Associate Director of Enrollment and Parent Engagement

Associate Director of Enrollment and Parent Engagement

Wellan Montessori School is seeking an Associate Director of Enrollment and Parent Engagement to begin in summer 2026. This person is a key member of the Enrollment Management team. Major areas of responsibility include developing and executing strategic, data-driven processes for recruitment and retention; building awareness among other independent schools; providing robust support for next-school placement; and leading parent engagement initiatives.

The Associate Director of Enrollment and Parent Engagement reports to the Director of Enrollment and Marketing and works closely with the CFO and Division Leaders to meet the school’s strategic enrollment goals.

The successful candidate will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, will be highly organized, detail oriented, and self-motivated. They will demonstrate strong problem solving and analytical skills, will be able to adapt easily to changing school needs, and will be able to operate with a high level of discretion when working with sensitive matters and information. Prior admissions/enrollment admin experience is strongly preferred.

Job Duties:

Admissions, Retention, and Enrollment Management

• Work with the Enrollment and Marketing team to develop and communicate a positive messaging plan to recruit mission-appropriate students and families to the school, with a primary focus on elementary and middle school.
• Assist in the creation of compelling marketing collateral and digital content that highlights the unique elementary and middle school experience.
• Plan for and execute Admission Fairs, Open Houses, and specialized recruitment events.
• Oversee the full recruitment cycle for elementary and middle school applicants, from initial inquiry to enrollment. Including conducting campus tours, student and parent interviews, and other high-touch, personalized experiences.
• Ensure that all application paperwork is properly completed for enrolling applicants.
• Ensure that parental expectations are addressed accurately and that the school’s expectations are clear to parents/families.
• Coordinate Admission Committee meetings to evaluate applicant files and make mission-aligned enrollment recommendations.
• Maintain and analyze enrollment data to identify trends, track funnel conversion rates, and inform future recruitment strategies.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the value proposition for current families to ensure high year-over-year retention.

Parent Engagement

• Coordinate distribution and analysis of regular parent satisfaction surveys.
• Coordinate other opportunities to elicit parent feedback (e.g., Fireside Chats, focus groups, etc.)
• Support the Wellan team in implementing creative engagement initiatives to help the school achieve retention goals.
• Support the Director of Enrollment in their role as the primary school liaison to the Parent Association, attending meetings and working with volunteers to align their initiatives with school goals.

Next-School Placement Support and Brand Awareness

• Develop and maintain relationships with admissions officers at “next schools” to increase awareness of the school’s curriculum and the strengths of its graduates.
• Collaborate with the Division Leader and Director of Student Services to counsel families navigating the transition to secondary schools.
• Support Wellan’s academic team with the “applying out” process, ensuring transcripts, recommendations, and school reports are submitted accurately and on time.
• Full Time 40 hours per week, with attendance at staff meetings and occasional night and weekend events outside of regular hours required.
• Regular
  
  Schedule:
  
  Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
• Salary:
  This is an Admin II level position on Wellan’s administrative salary band. Typically, applicants will start on the first half of the band, with a likely annual salary in the $64,000 – $80,000 range, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications:

• Ability to analyze current and future admissions and enrollment trends in order to meet the school’s goals for enrollment and engagement
• Ability to clearly and confidently engage with members of the public and internal constituents.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with current and alumni families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of work.
• 5+ years of experience in independent school admissions or next school placement.

Newton, MA

Learning Stage(s):
Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School