POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Director of Enrollment Management Worcester, Massachusetts Job Summary
Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Enrollment Management is a member of the senior administrative team and is responsible for leading the strategic and operational components of enrollment management, conducting the research necessary to inform decision-making, and directing student recruitment, financial aid and enrollment efforts. The Director is responsible for outreach to prospective families and the enrollment and re- enrollment of a qualified and diverse student body. This position supervises 2 fulltime admissions counselors and works closely with 2 in-house marketing and communication professionals. The Director serves as the external “face” of Bancroft and works with all constituencies to inspire community-based outreach. Committed to cultivating a learning environment that embraces differences, Bancroft welcomes candidates who will add to the racial and cultural diversity of the community.
About Bancroft School
Bancroft School is a community of students, faculty, administrators, and parents working together to create an atmosphere of engaged and active learning where students discover their unique paths with joy and confidence. Students are empowered to celebrate and deepen their curricular excellence and embrace their talents to emerge as leaders, humanitarians, and globally engaged citizens.
Bancroft is a PreK – Grade 12 independent day school located in Worcester, Massachusetts – a thriving city with a rich history and a bright future and one in which the school is deeply invested. Founded in 1900, the school’s 30-acre campus is 55 minutes west of Boston in a
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residential neighborhood north of downtown. 400 students come from 63 different cities and towns around central Massachusetts and represent different backgrounds and experiences that contribute to the unique and diverse learning environment.
Bancroft is a workshop constantly in motion—an open and inclusive campus that inspires learners to engage with one another, their communities, and the world in meaningful and impactful ways. The school is committed to cultivating a community that embraces diversity and an inclusive campus in which each individual is safe, known, and valued. Bancroft students and faculty are committed to honoring the dignity of the individual and the celebration of difference.
In January of 2020, the school unveiled a 5-year strategic plan entitled ‘BluePrint125’- a product of extensive internal investigation and collaborative discussion among the School’s many constituents. In recent years, the School has made significant investments in campus enhancements to improve energy efficiency, air quality, and public safety; create flexible, multi-functional spaces in the Upper School building, music wing of the Performing Arts Center and new Field House facility; and enhance its ability to attract new students and families.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Depending on your perspective, Worcester is either the anchor of Central Massachusetts — known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth” — or the marker of the western periphery of the Greater Boston area. Worcester is the second- most populous city in New England known for being a busy but friendly city, with a robust cultural community and easy access to local adventures.
There is always something of cultural merit to enjoy, ranging from theater, to athletics, to music, to excellent restaurants, to well-manicured public park space. Hanover Insurance helped fund a multimillion-dollar renovation of the old Franklin Square Theater, renaming it the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, which can hold up to 2,300 patrons. Worcester is also an academic hub, home to nine colleges and universities including Assumption College, Clark University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Worcester State University.
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In 2018, The Red Sox Triple-A affiliate announced plans to relocate to Worcester. Nationally renowned architectural firm, Beyer Blinder Belle has been hired to build Polar Stadium, which will serve as home to the Worcester Red Sox (WooSox). The stadium is under construction in Worcester’s burgeoning Canal District.
The highly respected Worcester Art Museum is home to more than 35,000 works of art that date from antiquity to the present day. Crompton Collective offers a wonderful mixture of boutique market antiquities, art, and fresh produce. The venue was designed to celebrate the city’s local independent makers and there are loads of treasures to be had, from antique teacups to vintage furniture, to handmade baby clothes. Visitors often drop into the Canal District Farmers Market, to pick up some culinary treats or stop by the Birch Tree Bread Company for some tasty refreshments.
It’s easy to see why Worcester is growing in popularity and reputation; it’s a place with a meaningful heritage that has no shortage of enrichment — or fun!
Job Responsibilities
Bancroft’s Director of Enrollment Management is responsible for sustaining and enhancing the School’s strong position in the marketplace. 1. Design and execute annual admission and enrollment goals and strategies in accordance with the School’s commitment to promote economic, geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity in the student body. 2. Provide leadership in admission, marketing, and recruitment and direct the process of attracting, selecting and enrolling students while sustaining and enhancing the School’s position in the marketplace. 3. Manage new student enrollment and the re enrollment process for current students. Ensure the continued academic, athletic and co-curricular excellence of the School’s student body through recruitment and enrollment practices informed by the School’s strategic priorities. 4. Leverage financial aid to attract and retain a talented class of students while achieving net revenue targets by organizing and administering the financial aid program, in 3 Bancroft School | Director of Enrollment Management |
conjunction with the Chief Financial Officer and Head of School. Award all returning and new families annual aid and manage a $4 million financial aid budget. 5. Encourage departments and offices on campus to build relationships with admissions officers and prospective families. Specifically, this includes to: • Foster a collaborative relationship with senior colleagues as well as with the Board of Trustees, alumni board and Head of School. • Coordinate with the Communications staff the development and implementation of strategic marketing ideas, including the effective use of social media and other online tools, production of all admission marketing materials. • Maintain good communication with the athletics, arts and academic departments to ensure that the School enrolls students most able to contribute to and benefit from the School’s offerings. • Work closely with the Division Heads, Dean of Students, and Director of College Counseling on issues related to student life, with a focus on ensuring that all students admitted to Bancroft thrive. • Work closely with the Alumni and Advancement Office and Head of School on issues concerning alumni relations and advancement. 6. Maintain statistical and trend data related to admission and enrollment. Present statistical and trend information to the senior staff, the Board of Trustees, and the faculty. 7. Formulate annual Admission and Enrollment Action Plan with goals and objectives. 8. Attend Board of Trustee meetings, participate in strategic planning and keep the Board fully apprised of the School’s admission, financial aid, and marketing endeavors. 9. Oversee the admission information management software, the online application and submission of materials, and testing administration and logistics.
Qualifications:
• At least 5 years of admission and financial aid experience • Excellent and engaging communication skills • Outstanding administrative skills and strong supervisory experience • Experience in developing strategic admissions/financial aid models, • Experience in managing net tuition revenue targets
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• Proven ability to analyze, summarize, and present data • Expertise in local, regional, national enrollment trends and fluency with policies and best practices in admissions and financial aid • Experience with software systems that support recruitment, admission review, and financial aid management • A BA/BS is required; a master’s degree is strongly preferred
About the Head of School
In his 7th year as Head of Bancroft School, Trey Cassidy is the school’s 13th Head of School since its founding in 1900. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, with BS and MEd degrees in History and in Education respectively, Mr. Cassidy served as assistant head of school and head of upper school at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, and head of the upper school at the Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD. He and his wife grew up in central Massachusetts, so they are happy to be home and have two daughters, one in her first year of college and the other who attends Bancroft. Trey is connected in the Worcester community and serves on several non profit committees and boards. He is an active athlete who enjoys cycling, skiing, running, and hiking locally and throughout New England.
Applying for the Position
Bancroft School has retained The Baker Group, the premier independent school enrollment management consulting firm, to assist in the recruitment of its next Director of Enrollment Management. Bancroft is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
Interested candidates are asked to submit in an electronic file, their resume, a one to two-page cover letter, and names and contact information of three references directed to Christine H. Baker at: [email protected].
Please submit materials by February 24, 2021.
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