Director of Enrollment Management

Company Description

Since 1952, The Whitfield School has provided a coeducational, college preparatory education in St. Louis for students in grades 6-12. The school inspires a diverse student body to lead lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose. Whitfield's liberal arts curriculum, inclusive community, and commitment to experiential learning empower young people to discover and become their best selves.

Role Description

The director of enrollment management will lead the strategic and operational components of enrollment management; develop the research and analyze the data necessary to inform enrollment-related decisions; and direct student recruitment, retention, and enrollment efforts. The director is responsible for outreach to prospective families and the enrollment and re-enrollment of a mission-aligned student body. The director serves as the external face of The Whitfield School’s enrollment efforts and works with all constituencies to inspire community-based outreach.

The director of enrollment management reports to the head of school, acts as a member of the Administrative Team and the Advancement Leadership Team, and leads the Admission Office.

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership

• Design and implement annual admission and enrollment goals and strategies that are informed by data analytics and market research and that align with Whitfield’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities;
• Deliver strategic thought-leadership in admission, marketing, and recruitment;
• Ensure the continued academic, athletic, and co-curricular excellence of the School’s student body through recruitment, enrollment, and retention practices informed by the School’s strategic priorities;
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators for recruitment, enrollment, and retention, sharing insights and actionable recommendations to the advancement leadership team;
• Foster a school-wide enrollment management culture by engaging all stakeholders (faculty, staff, senior leadership, trustees, coaches, current and past parents, et al.) in the process of attracting and retaining mission-appropriate students;
• Provide counsel and serve as a resource to academic leadership in program development that will resonate in the local marketplace and position Whitfield as the school of choice for experiential and forward-looking college preparatory education in St. Louis; and
• Attend Board of Trustees meetings, and keep the Board fully apprised of the School’s admission and enrollment efforts.

Admission Office and Operations

• Direct the process of attracting, selecting, and enrolling mission-appropriate students, ensuring a smooth experience for applicants and their families, and sustaining and enhancing the School’s position in the St. Louis marketplace;
• Coordinate and lead recruitment and retention initiatives, including all Admission events, campus visits, feeder school outreach, and prospective family communications and engagement;
• Lead and manage the Admission team, including recruiting, hiring, training, developing goals for, and evaluating team members;
• Maintain and interpret admission, enrollment, and retention statistics to track trends, create enrollment and net tuition projections, and support the School's strategic initiatives; and
• Oversee the admission information management software, the online application and submission of materials, and testing administration and logistics.

Teams and Collaborations

• Collaborate with the head of school, the director of finance and operations, and the financial aid committee to manage the tuition assistance program, leveraging financial aid and merit-based scholarships to attract and retain a talented student body while achieving net tuition revenue targets;
• Collaborate with the director of communications and marketing to develop communication and marketing strategy that will attract mission-appropriate students and enhance Whitfield’s position in the marketplace, including the effective use of social media and other online tools, and production of all admission marketing materials, including the Admission section of the School’s website;
• Collaborate with the Business Office to manage new student enrollment and the re-enrollment process for current students;
• Coordinate with the assistant head of school and other senior leaders on the new family experience, ensuring that newly enrolled students and their families have a seamless and positive experience through a student’s first year and beyond;
• Serve as a member of the Administrative Team; and
• Serve as a member of the Advancement Leadership Team.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, entrepreneurial, customer-focused leader who has the following qualities and experience:

Characteristics, Qualities, Values, & Competencies

• Superior organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail;
• Collaborative and collegial relationship-builder;
• Commitment to fostering a culture of data-informed decision-making across admission and enrollment functions;
• Confident and effective public speaker and excellent written communicator;
• Integrity, sound judgment, confidentiality, and an ability to balance multiple perspectives;
• Ability to navigate a fast-paced environment, demonstrate resilience, and adjust course when necessary;
• Energy and enthusiasm to work simultaneously on multiple projects and manage competing priorities;
• Creative thinker and problem-solver;
• Proficiency with Admission management systems and data analysis tools–strong experience with Excel, Blackbaud, and Finalsite Messages a plus;
• High emotional intelligence, strong cultural competence, and a demonstrated belief in the value of a diverse and multicultural community;
• Inspiring leadership with the ability to build consensus and bring communities together; and
• Pleasure and joy in working in a school environment with both students and adults.

Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred;
• Experience as a school leader or administrator, preferably in an independent school;
• Knowledgeable about best practices in enrollment management and admission;
• Five to seven years working experience in a school setting or equivalent experience;
• Experience working with students across ages and stages of development preferred;
• Demonstrated success setting expectations for professionalism, accountability, and collegiality.

Interested candidates should submit the Whitfield Application for Employment form (click here) which includes submitting the following PDF files through the application portal on our website:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current and thorough résumé of no more than four pages;
• A writing sample, 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:

Whitfield does not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, age, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, disability status, protected veteran status, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Whitfield School is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage all candidates to apply.