Position: Director (Student Recruitment and Engagement)
Department: Engage
Reports To: Senior Executive Director of Engagement
FTE: 1.0
Days/Year: 260
Salary Schedule: 2026–2027 Executive Professional (Group C)
Paygrade: P11
FLSA Status: Exempt

Why You Will Love Working Here

In this role, you will help families discover what District 11 has to offer and create a welcoming, responsive experience from their first inquiry through enrollment. You will develop a proactive recruitment strategy, communicate the distinctive strengths of our schools, and turn community relationships and family interest into sustained enrollment.

We welcome relevant experience from public charter schools, independent or private schools, higher education admissions, marketing, and other organizations focused on recruitment and customer engagement.

Position Summary

The Director of Student Recruitment and Engagement leads District 11’s strategy to attract prospective families, convert interest into enrollment, and strengthen student retention. Through strategic outreach, marketing, community partnerships, and data-driven decision-making, the Director helps families discover District schools and make informed enrollment decisions.

In collaboration with Engagement colleagues, school leaders, area superintendents, and the enrollment office, the Director improves the family experience from initial inquiry through school exploration and transition to enrollment. The position develops coordinated recruitment and follow-up practices, promotes each school’s unique strengths, establishes consistent service expectations, and uses family feedback and recruitment data to refine strategies and address barriers.

This position leads districtwide recruitment initiatives and cross-functional implementation through Engagement while partnering with the enrollment office, which retains responsibility for registration processing, documentation, student count, state reporting, and enrollment compliance, to ensure a seamless transition from recruitment to registration.

Essential Job Functions

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of districtwide strategic initiatives aligned with the District’s Strategic Plan, with an emphasis on student recruitment, engagement, and retention.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to district and school leaders, providing consultation, coaching, and recommendations to strengthen student and family experiences.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to establish priorities, define measurable goals, and lead organizational improvement and change management initiatives that promote consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across schools.
• Analyze enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance data to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and recommend evidence-based strategies.

Student Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention

• Develop and implement districtwide recruitment and retention strategies, targeted campaigns, school outreach, and community partnerships that communicate the distinctive strengths of District schools and respond to community needs.
• Design and coordinate the prospective family journey from initial inquiry through school exploration, visits, application, and transition to enrollment, ensuring timely follow-up and a welcoming, consistent experience.
• Partner with school leaders and the enrollment office to coordinate recruitment and registration processes while maintaining established responsibilities for enrollment processing, compliance, and reporting.
• Establish recruitment performance measures, including inquiries, school visits, applications, enrollment conversion, and retention; use data and family feedback to evaluate effectiveness and improve outcomes.
• Provide guidance, training, and tools to school leaders and staff to strengthen recruitment practices, family communication, and service expectations.

Data, Systems, and Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators related to student recruitment, engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness.
• Utilize District information systems, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, and recruitment pipeline tracking to monitor performance, identify service gaps, and improve recruitment and operational processes.
• Develop and present reports, recommendations, and progress updates to district leadership to inform decision-making and resource prioritization.
• Evaluate programs, processes, and initiatives; implement improvements that enhance service delivery, accountability, and stakeholder experiences.

Collaboration, Community Partnerships, and Compliance

• Build and maintain relationships with school leaders, district departments, families, community organizations, and external partners to advance recruitment, engagement, and organizational priorities.
• Represent the District on internal committees, cross-functional work groups, community initiatives, and external partnerships, as assigned.
• Collaborate across departments to address operational challenges, remove barriers, and coordinate timely solutions.
• Ensure assigned initiatives, recruitment activities, and information management processes comply with District policies and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Support the review and development of policies and administrative procedures related to student recruitment and enrollment.
• Coordinate assigned projects, budgets, timelines, and resources to support effective implementation and responsible stewardship of District resources.

Other Duties

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Strategic planning, organizational development, change management, and continuous improvement principles.
• Student recruitment, enrollment engagement, retention strategies, and family experience practices.
• District policies and applicable regulations affecting assigned responsibilities.
• Data analysis, performance measurement, program evaluation, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Marketing, community engagement, customer service, and stakeholder relationship management.
• Customer relationship management platforms, and related technology.

Skills in:

• Developing and executing districtwide strategies that produce measurable organizational results.
• Providing strategic consultation, coaching, and guidance to executive leaders, administrators, and employees.
• Analyzing complex data, identifying trends, and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Leading cross-functional projects and coordinating initiatives across multiple departments and schools.
• Developing recruitment, retention, and engagement programs responsive to organizational and community needs.
• Building collaborative relationships and communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Managing multiple priorities, project timelines, and assigned resources.

Ability to:

• Translate District strategic priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Exercise sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive organizational and employee information.
• Influence organizational change through collaboration, consultation, and relationship building.
• Balance districtwide priorities with the operational needs of individual schools and departments.
• Identify organizational challenges, develop sustainable solutions, and promote accountability.
• Adapt strategies based on data, stakeholder feedback, and changing District needs.
• Communicate effectively with employees, families, school leaders, executive leadership, and community partners.
• Maintain a service-oriented approach that promotes trust, responsiveness, and positive stakeholder experiences.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic initiatives, recruitment, engagement, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex initiatives, collaborating across organizational functions, and implementing strategies that support measurable results.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Leadership experience in K–12 public education or a comparable complex organization.
• Experience in student recruitment and/or enrollment management and/or admissions. 
• Experience utilizing data systems and performance measures to guide strategic decisions.
• Bilingual proficiency in English/Spanish

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Work is primarily sedentary with periods of light activity. Essential functions may include walking or standing for extended periods; lifting up to 20 pounds; climbing stairs; bending; reaching; handling objects; and operating a computer keyboard. The role requires effective communication and the ability to receive and process information through vision, hearing, or other assisted means. Work is performed in a typical office setting with frequent collaboration across departments and occasional evening meetings. Duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Employees in this category will also receive the following for the 2026-2027 school year: 

1. Non-Recurring Pay:  8% of base salary in Non-Recurring Pay (distributed as 4% on November paycheck and 4% on May paycheck). 
2. Professional Development Fund (PDF): __EXEC Pro employees will be allocated $1,500 annually towards a Professional Development Fund (PDF) to be used for professional growth opportunities. Amount allocated will be prorated based upon date and length of hire.

Base Salary Setting: Employment, assignment and salary placement, is in accordance with job description requirements. A work history is required to demonstrate job title, job duties and time worked in the position. Reference the linked How Your Compensation Is Determined for more details. 

Salary Setting (New Hires): Newly-employed Executive Professionals will be placed on the twenty (20) step system.  Each step represents two years of experience, based upon equivalent experience.  Beginning in July 2025, The maximum number of years of experience granted is 14, which is equivalent to placement on step seven (7). Steps are determined by experience listed on the application and resume.

Salary Setting (Rehires): Returning employees who have previously resigned or separated from the District will be rehired at the same step they were on at the time of resignation/separation plus any new experience gained in the same job,  provided step increases were approved by the Board during the years in question. 

Employees with experience in the District who have left the District and then returned to the same position shall be hired at the same pay grade (refers to the __EXEC Pro placement on salary schedule by job title) and step at time of resignation.  Additional relevant experience gained after resignation may be evaluated from the employee’s  application and updated resume.  

See Employee Handbook (located on the D11 website) for information on salary setting for rehires (after retirement), promotions and lateral transfers. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY