Director of Enrollment and Communications

Founded in 1995, Gardner School is southwest Washington’s premiere independent, progressive school, serving students in a student-centered environment from preschool through 6th grade. Inspired by Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, our community of teachers and learners honors many ways of learning, thinking and expressing. Our whole-child philosophy integrates homeroom studies in mathematics, language arts, social studies and outdoor learning with specialist teachers in five disciplines: science, music, art, Spanish and physical education. Our small class sizes promote individualized instruction while our beautiful campus allows teachers to use all facets of the environment to stimulate learning. Our Core Values at Gardner are Courage, Creativity, Curiosity, and Connection, and  we believe in creating avid learners and inspired, engaged global citizens. 

At Gardner School, highly trained and experienced faculty and staff place an emphasis on contextual learning to build the deep understanding essential for mastery of knowledge and skills. Gardner teachers care deeply about children and inspire them to think broadly and critically. Parents and families are integral to our program and culture. At Gardner, teachers regularly participate in the life of our school community even outside of regular school hours. 

Position Title: Director of Enrollment and Communication

Job Type: Salaried Exempt (Administrative)

Reports To: Head of School

FTE: Full Time, 1.0 FTE

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Enrollment and Communication plays a pivotal role in the school culture at Gardner. Responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive admissions, communication, and marketing strategies, this role aims to enhance visibility and attract prospective families aligned with the school’s mission. From managing digital and print campaigns to fostering community engagement, the Director of Enrollment and Communication is tasked with highlighting the school’s value proposition, both on campus and in the greater community. Additionally, this role is in charge of the admissions process, including recruitment, guiding families from inquiry through enrollment, coordinating events, and maintaining accurate data to inform strategic decisions around marketing, communication, and enrollment goals. The Director of Enrollment and Communication works closely with the Director of the Country Friends Campus, Director of Facilities and Auxiliary Programs, the Director of Business Operations, and the Head of School as part of the senior leadership team. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

trategic Enrollment and Communications Management

• Audit Gardner School’s current enrollment and communication processes, look for opportunities for improvement, and implement creative solutions in order to increase the funnel from prospective families to enrolled students.
• Develop and implement strategic recruitment and enrollment initiatives to promote the school and attract prospective families.
• Develop the Friends and Relatives of Gardner School (FROGS) organization and calendar of family engagement events in partnership with Head of School and Development Board Committee Chair. 
• Research, monitor, understand, and analyze emerging local, regional, and national demographic trends that affect independent school enrollment; determine the potential impact of, and strategic responses to these trends. 
• Organize, seek out, and attend admissions/recruitment events, both on campus and in the greater community.
• Establish, maintain, and grow relationships with feeder schools (both private and public) in the area and develop and strengthen partnerships with relevant Clark County organizations. 
• Research and implement best practices in Admissions to meet school’s DEI goals.
• Lead faculty and staff through all aspects of the admissions process and create opportunities for professional development, participation and feedback.
• Collaborate with School leadership to establish data-driven enrollment goals and develop comprehensive and strategic plans to achieve them.

Admissions and Enrollment

• Respond to inquiries, schedule and give tours, and move prospective families through the admissions process. 
• Nurture leads from various sources to develop ongoing relationships.
• Track data regarding inquiries, tours, applications, contracts, and re-enrollment  and communicate information to leadership team and Board of Trustees (as needed).
• In conjunction with the Office Manager/Registrar, manage student records in FACTS student information system.
• Communicate with teachers regarding student visits and observations, manage collection of student records and observations.
• Communicate with staff regarding their role in supporting the admissions and marketing efforts of the school.
• Make recommendations for student enrollment to the Head of School.
• Support families in the enrollment process, including updating databases with the Director of Business Operations and the Office Manager and communicating with teachers.
• Oversee Admissions and Enrollment budget lines.

Advertising and Marketing

• Develop and implement a cohesive marketing strategy aligned with the Gardner School’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Drive brand awareness and increase enrollment and retention through strategic marketing campaigns.
• Create marketing campaigns on social media, in print advertising, and other relevant platforms.
• Drive digital marketing initiatives, including SEO, SEM, social media advertising, and email marketing.
• Monitor and analyze digital performance metrics to optimize campaigns.
• Produce compelling admissions publications and marketing materials, oversee website content, and develop marketing strategies for online, social media, and print advertising. Maintain and improve the website for user-experience and desired messaging.
• Review data analytics from website traffic, ROI of marketing campaigns, and customer relationship management software.
• Safeguard and promote the organization's brand identity, ensuring consistency in messaging, design, and visual standards.
• Oversee Marketing and Advertising budget lines.

Communications

• Create and execute a comprehensive communications plan that effectively conveys Gardner School’s core messages to students, staff, parents, and prospective families.
• Ensure consistent and clear messaging across all communication channels.
• In partnership with the Country Friends Campus Director and Head of School, create a communication strategy for both campuses. 
• Produce a weekly school-wide newsletter for the Gardner Main Campus, utilizing calendars, information from classroom newsletters.
• Communicate mission and tenets of progressive education, multiple intelligences, integrated thematics, and experiential learning to school community and beyond.
• Support faculty in creating and sharing communications for various purposes.
• Create compelling content for various channels, including digital, social media, email, press releases, and print materials.
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans and strategies in partnership with the leadership team.
• Oversee Communications budget lines

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Help to maintain school policies, regulations, and expectations.
• Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty and staff, as well as with community partners to the benefit of students and the program.
• Support the work of the Head of School and administrative/leadership team.
• Maintain strict confidentiality with donor, family, staff and school information.
• Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned respective to staff member’s status as a Gardner community member.
• Attend various meetings as needed. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Marketing, Communications, or related field.
• Prior experience in independent school admissions management or marketing/communication work and/or possess enthusiasm for pursuing professional development and developing expertise in this part of the role. 
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations in schools, school-age programs, and/or nonprofits.
• Excellent familiarity with technology and ability to navigate various databases, including Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and web-based applications such as Canva, Squarespace, and Mailchimp.
• Demonstrated organizational skills. 
• Demonstrated attention to detail and time management skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with administrators, faculty, staff, parents, students, and community members.
• Satisfactory completion of a nationwide criminal background check and a Washington State Patrol background check.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:s

Staff members are at all times responsible for the supervision of students directly in their care, and for students generally at all times when on campus or off campus during school activities. At this time this position has no direct reports, but may sometimes direct and/or supervise the work of other staff on special projects.

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

This is a 12 month, exempt (salaried) administrative position. There are some required commitments outside of regular school hours, including evening and weekend commitments.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

Physical requirements are consistent with light physical duties required of school personnel.  

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Salary: $67,724.80- $75,000 DOE

Position Classification: Exempt (Administrative)

Hours:  Full Time, with the majority of work time to be completed on campus. As Exempt Administrative staff, some remote work is possible with prior approval from the Head of School. 

Benefits: Some part time and all full time positions qualify for Medical and Dental with employer contribution up to 100% (dependent on schedule), retirement plan (up to 3% employer match), and paid time off.