Assistant Director of Admissions, Middle School - Leave Replacement for the Academic Year 2026-2027

Description

The Assistant Director of Admissions with a focus on the Middle School will be an integral member of the Admissions Office. This role will be a full participant in all Menlo School admissions initiatives. Responsibilities will include representing Menlo School to a wide and diverse audience; corresponding with prospective students and their families; organizing admissions events; participating fully and helping to facilitate the evaluation of applications and the issuance of decision recommendations; and other duties as assigned. Reporting to the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, the incumbent is expected to work with a high level of independence and autonomy while collaborating effectively with team members and across departments. All team members in the Admissions Office are expected to demonstrate a high degree of initiative, integrity, and judgment in making decisions that impact the experience of prospective families, department operations, and the Menlo community. This is a leave replacement for the 2026-2027 academic year, from August 2026 through June 2027.

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Event Management

• Admissions events include but are not limited to preview days, visits, interviews, information sessions, affinity and EDIB events, panels, tours, receptions, on-campus fairs, and testing.

• Supporting the Admissions team in the execution of a portfolio of creative signature events (in-person and virtual) for prospective and admitted students and their families; 

• Supporting and cultivating a culture of strong campus partnerships, effective communications, exceptional customer service, and continually improving internal workflows;

• Developing close and effective coordination with the Middle School Director, Assistant Director, and Faculty with the goal of engendering support and trust.

Admission Ambassador Management

• Developing and managing a committed club in the Middle School for student admissions ambassadors, developing practices to continually enhance participation and effectiveness;

• Recruiting, coordinating, and training student Admissions Ambassadors;

• Developing training materials, events, and resources for the student admissions ambassadors;

• Collaborating with the Middle School Director and the full Admissions team to ensure consistency of brand experience and messaging for prospective families, as well as smooth and coordinated operations for the Middle School.

Outreach, Engagement, and Evaluation

• Contributing to the execution of strategic plans for recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment of qualified students while addressing a range of institutional priorities;

• Developing and cultivating relationships through outstanding high-touch customer service with prospective students, parents/guardians, feeder school personnel, and consultants, while guiding them through the admissions and enrollment process and communicating the unique value proposition of a Menlo education;

• Representing Menlo at admissions events, school fairs, feeder schools, and community-based organizations;

• Interviewing prospective students and parents/guardians;

• Communicating with local, national, international, and transfer applicant families to the Middle School to support completion of their application process;

• Reading and evaluating applicant files, and participating in the Admission Committee recommendations for all applicants;

• Remaining current on local and national market trends, understandings of adolescent development, and our school’s value proposition so as to be able to communicate clearly with prospective families and properly evaluate applicants. 

Operations Management

• Collaborating with all other members of the Admissions Team in the annual process set-up for the admissions database and application platform;

• Providing data entry support in processing applications, test scores, transcripts, and other supporting credentials for applicant admission review;

Other

• Engaging in the life of the School and regularly attending faculty meetings, school events, classes, etc., when not in conflict with Admissions responsibilities;

• Pursuing professional development in the core competencies to ensure that Menlo implements best practices in admissions marketing, outreach, and evaluation;

• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Mastery of the mission, values, and programs of Menlo School; 

• Understanding of the general independent school admission cycle and enrollment funnel, as well as the strategic enrollment priorities of Menlo in particular;

• Working knowledge of principles and practices of event planning and production;

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and dedication to ongoing development of cultural competency and cultural humility skills and practices;

• Strategic thinking, design thinking, and project management skills;

• An orientation towards continued professional development, iteration, and solution seeking;

• Strong interpersonal skills, the capacity to engage and excite prospective families and students, and the ability to maintain collaborative and collegial relationships with colleagues;

• Attention to detail and organization;

• Strict adherence to the highest levels of integrity, confidentiality, professionalism, and all standards and policies set forth in the Menlo Employee Handbook.

Required Qualifications:

• At minimum a bachelor’s degree;

• At minimum two years of professional experience;

• Excellent communication skills, including in written and spoken English, as well as public speaking and presentation skills for small and large audiences;

• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Suite, Zoom, and CRM databases, as well as a willingness and ability to learn other applications and new software as necessary;

• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collection, management, and analysis;

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of independent school or collegiate admissions;

• Experience with Clarity or another financial aid platform;

• Experience as an education professional;

• Familiarity with various applicant assessment instruments and other supplemental skills, cognitive, psychological, and intelligence assessments (i.e., SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, WISC, etc.);

• Fluency in a language other than English, ideally Spanish.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• Will require extended periods of stationary positioning, ambulating (indoors and outdoors), working on a computer, and using the telephone, as well as occasional movement of objects weighing up to 25lbs.

• May require occasional evening and weekend hours as well as local, intrastate, or national travel. 

We offer:

• An exceptional work environment and caring community

• Highly competitive salary

• A comprehensive benefits package, including generous contributions to a retirement plan for eligible employees and their families. Learn morehere.

To be considered for this position, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience through our application portal.

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest and will reach out only to those most closely aligned with the position's needs.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About us:

Menlo School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school for students in grades six through twelve. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley and founded in 1915, the School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National and California Associations of Independent Schools.

Menlo is dedicated to providing a joyful, transformative education that empowers students to explore broadly, think critically, act responsibly, and navigate the complexities of an evolving world. Our relevant and engaging academic program—complemented by outstanding arts and athletics—sparks wonder, fosters a love of learning, and inspires students to reach their full potential as they grow in competence, confidence, and curiosity. Student care and the supportive relationships students build with teachers, coaches, and peers are at the heart of all we do as we uphold the highest ethical standards, develop character, and pursue a shared commitment to purposes larger than ourselves.

At Menlo, belonging is essential to who we are as a school. We embrace the growth and well-being of every member of our community by cultivating a culture rooted in kindness, trust, and belonging—one where everyone feels welcomed, included, and valued, and where our diverse backgrounds, identities, and ideas are honored with curiosity, care, and compassion.

Learn more about the Menlo Schoolhere.

Our equal opportunity employment policy:

Menlo School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants. We administer all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or domestic partnership status, disability, protected veteran status or military status, genetic information, or any other category protected under applicable law.

Pay range:

In the spirit of pay transparency, we share the base salary range for this position for the 2026-2027 academic year. The full pay range, which encompasses all experience levels, is $100,000 - $140,000. Within this broad range, we pay in accordance with what is reasonably expected given an individual's experience level. Base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, employer contributions to retirement plans, and potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at Menlo are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role, but are not guaranteed. If hired at Menlo School, your final base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status, and the number of months worked per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please note that the generous range mentioned above is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at the top of the range is not typical at Menlo School to allow for future and continued salary growth.

Job ID: 393