High School Admissions

Notre Dame de Sion; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Notre Dame de Sion seeks a Director of High School Admissions to lead strategic recruitment and enrollment for the Wornall Campus. You will oversee the prospective student pipeline from inquiry to enrollment and play a key role in retention and family engagement.

You will develop annual admissions plans, manage budgets, and collaborate with the HS administration, marketing, and feeder schools to build a strong, mission-driven program.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years in admissions/enrollment leadership in an independent or Catholic school.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills for diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual Admissions & Recruitment Plan and report on funnel metrics.
• Direct the complete HS admissions process from inquiry to contract execution.
• Plan and conduct family interviews, tours, and shadow days.
• Coordinate placement testing, prep courses, and counselor collaboration.
• Design and evaluate recruitment events and programs to drive inquiries and enrollments.
• Manage relationships with feeder schools and community partners.

Skills

Leadership

Admissions

Enrollment Management

Public Speaking

Relationship Building

Education

BA/BS Degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Blackbaud SMS

Job description

POSITION TITLE:Director of High School Admissions

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:Exempt

REPORTS TO:Director of Community Engagement

Notre Dame de Sion's goal is to develop students who are well-rounded, faith-filled citizens and servant leaders, in an atmosphere of love, respect, hopefulness, openness, and by building connections through relationships.

Sion educators are :

Confident Practitioners who know their subject and the instructional techniques to help students meet educational goals.

Growth-Minded Learners who understand that knowledge is not finite - students and teachers can grow, learn new things, and accomplish tasks they never knew were possible.

Mindful Communicators who communicate in a solution-focused, timely, positive, and inclusive manner in verbal, written, and non-verbal communication.

Collaborative Team Players who pitch in and help with events outside their classroom to make Sion a place that is rich in community and models servant leadership.

Inclusive Community Builders who use language and actions that support self-esteem and belonging for students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders.

SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Director of Community Engagement and working closely with the High School Administrative Team, the Director of High School Admissions will lead, plan, direct, and implement the overall strategic recruitment and enrollment initiatives for the Wornall Campus. The Director oversees all aspects of the prospective student pipeline—from initial inquiry through enrollment and plays a key role in student retention and family engagement.

• Achieve full, capacity enrollment of qualified students annually while building a competitive applicant pipeline and waitlist.
• Strengthen retention and conversion of Notre Dame de Sion Grade School (Locust Campus) students into the High School.
• Develop strategic outreach to area Catholic, independent, charter, and public middle schools across the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Enrollment & Strategic Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual Admissions & Recruitment Plan based on historical data, demographic trends, competitive market analysis, and key learnings from prior application cycles.
• Maintain complete and accurate statistical reports on all metrics within the admissions funnel (inquiries, visits, applications, acceptances, and yield) to regularly inform the Philanthropy and Engagement Team and the President.
• Manage and monitor the High School Admissions departmental budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and optimized resource allocation.

Applicant Processing & Family Engagement

• Direct the complete high school admissions process from point of inquiry through application, testing, committee review, decision notification, and contract execution.
• Schedule and conduct family interviews, campus tours, and prospective student shadow visit days.
• Secure and evaluate all required candidate credentials, including transcripts, recommendations, and standardized testing records.
• Facilitate and support the High School Admissions Committee in student evaluation and placement.

Recruitment Events & Prospective Family Engagement

• Develop creative, engaging recruitment experiences, events, programming, and gifting that build excitement about Sion, strengthen relationships with prospective students and families, and encourage girls to visit, apply, and enroll.
• Lead the strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of major admissions events, including Open House, Shadow Days, prospective student events, placement testing, and other recruitment programs.
• Establish attendance and conversion goals for recruitment events and evaluate their effectiveness in moving prospective families through the admissions funnel.
• Develop personalized follow-up strategies for prospective families following visits, events, applications, and admission decisions.

Academic & Programmatic Alignment

• Partner with the high school Administration and counselors to manage placement testing, prep courses, departmental skills assessments, and the High School Bridge Program.
• Advise and lead the High School Student Ambassador organization, training student leaders to serve as shadow hosts and campus representatives.
• Coordinate and engage parent and alumnae volunteers to support recruitment events, legacy outreach, and panel discussions.

Marketing, Outreach & Campus Collaboration

• Partner with the internal marketing team and external marketing consultants to design and produce high-impact recruitment collateral, digital campaigns, prospective student giveaways, and website media.
• Maintain and leverage the school's admissions software platform to execute targeted multi-touch outreach (newsletters, event invitations, holiday greetings) for prospective 4th-8th grade families.
• Partner reciprocally with the Director of Grade School Admissions to support key enrollment events and cross-campus initiatives on both the Locust and Wornall Campuses.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key feeder schools, counselors, principals, community organizations, and other referral partners.
• Create and execute a feeder-school outreach strategy, including school visits, presentations, events, and personalized relationship-building efforts.
• Actively participate and lead in the "life of the school" through presence at all-school Masses, retreats, assemblies, athletic and arts events, Sion Alliance activities, and advancement/alumnae functions.
• Maintain a visible presence within the Sion community and support P&E and school-wide initiatives as needed
• Maintain flexibility in work schedule to support the needs of the admissions cycle, including required evening and weekend attendance at Open House, recruitment events, prospective family programs, placement testing, and other admissions or school events.

QAULIFYING CHARACTERISTICS

• Education: A BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university is required; an advanced degree in education, communications, or business management is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in admissions, financial aid, or enrollment management, preferably within an independent or Catholic school environment.
• Communication Skills: Outstanding public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to articulate the value of a single-gender, mission-driven education effectively to prospective parents and students.
• Technical Proficiency: Deep familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace products as well as Blackbaud SMS.
• Project & Event Management: Demonstrated success in planning and executing large-scale events (Open House, informational nights) and managing multiple complex initiatives under tight deadlines.
• Mission-Driven: Deep alignment with and commitment to the vision, mission, and Catholic values of Notre Dame de Sion School.
• Strategic & Analytical: Comfortable leveraging data to make informed enrollment forecasts, solve problems, and refine recruitment channels.
• Collaborative & Relational: A warm, tactful communicator capable of building strong relationships across diverse constituencies—prospective families, faculty, alumnae, and community partners.
• Energetic & Flexible: A high-energy "doer" willing to work hands-on at evening and weekend events while maintaining emotional maturity and a positive attitude.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Workday regularly includes multiple or conflicting demands, deadlines, and time pressures.
• Desk and computer screen work for extended periods of time.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate computer keyboards and office equipment.
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, use step ladders, and lift/carry up to 30 lbs for event setup.
• Work primarily in a climate-controlled office environment with intermittent work in outside weather conditions during outdoor campus events.

Applications accepted through October 6, 2026

COMMITMENT TO NON-DISCRIMINATION & DIVERSITY

Notre Dame de Sion is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community. Candidates who have experience working with a wide range of faculty, staff, and students, and who can contribute to a climate of inclusivity, are strongly encouraged to apply