Associate Director

Associate Director of Student RecruitmentWashington, DCAssociate Director of Student RecruitmentStart Date:Role Type: Full-TimeLocation: Washington, DCFLSA Status: ExemptHere's how we drive results:Rigorous academic focus.Social-emotional learning.Commitment to reflection and refinement.The OpportunityAs the Associate Director of Student Recruitment, you will serve as a key member of the External Affairs team, leading strategies that attract, engage, and enroll prospective families across DC Prep. You will play a critical role in shaping the family experience—from initial awareness and outreach through enrollment and successful Day One attendance—while advancing equitable access to our schools.The Day To DayPartner with the Director of Communications and Student Recruitment to develop and execute multi-channel recruitment strategies that drive measurable enrollment outcomes. Lead efforts to move prospective families through the full recruitment and enrollment funnel—from initial awareness and lead generation to event registration, attendance, application, enrollment, and successful Day One attendance—continuously monitoring and optimizing conversion at every stage.Analyze recruitment data and funnel performance to identify trends, uncover barriers to conversion, evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment strategies, and proactively recommend innovative solutions that strengthen enrollment outcomes and improve performance in a competitive recruitment environment.Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations, early childhood providers, local agencies, and other stakeholders to expand DC Prep's visibility, strengthen referral networks, and increase enrollment opportunities.Coordinate and attend school tours, open houses, enrollment events, and community outreach opportunities to engage prospective families and represent DC Prep's mission. This role requires flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed, to support recruitment events and family engagement activities.Manage outreach efforts through phone, email, text, CRM campaigns, and in-person engagement to ensure families receive timely, accurate, and welcoming communication throughout the enrollment journey.Collaborate with school leaders, program teams, and marketing colleagues to align recruitment activities with enrollment goals and broader organizational priorities.Support the development and continuous improvement of recruitment tools, systems, and operational processes that strengthen the enrollment pipeline and improve organizational efficiency.Manage recruitment projects from planning through execution, overseeing campaigns, events, communications, timelines, budgets, and cross-functional deliverables to ensure seamless execution, meet critical deadlines, prevent gaps, and achieve measurable recruitment outcomes.Coach and mentor the Student Recruitment Associate by providing ongoing feedback, professional development, and support to ensure high-quality execution of recruitment strategies, consistent messaging across all family touchpoints, and exceptional service for both English- and Spanish-speaking families.Represent the Student Recruitment team in meetings and decision-making in the absence of the Director of Communications and Student Recruitment, ensuring continuity of operations and effective team leadership.QualificationsSkills & MindsetStrong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and connect authentically with families, school leaders, community partners, and colleagues.Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and complex projects simultaneously.Data-driven, analytical, and intellectually curious, with the ability to interpret recruitment metrics, identify opportunities, and translate insights into action.Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling messaging for diverse audiences.Collaborative, relationship-oriented, and committed to equity, continuous improvement, and exceptional service for families.Positive leadership and values-driven mindset. Demonstrates a solutions-oriented, can-do approach while consistently modeling DC Prep's values. Brings energy, joy, and enthusiasm to engaging prospective families and actively coaches and encourages others to demonstrate the same values-driven behaviors.Adaptable, proactive, and resilient, thriving in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.ExperienceFive or more years of experience in student recruitment, admissions, enrollment management, marketing, or a related field, preferably within K–12 education or charter schools.Two or more years of people management experience with a demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and support direct reports.Demonstrated success developing and executing recruitment, outreach, or marketing campaigns that drive measurable engagement and enrollment outcomes.Experience managing complex projects, coordinating events, and leading cross-functional initiatives.Proven ability to use data to inform decisions, improve processes, and achieve organizational goals.Experience managing Student Information Systems (SIS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, and enrollment databases to support recruitment, communication, reporting, and operational decision-makingRole specificKnowledge of My School DC and OSSE enrollment systems, policies, and requirements, or the ability to quickly develop expertise in compliance requirements, timelines, enrollment processes, and regulations to ensure accurate guidance and compliant recruitment practices.Demonstrated experience independently using CRM and marketing automation platforms to build prospect lists, segment audiences, create automated workflows and email nurture campaigns, monitor engagement across multiple touchpoints, and optimize conversion throughout the recruitment funnel. Experience with HubSpot is strongly preferred. Experience with Salesforce, Slate, TargetX, or similar CRM and marketing automation platforms is also valued.Knowledge of student recruitment, enrollment processes, family engagement strategies, and community outreach best practices.Experience working with diverse families and communities, demonstrating a strong commitment to equitable recruitment and culturally responsive family engagement.Commitment to continuous professional development. Demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to continuously build expertise in recruitment, marketing, enrollment, and community engagement by participating in virtual and in-person learning opportunities and applying emerging best practices to improve recruitment outcomes.Comfortable representing DC Prep at school events, community meetings, public presentations, and other external-facing opportunities.Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required to effectively engage and support DC Prep's diverse students, families, and community partners.Essential FunctionsRepresent DC Prep with professionalism, integrity, and enthusiasm while consistently modeling the organization's mission and core values.Maintain accurate recruitment, enrollment, and family engagement records in accordance with organizational policies and legal requirements.Travel regularly between DC Prep campuses and community locations to support recruitment initiatives.Communicate effectively in person, virtually, by phone, and in writing with families, colleagues, community partners, and external stakeholders.Maintain accurate records and data related to prospective students, families, and recruitment activities to ensure compliance with organizational and legal requirements.Participate in key school and organizational events, including open houses, enrollment fairs, and community engagement initiatives, as needed. This role requires flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, as needed, to support recruitment events and family engagement activitiesCollaborate with team members, school staff, and external partners to ensure smooth execution of recruitment initiatives and enrollment processes.Manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities effectively, demonstrating accountability and follow-through on all assigned tasks.Support operational processes related to student recruitment and enrollment, including scheduling, outreach communications, and reporting metrics.Occasionally lift and transport recruitment materials, displays, or event supplies.Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support DC Prep's mission and evolving organizational priorities.Physical DemandsMust be able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of timeMust be able to spend the majority of the day standing or mobile throughout the classroom, as well as talk, hear, grasp, reach and lift up to 30lbs with or without accommodationsAbility to concentrate in active and noisy environments such as cafeterias and playgrounds, to more moderate situations such as classrooms or large group professional settingsMust be able to have repetitive wrist/hand/finger movement to work on computer and/or related office equipmentAbility to handle potential high stress conditionsJoin UsDo you believe that Learning Has No Limits? Are you eager to join a supportive, innovative, and collaborative community of educators? Are you committed to growing your strengths as an educator through individualized professional development and coaching? Apply today!We're an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply.