Job Title:
Admissions Director
Organization Name:
Smith Jewish Academy
Job Type:
Full-time
Salary Range:
$75,000-$95,000/year
Deadline:
Open until filled
Position Summary:
The Admissions Director is a relationship-driven, data-savvy professional responsible for leading recruitment, admissions operations, and retention. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director collaborates with faculty, Jewish Living and Learning, Marketing, and Development to deliver a warm, mission-aligned admissions experience that advances enrollment goals and strengthens community trust.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Recruitment and Outreach
- Serve as the welcoming public face for prospective families; lead campus tours, shadow days, and family conversations.
- Build pipelines with preschools, community partners (JCC, Federation, synagogues), and schools.
- Mobilize and coach parent ambassadors; design referral and word-of-mouth initiatives.
- Plan and execute recruitment events such as information nights, coffees, parlor events, and fairs.
Admissions Operations
- Oversee the full admissions funnel from inquiry through enrollment and onboarding.
- Coordinate assessments with learning specialists and grade-level teams; communicate admissions decisions with professionalism and care.
- Support Financial Aid and Admissions Committees; ensure transparent, timely processes.
- Oversee admissions materials and digital content to ensure message alignment with Marketing.
Retention and Family Experience
- Co-lead re-enrollment planning and timelines; monitor attrition risk and initiate proactive outreach.
- Partner with division leaders and faculty to address transition points (Grades K, 3, 6, 8) and strengthen the family experience year-round.
- Track parent feedback and implement service improvements to enhance satisfaction and retention.
Data, Reporting, and Systems
- Maintain CRM/data integrity (inquiries, tours, applications, yield, aid, attrition).
- Produce monthly board reports and actionable insights on pipeline health and conversion.
- Establish dashboards and service-level agreements (SLAs) for response times and follow-ups.
Marketing and Communications
- Collaborate with Marketing on segmented communications from inquiry through enrollment; leverage email platforms, website content, and social media.
- Contribute to storytelling and press materials that reflect Smith’s mission and ISACS standards.
Leadership and Budget
- Set departmental goals, coach staff and volunteers, and build a culture of service excellence.
- Manage the admissions budget and vendor relationships.
- Represent Smith at community events.
Experience and Qualifications Requirements:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in admissions/enrollment or related independent school roles.
- Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills (written and verbal).
- Demonstrated CRM/analytics fluency and strong project management skills.
- Proficiency with email marketing tools (e.g., Constant Contact) and Microsoft 365/Google Workspace.
- Commitment to Smith’s mission, inclusive community, and service excellence.
Preferred
- Master’s degree in education, nonprofit management, or communications.
- Experience in K-8 independent or Jewish day school settings; familiarity with financial aid processes.
- Experience managing budgets and reporting to boards.
- Familiarity with systems such as Ravenna, FACTS, Finalsite, or SchoolAdmin.
How to Apply
Please email a letter of interest and résumé to Karen Hoppe at [email protected] with the subject line: “Admissions Director – [Your Name].”
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Additional Information
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Competitive salary commensurate with experience and market benchmarks. Please include your salary expectations in your cover letter.
Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, retirement plan, life/disability coverage) plus access to professional development.
Generous paid time off, including school breaks and all Jewish holidays observed by the school (e.g., Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Sh’mini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Pesach, Shavuot), as well as major national holidays.
Additional workplace perks typical of an independent school environment.
SCHEDULE AND WORK HOURS
Full-time, on-campus role with core hours Monday-Friday.
Evening and weekend hours as needed for tours, open houses, community events, and fairs; advance notice provided.
Flexibility/comp time is used when evening/weekend commitments occur. Occasional local travel for outreach and events.
ABOUT SMITH JEWISH ACADEMY
Harold and Mickey Smith Jewish Academy (ISACS accredited, K-8) in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is a learning community where every child is known, purposeful learning drives growth, and academic excellence in Jewish and general studies is our daily work. Housed in a dedicated wing on the Barry Family Campus, we cultivate partnerships that enrich student life and family engagement. We are guided by Jewish values, academic excellence, and respect for others, and we honor the diversity of Jewish life and prepare students to lead with character — in the Jewish community, in connection with Israel, and in the wider world.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
At Smith Jewish Academy, admissions is how we live our mission — every child known, purposeful learning, and academic excellence grounded in Jewish life. We partner with families to nurture curiosity, character, and leadership in service to the Jewish people, Israel, and the wider world. As Admissions Director, you steward that partnership from first hello through re-enrollment, ensuring a welcoming, transparent, and dignified experience rooted in Jewish values, excellence, and respect for others. You’ll align class composition with our educational vision, use data to improve the journey at every step, and elevate authentic stories of teaching and learning in both Jewish and general studies. Collaborating with faculty, Jewish Living and Learning, Marketing, and Development, your work will strengthen retention, broaden access, and grow Smith’s impact across the Twin Cities.
