<p>Title: Associate Director of Admission, Upper School</p> <p>Department/Location: Admissions, St Louis</p> <p>Position Type: Full-Time, 12-month</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>The Associate Director of Admission, Upper School leads and manages all Upper School admissions and enrollment activities, including recruitment, retention, and prospective student and family visit programs. Reporting to the Director of Admission, this role oversees the full Upper School admissions cycle and collaborates closely with Associate Directors, Leadership Team administrators and Upper School faculty to strategically enroll students who align with Principia's mission. Success in this position requires the effective implementation of recruitment and communication plans, clear articulation of the school's educational philosophy, and dedicated advocacy for prospective students-fostering strong, positive, and trusted relationships with families throughout the process.</p> <p>Who We Are</p> <p>At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education-blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia's team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends.</p> <p>At Principia School, our core value is LOVE. Love and its attributes underpin our foundational beliefs as well as our educational approach. We focus on developing the whole child-intellectually, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, preparing students for the next steps in life.?We foster a challenging yet supportive environment where character unfolds naturally, and talent is cultivated through boundless opportunities.?Character education plays an essential role in every aspect of the student experience, and classroom work is augmented by character trips, leadership development, and real-world, hands-on, project-based learning.</p> <p>Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow's leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a?collaborative and inclusive environment?where everyone feels they belong and are valued.</p> <p>Primary Responsibilities</p> <p>Recruitment & Relationship Management</p> <ul> <li>Serves as primary recruiting contact for prospective Upper School families, responding promptly and professionally to all inquiries </li><li>Builds and maintains strong relationships with families, alumni, feeder schools, and community partners to support recruitment efforts </li><li>Serves as an ongoing touchpoint and liaison for Upper School families, supporting retention and guiding them through key transitions </li><li>Represents Principia at school fairs, school and community events, outreach programs, and presentations; participates in regional, national, and international travel as needed </li><li>Partners with Financial Aid, Marketing, and other departments to ensure consistent, high-quality service to all families </li></ul> <p>Communication & Customer Experience</p> <ul> <li>Presents Principia's mission, academic programs, student life, and tuition information accurately and professionally </li><li>Coordinates and leads campus tours, ensuring engagement with key administrators, faculty, and student programs </li><li>Ensures consistently high levels of customer service before, during, and after visits, collaborating with campus administrative staff </li><li>Supervises student ambassador program, including selection, training, mentoring, and scheduling </li></ul> <p>Application Evaluation & Decision-Making</p> <ul> <li>Conducts student interviews and evaluates applicant materials to support thorough admissions assessment </li><li>Reviews and processes all application documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness for committee consideration </li><li>Leads the Upper School admissions committee process and communicates decisions to families, ensuring alignment with Principia standards and policies </li></ul> <p>Data Management & Reporting</p> <ul> <li>Maintains accurate data and communication records in CRM and admissions systems </li><li>Updates applicant statuses and decision outcomes promptly </li><li>Prepares reports and enrollment-tracking updates to support strategic planning, monitoring of goals, and analysis of conversion metrics </li></ul> <p>Visit & Event Coordination</p> <ul> <li>Develops and oversees Upper School visiting program and serves as primary liaison for visiting Upper School students and families </li><li>Coordinates on-campus visit days, open houses and individual family tours to showcase Principia effectively </li></ul> <p>Institutional Collaboration & Strategy</p> <ul> <li>Collaborates with Director of Admission on strategic planning, process development, reporting, and communications </li><li>Meets enrollment goals and performance metrics established by Admissions Team </li><li>Identifies and addresses enrollment pipeline gaps and supports strategies to improve recruitment and retention outcomes </li><li>Works closely with Director of Admission to develop recruitment strategies, strengthen prospect pipeline, and support enrollment forecasting </li><li>Participates in strategic discussions and collaborates with cross-divisional admissions colleagues to ensure alignment across levels </li><li>Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Upper School programs, activities, and initiatives </li></ul> <p>Core Competencies</p> <p>Principia values the strengths each employee brings to their role. The following competencies are essential for success in this position:</p> <ul> <li>Continuous Learning & Expertise: Demonstrates strong proficiency in role-specific responsibilities and actively pursues ongoing professional development. </li><li>Accountability & Results Orientation: Manages time well, meets deadlines, and consistently produces high-quality work. </li><li>Problem Solving & Judgment: Approaches challenges thoughtfully, considers multiple perspectives, and makes sound decisions aligned with institutional goals. </li><li>Proactivity & Ownership: Anticipates needs, takes initiative, and moves work forward independently while owning outcomes. </li><li>Excellence & Attention to Detail: Delivers accurate, polished work and seeks opportunities to improve systems and processes. </li><li>Service Orientation: Provides responsive, professional support to students, families, and colleagues; builds positive working relationships. </li><li>Collaboration & Collegiality: Works effectively across teams and values diverse viewpoints; contributes to a respectful, supportive environment. </li><li>Communication: Communicates clearly and concisely, listens actively, and adjusts messaging for different audiences and contexts. </li><li>Inclusion & Belonging: Demonstrates respect for all individuals and fosters a welcoming, inclusive community. </li></ul> <p>Minimum Qualifications</p> <ul> <li>Student of Christian Science preferred </li><li>Supportive of Principia's guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements </li><li>Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred. </li><li>6+ years of experience in admissions, enrollment management, sales, recruitment, or a related field (independent school or higher-ed experience preferred). </li><li>Demonstrated success in relationship-driven roles such as admissions, sales, customer engagement, or client services. </li><li>Proven ability to meet enrollment, sales, or conversion goals and manage pipelines effectively. </li><li>Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel); CRM experience preferred (Slate, Blackbaud, Ravenna, Salesforce, etc.). </li><li>Comfort with data tracking, reporting, and using technology to support enrollment goals. </li><li>Willingness to work frequent evenings, weekends, and travel as required for recruitment events, visits, and family needs. </li></ul> <p>The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of Principia.</p> <p>Compensation and Benefits</p> <p>We offer a competitive starting salary range for this position: $65,523 - $90,095 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.</p> <p>In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes</p> <ul> <li>Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded). </li><li>Relocation: Principia provides a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles. </li><li>Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support. </li><li>Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more. </li></ul> <p>Equal Opportunity</p> <p>Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.</p> <p>In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia-as an institution with a religious mission-gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.</p>