Akiba Academy (SAA)
• Lead all aspects of admissions, including recruitment, retention, and information/database management and analysis
• Oversee enrollment, including the initial application process through enrollment, communicating with prospective and current families about the tuition assistance process and the re-enrollment process, collaborating with the education team to understand stakeholders’ decision-making regarding school enrollment, and making data-informed projections
• Review and update application processes with the AAD to ensure clarity and collaboration between the admissions team, faculty, and administrators
• Implement short and long-term admissions and enrollment goals along with the AHOS, which are developed through data-driven research, market analysis, targeted communications, and the deliberate stewardship of prospective applicants and families throughout the admission process
• Advise the AHOS on market trends and data patterns to maintain SAA’s brand and competitive edge and to inform appropriate short and long-term enrollment strategies
• Generate and interpret, in concert with the AAD, detailed enrollment reports reviewed by the AHOS for Strategic Advancement to support these strategic efforts
• Participate in generative discussions and collaborate as a member of the Advancement Team (which includes Admissions, Development, Marketing, and Communications) to proactively communicate and promote SAA’s value proposition
• Plan and execute all admissions and retention events while demonstrating the flexibility to add new or adapt existing events to support enrollment management
• Learn, use, and apply technology as required by the School to enhance learning, provide feedback to students and parents, and engage with colleagues. Technology includes, but is not limited to, JagNet, Google Workspace, Paylocity, and any other school-approved software.
• Execute tours, along with the AAD, for prospective families, stakeholders, and community partners to help promote the school’s brand
• Ensure with the AAD that the department budget is well managed at all times
• Supervise the Assistant Admissions Director
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or Head of School in support of the school’s mission

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Three to five years of serving as Director of Admissions (or similar) at a leading independent school is preferred
• Understands and aligns with Jewish Day School culture and community values
• Availability to be physically present when school is in session, and at Temple-wide and special events, including some evenings and weekends
• Embodies a positive attitude and a growth mindset
• Works collaboratively with diverse stakeholders
• Upholds commitment to confidentiality and good judgment on sensitive matters
• Commitment to working in and fostering an inclusive community
• Has demonstrated enrollment success, including setting and achieving enrollment and net tuition goals
• Has proficiency in data analysis and strategic planning; experience utilizing enrollment management systems; Blackbaud is ideal
• Has a proven record of utilizing data to make strategic enrollment management decisions and to create effective board reports
• Has a genuine affinity for the life of students and the ability to contribute meaningfully to an educational community
• Experience working with parent ambassadors regarding admissions and enrollment
• Demonstrates management ability and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates outstanding communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written
• Has the ability to manage multiple complex tasks, meet tight deadlines and changing demands
  
  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Salary Range $130,000 - $160,000
• Excellent benefits package with a portion of medical paid by SAA
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• 403b and employer funded retirement plans
• Professional development opportunities

In the spirit of pay transparency we share the base annual salary range for this position: $130,000 - $160,000. Annual base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, retirement plan employer contributions or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at SAA are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at SAA, your final annual base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status and number of months of work per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the full annual base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical for SAA in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.

Applicants may submit their resume with a cover letter for consideration to Lisa Zide, Associate Head of School for Enrollment Management & Strategic Partnerships at lzide@sinaiakiba.org.

Sinai Akiba Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regards to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws.

Salary : $130,000 - $160,000