Assistant Director of Admissions - Sidwell Friends School

Sidwell Friends School is seeking an assistant director of admissions. This is a full-time, 12-month position and will report to the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and Financial Aid.

At Sidwell Friends, we seek candidates with relevant experience, a commitment to excellence, and an enthusiasm for being a member of our vibrant and diverse community. We hire culturally competent candidates who effectively incorporate the values of our philosophy and diversity statements in their professional roles.

Position Summary:

An integral member of the school’s enrollment management team, the assistant director of admissions provides support to the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and works closely with colleagues, students, parents, and other groups to promote the school and help manage all aspects of the admissions process from inquiry to enrollment. The Assistant Director will be an active member of the school community and must intimately understand its program and mission. They will:

• Help recruit prospective families by building relationships with area schools and organizations,
• Represent the school at admissions events on and off campus,
• Monitor relationships with schools and student-serving organizations across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area,
• Analyze and understand enrollment trends, and help create strategies and new solutions.

This person must work proficiently with enrollment software and student information systems and be a nimble user of broader technology. They must work closely with the Coordinator for Outreach and other members of the team as needed.

Qualified candidates must possess exceptional organization, time management, and oral and written communication skills; a commitment to inclusivity and diversity; a personality that is enthusiastic, outgoing and warm, a desire to know and care for students and their well-being, and a strong work ethic. They must maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information, and process and present data in a clear, focused manner. The best candidates must understand the goals of Friends education and independent schools and be able to articulate the unique aspects of our school to a diverse group of prospective families. They will have demonstrated a proven ability to cultivate relationships with internal and external constituents of Sidwell Friends and a desire to work diligently and strategically to grow that group. Finally, they must regularly seek to improve skills and learn from others through approved professional development.

Primary Skills and Essential Duties:

• Carry out agreed upon strategies and tactics designed to encourage healthy admissions activity and strengthen connections with families, colleagues, and other stakeholders before, during, and after the admissions process,
• Represent the school at admissions events, both on and off campus, Lead campus tours
• Work closely with prospective students and their families to guide them through the admissions process; evaluate the credentials of applicants and participate in the committee process
• Conduct parent and student interviews/assessments/group meetings, upload notes in a timely and consistent manner
• Assist with selecting and training admissions committee members,
• Be nimble with data to assist in decision-making when adjusting our process, goals, and overall admissions management each year
• Provide divisional leadership with student profiles to support new student/family transitions
• Creativity in problem solving
• Informed, current understanding of the independent school landscape, maintain knowledge of best practices in enrollment management
• Commitment to professional development both as a presenter and learner
• Must possess the ability to think administratively with intuition and excellent listening skills Exceptional interpersonal, strategic, analytical, organizational, and written and oral Communication skills and have a sense of humor
• Must participate in the life of the school, including but not limited to, attending campus events, engaging with students, and participating occasionally in meetings and gatherings in the divisions
• Ability to build productive relationships with colleagues, current families, and prospective families
• Genuine appreciation of children and young adults
• Flexible Ability to think ahead, with poise and confidence in a fast-paced environment, often demonstrating a work ethic that exceeds a 40-hour work week
• Ability to manage several projects with deadlines at the same time
• Ability to work as a team member and model positive behaviors
• Enthusiasm for the work
• Strong understanding of technology and data management systems; able to stay current with new methods and changing needs
• Outstanding presentation skills
• Other Duties Assigned

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (Preferred) or equivalent with three years of increasingly responsible admission experience

Salary

• Salary Range $65,000-$95,000. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

To Apply

To be considered, qualified candidates must upload a cover letter, resume, and three references through our online application system (ClearCo). To learn more about our school, please visit https://www.sidwell.edu.

Diversity Statement

Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, “How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world