Director, Admissions & Enrollment, Accelerator

Our Mission 

New Leaders develops transformational school leaders and advances policies and practices that ensure high academic achievement for all children—especially for students from under-resourced communities.  

Position Details 

The Director, Admissions & Enrollment, Accelerator will be based out of a home office located anywhere within the contiguous United States (Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern time zones) or United States territories that fall within the Atlantic time zone. 

Position Overview 

The Director, Admissions & Enrollment, Accelerator (“Director”) works with the Deputy Chief Officer, Accelerator & Professional Learning Services and Senior Executive Director, Strategy, Project Management & Operations, Accelerator (“Senior Executive Director”) to co-design an admissions, enrollment, and registration strategy. This position is directly responsible for leading the execution of all aspects of the strategy, including developing and implementing admissions, enrollment, and registration processes; creating and delivering internal and external communications; and interfacing with applicants and New Leaders’ university partners. The Director is also responsible for developing the internal structures that allow members of the team to proactively engage in the admissions, enrollment, and registration processes. 

The Director reports to the Senior Executive Director, Strategy, Project Management & Operations, Accelerator. 

Specific Responsibilities 

Co-design and lead the execution of all aspects of the admissions strategy for the Accelerator.  

• Monitor and drive progress toward key performance indicators related to admissions integrity, optimizing conversion rates from completed applications to admitted students within the student acquisition funnel.
• Oversee the conversion of completed applicants to admitted students, ensuring student acquisition goals are reached.
• In partnership with the Senior Executive Director and university partners, design, develop, and implement a consistent and rigorous admissions framework that ensures universities identify and select high-quality candidates.
• Develop and lead the approach and technical build of the admissions process such as creating any written copy necessary, updating admissions records, conducting quality reviews of admissions packages, and other activities.
• Develop enrollment processes, creating the internal structures that allow members of the team to proactively engage in the process.
• Capture and analyze data to ensure a high-quality and robust pool of candidates; manage the data for review as well as the communication of the analyses to senior organizational leaders.
• Collaborate with the university, school system, and other partners or consultants who are contributing to the admissions process.
• Develop candidate- and partner-friendly external communications and provide candidate and partner support as needed.
• Ensure internal stakeholders (Legal, Operations, etc.) approve stakeholder communications and understand the purpose/function of each piece of communications developed.
• Partner with the Senior Executive Director and the External Relations team on external material development, including the recruitment and admissions website, one-pagers, information session decks, etc.

Co-design and lead the execution of all aspects of the enrollment and registration strategy for the Accelerator.  

• Monitor and drive progress toward key performance indicators for program enrollment, improving conversion rates from accepted students to enrolled students and ensuring a seamless transition to program start.
• In partnership with the Senior Executive Director, design, develop, and implement an efficient and effective enrollment and registration system that ensures participants are set up for success in the program.
• Develop a robust decision notification and enrollment process that aligns a candidate experience with an efficient and effective framework, including, but not limited to, drafting and quality control of decision notification letters and communications.
• In partnership with the Senior Executive Director, develop the approach and technical build for evaluating prior student learning and experience to inform personalized programs of study, including evaluating transcripts towards earned credit and streamlined registration processes.
• Capture and analyze data to ensure students are able to start the program; manage the data for review as well as communication of the analyses to senior organizational leaders.
• Collaborate with the university, the school system, and other partners or consultants who are contributing to the enrollment and registration processes.
• Serve as the liaison with university partners for enrollment and registration; ensure that New Leaders’ process meets university requirements.
• Manage enrollment advisors to represent New Leaders and the program accurately and responsively to prospective students.
• Develop and manage a continuous improvement cycle with key stakeholders post admissions and enrollment cycles, or as needed.

Other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief Program Officer and/or the Senior Executive Director, Strategy, Project Management and Operations. 

Qualifications and Competencies 

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree required.
• Professional Experience
  • At least 7 years professional experience required.
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience in admissions, academic advising, or registrar functions within higher education, including transcript evaluation and credit articulation. 
  • Working knowledge of CRM, application management, and reporting systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot). 
  • Experience with digital marketing and communication channels (website, social media, video, etc.). 
  • School-based experience is preferred.  
• Equity-Driven: Demonstrated ability to work well with people from a wide diversity of demographic and cultural characteristics. The ideal candidate must be capable of achieving results while maintaining an inclusive, collaborative leadership style. 
• Mission Alignment: Passionate belief in academic excellence for every student, aligned with New Leaders' mission. 
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships and source talent.
• Capable of multitasking and prioritizing tasks in an ever-changing, demanding work environment.
• Strong ability to navigate fast moving and quickly changing/growing projects.
• Exceptionally strong presentation skills (virtually and in person).
• Exceptionally strong writing, relationship management, and time management skills.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-directed and take initiative.
• Fluency in all Microsoft Office Applications and basic Internet searches; significant experience with PowerPoint, Excel, and Salesforce a strong plus.
• Must be able to travel as needed annually aligned to New Leaders’ Travel and In-Person Activities policy.

Physical Requirements  

The employee's routine activities involve sitting, talking, and hearing, as well as using hands for tasks such as typing, filing, and handling objects. Visual acuity is necessary for keyboard use, data analysis, transcribing, computer terminal viewing, and extensive reading. The role may involve ordinary ambulatory skills for visits to other locations or the ability to perform activities like standing, walking, lifting, carrying, and moving light-weight items. Proficiency in hand-eye coordination, along with dexterity in arms, hands, and fingers for tasks like grasping, operating standard office equipment, and learning technical information, is essential.  

What We Offer  

• Salary Range for Internal Candidates: $83,000-$137,000
• Salary Range for External Candidates: $83,000-$99,000
  • Note: Salaries vary based on geographical location. After applying, candidates who move forward in the hiring process are provided with a salary for their geographical location. 
• Employees may be eligible for merit awards, bonuses, and/or commissions depending on their role, organizational guidelines, and individual performance. 
• Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week are eligible to participate in the New Leaders Health Benefits and Wellness Program.  
• Medical plan options, dental care, and vision 
• 401K plan for eligible employees 
• Generous paid-time-off (PTO) benefits  

New Leaders is an equal opportunity employer. New Leaders evaluates applicants for employment on the basis of qualifications, merit and work-related criteria and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, handicap, pregnancy, childbirth, medical condition, marital or familial status, family responsibilities, veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, matriculation, or any other characteristic protected by law in administration and operation of its Programs and activities, including admission or access thereto, or treatment or employment therein. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of such status and will not be discriminated against based on such status.