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.

Key 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.

Qualifications

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.

About Harold and Mickey Smith Jewish Academy

School Mission: The Harold and Mickey Smith Jewish Academy, accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), provides a positive environment focused on delivering a strong academic foundation in Jewish and General Studies. The school reflects and teaches respect for the diversity of Jewish life, challenging our students to exemplify the values of Judaism and demonstrate academic excellence. Our vision is built on a strong synergy between students and faculty. Our educators inspire our students to find their passion and reach their highest potential, creating successful learners and leaders committed to the Jewish community, Israel, and the global community. About Us: Smith is located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. The school has its own wing on a larger campus shared with the Sabes Jewish Community Center.

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