Director of Enrollment Management

OverviewFull-Year (1.0 FTE), 12-month, exemptLakeside School, an independent, nonsectarian, day school serving 891 students in grades 5-12 on two campuses in North Seattle, actively seeks its next Director of Enrollment Management to start July 1, 2026. This is an in-person, 12-month, Full-Year (1.0 FTE), 12-month, exempt position.About the RoleA dual report to both the Head of School and the Director of Institutional Advancement, a member of the Director’s Group, and a member of the Institutional Advancement Team, the Director of Enrollment Management is responsible for successfully 1) enrolling all available seats with students who will be best served by Lakeside’s academic, athletics, arts, and experiential educational programs and will contribute to Lakeside’s goal of educating a student body reflective of demographics of the Seattle metropolitan area, and 2) distributing all available financial aid to enrolled students according to the school’s policies.A member of the Puget Sound Independent School Consortium (PSIS), Lakeside offers an admission and financial aid program aligned with agreed-upon application deadlines and admission decision notification and response dates. With approximately 1,200 on-time applications to grades 5-11, and a little over $10 million dollars in need-based financial aid distributed to approximately 30% of the student population for the 2025-2026 school year, the next Director is an unapologetic champion of purpose, clarity, organization, collaboration, delegation, integrity, and trust. As Seattle-area families consider public, religiously affiliated, and independent schools, the next Director is well-versed in the local, regional, and national educational landscapes, data, and trends that impact families/' school decisions for their children. They are empathic and principled, able to make deeply thoughtful decisions without delay, model perpetual curiosity, and see promise in their colleagues.About the Enrollment Management Office/Admissions and Financial Aid TeamThe Director of Enrollment Management leads an eight-person team of highly collaborative colleagues who develop, implement, and assess a high-performing and inclusive admissions and financial aid program. Over the last several years, the admission and financial aid team has given intentional thought and focus to strategic outreach, campus visit experience, applicant assessment, and application evaluation, while consistently practicing strategic use of data to inform action planning. An extraordinarily high volume of on-time applications each year means the team is highly communicative, organized, supportive, disciplined, active, and helps each other get the work done. An exceptionally strong team that regularly seeks out individual and shared opportunities for professional growth, they are also actively involved in the life of the school beyond the admission and financial aid office. The next Director can look forward to working with colleagues who are collaborative, trusted, hard-working, fun to spend time with, and who produce high-quality work.Duties and ResponsibilitiesBoardAttend and report out to full board and board committee meetings as directed and approved by the Head of SchoolDirectorsThe Director of Enrollment Management is a member of the Director’s Group and a member of the Institutional Advancement TeamAttend all Directors’ MeetingsAttend New Faculty Orientation and mentor new employeesParticipate in the annual review of the school’s handbook and related policies, build the annual school calendar, and oversee related department budgetsParticipate in local, regional, or national professional groups, organizations, or associations of peersThe school encourages Directors to grow professionally [presenting, writing articles] and through service to other schools by joining accreditation teams, boards, and other community organizations.Enrollment Management and Financial AidDevelop a joyful, mission-driven, data-informed, and responsive enrollment strategy that leverages the strengths of the Lakeside program and community while taking into account the realities of a crowded school market and knowledgeable population.Motivate the admission and financial aid team to innovate thoughtfully each yearManage the hiring, supervising, and annual evaluation of all members of the admission and financial aid teamSuccessfully manage the admission and financial aid team by working individually with team members on their contributions, thoughtfully asking questions to drive their curiosity, connecting them with independent school colleagues for feedback and to articles for ideas, and committing to their success by reflecting on their performance with them in real time.Successfully manage the admission and financial aid process by annually reviewing the program through the lens of the school’s mission and values, best practices in enrollment management and financial aid evaluation, and the achievement of maintaining a student enrollment that reflects the demographic of the Seattle-areaReleasing all admission and financial aid decisionsAct as final review for all admission materials and collateral leaving the admission and financial aid office and posted on the admission section of the websiteAlong with theStudent Billing Accountant/Family Information Manager,manage the student attrition processDesired Habits and PracticesThe ideal candidate is warm, energetic, a problem-solver, highly-detailed, a planner, and demonstrates a strong understanding of cultural awareness in all interactions. They have a strong ability to successfully execute detail-rich and complex projects, prioritize multiple deadlines, and maintain a friendly and professional demeanor that allows them to develop productive and harmonious working relationships with all individuals. They enjoy project management, respond enthusiastically to requests as they arise from the Head of School and Director of Institutional Advancement. Other desired qualities include:Willingness to be helpful for the good of the team and proactively assist all colleagues and jump in when neededAbility to maintain confidentialitySuperior project management skills and the ability to forecast, track, and complete multiple projects and tasks simultaneouslyAbility to work independently and as part of a teamAppreciation for different perspectives, respectfully and sincerely interacting with and cultivating meaningful relationships with all people and in particular those who have different cultural frameworks from their ownExceptional organization, detailed, steady, and solution-oriented with impeccable interpersonal, phone, verbal, written, and computer skillsCreative, collaborative, take initiative, demonstrate successful and steady in fast-paced, high-volume, use good judgment, high-accountability environment.Required QualificationsFour-year college degreeExperience with MS OfficeImpeccable written, verbal, phone, interpersonal, and organizational skillsAble to work independently and as part of a teamThe ability to stand and sit for long periods, walk up and down stairs, lift approximately 20 pounds, and regularly walk between the Middle and Upper School campuses, a distance of 0.3 miles that includes a gentle hillDemonstrated cultural awareness, including knowledge of themselves and the cultural lenses they bring to interactions. The candidate will understand different perspectives; interact respectfully with cultures other than their own; and cultivate meaningful relationships with people who have different cultural frameworksCandidates must satisfactorily complete three criminal history background checksPreferred QualificationsThree to five years experience in enrollment management at an accredited NAIS independent school or [college/university association equivalent] preferredAbility to learn new data systems and data processes quickly, ability to problem solve and think creatively.Application ProcessInterested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and work history via the online application. Applications will be accepted until October 13, pensation and BenefitsSalary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 based upon experience and educationLakeside School is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding candidates. We provide a competitive compensation package. Faculty salaries are benchmarked against the nation’s top independent schools and are competitive with local public schools.Benefits for all employees include:Employer-paid medical, dental, and visioninsurance (based on FTE).Dependent medical and vision subsidy.Retirement with generous employer contribution.Life/disability insurance.Employee Assistance Program.Flexible spending accounts.Free lunch.Free parking.Bus/bike benefits.Housing assistance program.Reduced facility rentals.Passport Corporate puter loan program.Paid holidays and vacation.Use of school library and gymnasium.Professional DevelopmentMentoringWorking At LakesideAt Lakeside we are committed to sustaining a school in which individuals representing diverse cultures and experiences instruct one another in the meaning and value of community. To learn more about working at Lakeside, including our professional development and mentoring programs, benefits, diversity and inclusion, and opportunities for involvement in non-academic programs, please visit our Careers page on the Lakeside School website. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-10-03