Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management

Southern Association of Independent Schools, Inc.; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits Eligible

Job summary

Paideia School in Atlanta seeks a Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management to lead a comprehensive, highly responsive admissions process. This senior position reports directly to the Head of School and serves as a strong ambassador for the school and its programs, guiding the enrollment strategy and shaping school culture.

Responsibilities include overseeing the admissions and enrollment operations, coordinating marketing and financial aid, collaborating with senior administrators,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s preferred.
• 5–10 years of experience in independent schools in admissions/enrollment management.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, managerial and communication skills.
• Comfort with data analysis and using data to drive decisions.
• Willingness to work evenings/weekends during decision periods.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all admissions and enrollment operations with a comprehensive plan.
• Provide leadership in marketing, financial aid, recruiting and retention.
• Collaborate with Head of School and senior administrators.
• Lead admissions committee at all levels.
• Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in admissions.
• Hire, train and supervise admissions staff.
• Report enrollment trends to Head of School and Board.
• Build relationships with other schools.
• Monitor demographic trends at local, state and national levels.
• Serve as a positive ambassador of Paideia School.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Employment Type:

Full Time, 12 Months, Benefits Eligible

Start Date:

7/1/27

Paideia is a pre-K-12 independent school of over 1,000 students in the Emory University area of Atlanta. Paideia was started in 1971 by a small group of parents and educators who wanted a school that educated children with respect for their individuality. The school was founded on the idea that children have unique interests and abilities, and that they grow and develop at their own pace. The ancient Greek word Paideia conveys the concept of a child’s total education: intellectual, artistic, and social. After many years and considerable growth in size and programs, Paideia remains true to the ideas that inspired it and brought it into existence. Today, Paideia is the leading progressive school in the southeast.

For more information about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, our focus on both social and emotional learning with rigorous academic offerings and opportunities for extra curricular learning, please visit our website at www.paideiaschool.org.

Job Summary:

The Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management takes responsibility for creating, leading and managing a comprehensive admissions and enrollment management strategy and program. A deeply personal and highly responsive admissions process is a vital part of preserving our school culture. Paideia has historically enjoyed low attrition and high yield, two metrics that we believe are the result of an intentionally built admissions process that attends to the care and well‑being of our applicants throughout the process. The responsibilities of the position necessarily reflect the natural ebb and flow of the school year, but always include being a strong ambassador for our school and its programs and attention to the positive creation of a strong school culture. It is a multifaceted senior leadership position that reports directly to the Head of School. Duties range from supervision of Admissions staff, to full coordination of the admissions process, to partnership with other senior administrators.

This position will lead strategic admissions and enrollment management initiatives that align with Paideia’s Framework of Values.

This position will include close collaboration with the Head of School, Director of Development, Director of Parent Involvement, and level Principals.

Primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Overseeing all aspects of the admissions and enrollment management operations and developing, implementing, and overseeing the execution of a comprehensive enrollment plan with appropriate goals,


• Providing leadership in enrollment management, including short and long term strategic approaches to marketing, financial aid, and attracting, enrolling and retaining students and families,


• Collaborating and communicating with the Head of School and other members of the school administration and school community,


• Serving as a member of the school’s senior administrative team,


• Leading the admissions committee process at all levels of the school,


• Deepening the work of the admissions team as it relates to bias in the admissions process with a particularly emphasis on and understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging,


• Hiring, training, leading and supporting the admissions team and their direct supervisor,


• Organizing and overseeing the schedules and work of members of the admissions team,


• Actively participating in school wide committees related to enrollment, including but not limited to financial aid, retention and communications,


• Keeping the Head of School and Board of Trustees informed of admissions results and enrollment trends through regular reports and presentations,


• Creating and maintaining relationships with other public, charter, and independent schools,


• Attending to demographic trends that may impact school enrollment, both locally, and at the state and national levels,


• Serving, at all times, as a positive ambassador of The Paideia School.

Minimum Requirements:

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree. A master’s is preferred. Applicants should also have at least 5-10 years of experience working in independent schools in admissions and enrollment management. Applicants should have excellent interpersonal, organizational, managerial and communication skills and experience working in independent school admissions. Competitive applicants will be proactive, hands‑on leaders who have high energy, warmth, a sense of humor and a positive outlook. The strongest applicants will bring a high level of comfort and competency with data analysis. Applicants should be able to lead and handle intense periods of touring, interviewing, reading applications and decision making.

This is a full time, 12-month position. Because of the nature of admissions work, applicants must be available to work occasional evenings and weekends when needed, especially during the week following decision notifications. The Director of Admissions should expect to participate fully in the life of the school outside of the admissions office. This includes, but is not limited to, attendance at concerts, plays, athletic events, fundraising events, and parenting orientations.

Salary is commensurate with education and experience. A benefits package is offered for benefits-eligible positions. The Paideia School is an equal opportunity employer.