Director of Enrollment Management

Overview

The Buckley School is a dynamic, nurturing learning community committed to equity and inclusion. Our innovative teachers and challenging programs inspire creativity, courage, and collaboration. By promoting a balanced development of mind, body, and character, we encourage each student to find joy and meaning in life and make an impact in the world.

The new Director of Enrollment Management will be a critical, strategic partner to the Head of School and the Senior Leadership Team as they work in partnership with the Board of Trustees to anticipate and embrace the future. While Los Angeles faces uncertainty caused by wildfires, the film industry, AI, and the national landscape, the school remains fully enrolled  Director of Enrollment Management will work with this seasoned, senior team to help redefine Buckley in a changing landscape, while ensuring the school brings its mission, vision, and values to life.

A skilled communicator, connector, motivator, and mentor, working across all three divisions of a K-12 program located on a single campus, the next director will:

• Lead a vibrant office of three full-time admission directors, one full-time admission specialist, and a part-time interviewer to strategically enroll 830 students each year, per Buckley’s Conditional Use Permit cap.
• Ensure these students and families reflect the area’s diverse demographics and support Buckley’s mission to be a dynamic and nurturing learning community committed to equity and inclusion.
• Understand and appreciate the minds and hearts of current and prospective families and students, and stay abreast of how family attitudes and expectations shift in light of external forces.
• Work with the Director of Communications and Strategic Marketing to clarify Buckley’s distinctions and value proposition for prospective families, educators at feeder schools, access organizations, and independent consultants.
• Partner with the CFO and Business Office to oversee Financial Assistance and all aspects of re-enrollment.
• Partner with school leadership to articulate, share, and celebrate Buckley’s stories with internal and external audiences.
• Gather and analyze data to inform strategy and partner with division heads to implement recruitment and retention efforts.

• Lead admission staff to design and implement outreach to recruit and retain a diverse group of mission-aligned students and families through open houses, tours, visits, assessments, new family gatherings, special events, etc.
• Oversee department operations to ensure clarity of roles, accurate record keeping, and timely responses to applicant family inquiries.
• Model the school’s commitment to equity and inclusion by practicing cultural competency and upholding policies.
• Track and analyze data to understand market trends and prepare reports for the board of trustees, the DEI committee, and Senior Leadership Team.
• Research local demographics, regional economy, and national trends to develop strategic messaging and materials to recruit and retain families.
• Oversee coordination of student, parent, alumni, and trustee volunteers to support recruitment.
• Develop relationships with admissions officers and school placement officers at local K-12 schools and preschools and with local educational consultants; participate in local admission officer associations.
• Develop relationships with faculty and staff to help them become ambassadors for Buckley and to recruit and retain families.
• Partner with the business office to oversee financial aid and support families through the application process and allocation of aid to promote socio-economic diversity.
• Collaborate with Head of School, CFO, and division heads to set enrollment goals and oversee re-enrollment of all returning students.
• Screen, interview, hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate personnel for the department in coordination with HR and the Head of School.
• Coordinate the work of Lower, Middle, and Upper School Admission Committees.
• Monitor trends and best practices in all aspects of the admission and financial aid offices.
• Manage the admission office budget and facilities.
• Report to the Head…