Director of Admissions & Communications

General Description of Position
The Director of Admissions and Communications is an outward facing representative of Highland Christian School.  In Admissions, the Director must be able to represent the beliefs, values, and expectations of Highland Christian School while building warm, trusting relationships with candidate families.  In Communications, the Director must be articulate in the what and why of Christ-centered, covenant model Christian education and maintain familiarity with student life, classroom happenings, curriculum choices, learning opportunities and student outcomes for the purpose of communication with our broader community.

This position is defined by four main duties: recruit new families, evaluate potential students, manage the comprehensive admissions and enrollment process, and implement an annual communications plan.

In this role the Director of Admissions and Communications will be responsible to plan and participate in on and off campus recruitment activities, provide proactive customer service for interested families, manage re-enrollment, and implement branding, marketing and communication strategies in cooperation with Highland Christian School’s leadership teams. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 Admissions Responsibilities:

• Provide warm, welcoming, relationship-focused tours and consultations with prospective students and families;

• Own the entire admissions process for prospective families. This includes: 

• Accept and filter student applications

• Assess applications according to our eligibility criteria

• Manage and organize the admissions and enrollment process

• Refer prospective students to school employees for information when needed

• Schedule and coordinate candidate testing and board interviews

• Communicate with applicants about their application status, including acceptance and rejection in conjunction with Highland Christian’s administrative team, and provide proactive, personal follow-up throughout the admissions process

• Respond to information requests in a timely manner and follow up with prospective families before, during, and after the admissions process to answer questions, remove obstacles, and maintain engagement

• Lead or participate in (or deliver) informational sessions (Visit Days, attending all-school functions, development functions, and churches), while intentionally building relationships with prospective families and members of the broader community.

• Maintain appropriate follow-up with families after enrollment decisions and throughout the transition into the school community

• Accountable to school enrollment targets, as defined by the Head of School and School Board and regularly reports progress

• Prepare a report and attend the Advancement Committee Meeting (committee of the board) that meets one night a month.

• Equip staff with necessary information about admissions and marketing to share with constituents and those in the community.

• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be updated to reflect changing needs of Highland Christian.

Communication Responsibilities: 

• Develop and take ownership of a marketing plan and materials for Highland Christian

• Ensure marketing materials reflect Highland Christian – through professional and impactful resources

• Implement branding throughout school materials

• Serve as a leader for the three School Bell issues per year. This includes, but is not limited to planning the issue, layout, editing, and executing delivery. 

• Implement an all-school communications plan. This includes, but is not limited to: writing, editing, formatting, ensuring communication lists are accurate, and other tasks. In the communication process, one must have an eye for excellence and be prepared to take direction but also take proactive steps to ensure excellence in school communication. 

• Contract with professionals, as approved, to ensure school photos, video footage, and online presence is of high quality

• Ensure online review platforms reflect Highland Christian’s mission and vision and positive parent testimonies

• Collaborate with staff to ensure the school’s social media and news section on HCS’ website are current and in line with the school’s marketing plan and strategy. This involves monitoring and participating in a wide array of school events to identify special activities and accomplishments.

• Support other committees and staff as needed. This includes PTO, school apparel, Auction, development events, and other school functions.

• Cultivate relationships with churches, community organizations, local businesses, and other community partners in order to strengthen Highland Christian’s presence, reputation, and relationships throughout the broader community.

• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be updated to reflect changing needs of Highland Christian School. 

Accountability: The Director of Admissions & Communications reports to and takes direction from the Head of School, and must act in accordance with the HCS Constitution and within the policies established by the Board. Within those parameters, the Director is expected to take ownership of the responsibilities of the role, proactively identify needs and opportunities, follow through on commitments, and ensure that processes are carried through to completion

Collaboration:  The Director of Admissions & Communications collaborates directly and regularly with members of the Office, Advancement, Student Services, and Administrative Teams.

Schedule:  

Full-time (52 weeks/year) , 8:30am – 4:30pm

Flexibility is needed, as there are times when events occur outside of the regular work day.

Requirements:  The role requires an exceptionally relational, people-oriented individual who is task-oriented, self-directed and can adapt quickly to changing needs and priorities.

Review Process:  Annual review according to established criteria, including the imposition of annual performance goals and objectives that include reference to appropriate metrics and/or key performance indicators of success.