Student Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist

ADP, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Meridian Charter Schools in Chicago, IL seeks a Student Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist to drive recruitment, enrollment, and family engagement across campuses.

You will collaborate with families, schools, and community partners; coordinate tours, events, and GoCPS processes; travel across Meridian campuses and evenings/weekends as needed.

Bachelor’s degree preferred with 1–3 years in recruitment or admissions; strong organizational, communication, and data-management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• Experience: 1–3 years in student recruitment, admissions, community outreach, enrollment, family engagement, sales, or related field preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build positive relationships with students, families, school staff, and community partners.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple recruitment activities, deadlines, and family contacts simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Implement recruitment and outreach plans established by leadership.
• Identify and engage prospective students and families through canvassing, visits, fairs, events, and direct outreach.
• Develop relationships with elementary schools, middle schools, and community organizations.
• Guide families through GoCPS and enrollment processes, including registration and enrollment.
• Maintain follow-up with prospective families to convert inquiries into enrollments.
• Coordinate tours, open houses, information sessions, and other recruitment activities.
• Collaborate with campus enrollment staff to identify incomplete applications and barriers to enrollment.
• Support campus enrollment goals through targeted recruitment activities and follow-through.
• Establish relationships with community organizations to increase Meridian visibility.
• Track recruitment pipelines and provide weekly updates to leadership.
• Participate in family engagement activities and collect feedback to improve processes.

Skills

Relationship Building

Communication

Organization

Data Management

Results Orientation

Collaboration

Community Knowledge

Technology

Educational Commitment

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Enrollment Management Systems

Job description

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Student Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist

Salary Range: $65,283.05 To $75,041.33 Annually

Job Description: Student Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist

Reports To: Senior Managing Director of Student & Community Affairs

As a leading education management organization, Meridian Charter Schools is committed to transforming the lives of students in culturally and linguistically diverse communities by providing access to high-quality educational opportunities that elevate their identities as assets and foster equitable and inclusive learning environments. Meridian Charter Schools is a school management organization (SMO) in Chicago, IL that operates three campuses of Chicago International Charter School: CICS Ralph Ellison High School, CICS Northtown Academy High School, and CICS Wrightwood Elementary School. We believe through collective effort, we will have collective impact.

Position Summary:

The Student Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist is responsible for implementing student recruitment, enrollment, and community outreach activities that support enrollment growth and student retention across Meridian Charter Schools.

Reporting directly to the Senior Managing Director of Student & Community Affairs, this position serves as a visible, enthusiastic, and relationship-driven representative of Meridian and its campuses. The Specialist works directly with prospective students, families, community organizations, and school-based teams to increase awareness of Meridian schools, generate student interest, support families through the enrollment process, and strengthen relationships that encourage students to enroll and remain enrolled.

The Specialist plays a critical role in executing campus recruitment plans, building and maintaining prospective student pipelines, coordinating recruitment events, conducting community outreach, and ensuring consistent follow‑up with prospective families. The position also supports student retention efforts through family engagement, re‑enrollment outreach, and gathering feedback about the student and family experience.

Success in this role requires an individual who is highly organized, personable, persistent, results‑oriented, and comfortable spending significant time in schools and communities. The ideal candidate understands that effective student recruitment is not simply about generating interest but about building relationships, earning families' trust, and ensuring that every prospective student has a clear pathway to enrollment.

Regular travel across Meridian campuses and Chicago communities, as well as occasional evening and weekend work, is required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Mission, Vision, and Core Values

Support Meridian's mission, vision, and values by promoting equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities. Represent Meridian and its campuses professionally and positively in all interactions with students, families, staff, and community partners.

Professionalism, Ethics, and Compliance

Maintain confidentiality of student and family information in accordance with applicable laws and organizational policies.

Ensure all recruitment and enrollment activities follow applicable school enrollment policies and procedures.

Demonstrate cultural responsiveness and professionalism when working with families from diverse backgrounds.

Maintain a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, access, and student success.

Student Recruitment and Enrollment

Implement student recruitment activities and outreach plans established by the Senior Managing Director of Student & Community Affairs.

Actively identify and engage prospective students and families through community canvassing, school visits, recruitment fairs, neighborhood events, and direct outreach.

Develop and maintain relationships with elementary schools, middle schools, early childhood centers, community organizations, and other potential referral partners.

Conduct regular outreach to prospective families through phone calls, text messages, emails, and in‑person conversations.

Guide families through the application, lottery, registration, and enrollment processes, including GoCPS and other applicable enrollment systems.

Maintain consistent follow‑up with prospective families to convert inquiries and applications into completed enrollments.

Coordinate school tours, open houses, information sessions, and other recruitment activities.

Work closely with school‑based enrollment staff to identify incomplete applications, missing documentation, and barriers preventing families from completing enrollment.

Support campus‑specific enrollment goals through targeted recruitment activities and consistent follow‑through.

Community Outreach and Relationship Building

Establish and maintain relationships with community organizations, churches, childcare providers, neighborhood associations, and local businesses to increase awareness of Meridian schools.

Attend community events, neighborhood meetings, school fairs, and other activities that provide opportunities to connect with prospective families.

Conduct outreach in targeted neighborhoods and feeder school communities.

Distribute recruitment materials and share information about Meridian's academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and school culture.

Identify opportunities to strengthen Meridian's visibility and expand its network of community referral partners.

Serve as an accessible and responsive point of contact for prospective families.

Student Retention and Family Engagement

Support campus‑based student retention and re‑enrollment initiatives under the direction of the Senior Managing Director.

Assist schools with family outreach related to re‑enrollment, student transfers, and enrollment continuation.

Participate in family engagement activities, listening sessions, and student focus groups as needed.

Gather feedback from students and families about their school experiences and communicate relevant information to school leaders and the Senior Managing Director.

Support targeted outreach to families who may be considering transferring their children to another school.

Help strengthen relationships between schools and families to promote student connectedness, satisfaction, and retention.

Recruitment Events and Campaign Implementation

Coordinate logistics for recruitment fairs, school open houses, community canvassing events, and other enrollment activities.

Support the implementation of recruitment campaigns, including distributing flyers, promotional materials, and digital communications.

Work with school staff to ensure recruitment materials accurately communicate school programs, opportunities, and enrollment procedures.

Maintain an organized calendar of recruitment events, outreach activities, and follow‑up deadlines.

Track event participation, prospective family contacts, and resulting applications and enrollments.

Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness of recruitment events and outreach activities.

Data Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability

Maintain accurate and current records of prospective students, family contacts, applications, enrollment progress, and outreach activities.

Track recruitment pipelines from initial inquiry through completed enrollment.

Monitor weekly recruitment activity, including family contacts, school visits, applications, completed registrations, and enrollment conversions.

Provide weekly recruitment and enrollment updates to the Senior Managing Director.

Identify prospective families requiring additional support and ensure timely follow‑up.

Use recruitment data to prioritize outreach activities and improve conversion rates.

Support the implementation of continuous improvement practices by identifying challenges, documenting successful approaches, and recommending adjustments to recruitment activities.

School Collaboration and Team Support

Work collaboratively with school principals, enrollment coordinators, office staff, and other campus personnel to execute recruitment and retention activities.

Participate in campus recruitment and enrollment meetings as directed by the Senior Managing Director.

Support school teams in meeting established enrollment and retention targets.

Communicate regularly with school‑based staff to ensure prospective families receive timely, accurate information and a welcoming experience.

Share information about community engagement opportunities, prospective student interests, and recruitment challenges.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Performance Expectations

The Student Recruitment and Enrollment Specialist will be evaluated on the consistent execution and effectiveness of recruitment activities, including:

Student Recruitment: Progress toward campus enrollment targets and the number of prospective students successfully recruited.

Enrollment Conversion: The percentage of prospective families who complete the application and enrollment process.

Community Outreach: Consistent engagement with feeder schools, early childhood centers, community organizations, and prospective families.

Family Follow‑Up: Timely and documented communication with prospective families throughout the recruitment and enrollment process.

Recruitment Events: Effective planning, coordination, participation, and follow‑up associated with recruitment activities.

Data Accuracy: Maintenance of complete and accurate recruitment pipelines, contact records, and weekly reports.

Student Retention Support: Consistent implementation of assigned re‑enrollment and family engagement activities.

Specific activity targets and enrollment goals will be established by the Senior Managing Director and reviewed regularly.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree preferred: in education, communications, marketing, business, community engagement, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience considered.

Experience: At least 1–3 years of experience preferred: in student recruitment, admissions, community outreach, enrollment, family engagement, sales, or a related field preferred.

Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build positive relationships with students, families, school staff, and community partners.

Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

Organization: Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple recruitment activities, deadlines, and family contacts simultaneously.

Data Management: Ability to maintain accurate records, monitor recruitment pipelines, and use spreadsheets or enrollment management systems to track progress.

Results Orientation: A proactive, persistent approach to outreach and follow‑up, with a demonstrated commitment to achieving measurable outcomes.

Collaboration: Ability to work effectively as part of a team and take direction while independently managing assigned responsibilities.

Community Knowledge: Familiarity with Chicago neighborhoods, community organizations, and the public school landscape preferred.

Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and digital communication tools.

Educational Commitment: A strong belief in the importance of equitable access to high-quality education and a commitment to serving students and families.

Candidates must be able to travel regularly between Meridian campuses and throughout Chicago neighborhoods and be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends during peak recruitment periods.

Physical Job Requirements:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling; some kneeling, crouching, and significant finger dexterity. The position requires frequent walking and standing during school visits, community outreach, and recruitment events, along with regular computer‑based work.

Note: This job description provides a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications. Specific duties and responsibilities may evolve as per the organization's needs and growth.

Join Meridian Charter Schools and contribute to our mission of providing exceptional education and support to all students. This position is an opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of students and their families. You are a dedicated and visionary leader with a passion for inclusive education.

Meridian Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this pivotal leadership role.

Compensation: Meridian Charter Schools also offers a comprehensive salary and benefits package which includes health, dental, vision and life insurance as well as retirement planning and PTO. We are also committed to supporting professional growth/membership educational organizations that align with our work and demonstrate a transformative impact on participants.