Director of Enrollment - Newark

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate 7,035 students in grades K-12 across 15 schools in Newark and Camden. More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals. To learn more, visit www.kippnj.org.

Here's what you need to know:

The Director of Enrollment will lead and implement student enrollment initiatives across KIPP Newark Public Schools, working closely with the Director of Student Recruitment for a seamless process for families from application to matriculation. This leader will set the vision for ensuring that families who apply to KIPP Newark schools complete the enrollment process and remain engaged with the school community year over year. The Director will drive strategy, manage stakeholders, and build strong relationships with families, school leaders, and community organizations to ensure a seamless enrollment experience and high retention rates.

The ideal candidate is a strategic and data-driven leader with a passion for equitable access to high-quality education. They will oversee enrollment processes, analyze key trends, and adjust strategies to optimize student persistence and engagement.

Here’s what you’ll be doing

• Enrollment Strategy Development

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive student enrollment and engagement strategy to ensure families complete the enrollment process and remain engaged throughout their child’s academic journey.

  • Establish data-driven enrollment and retention targets and track progress through key performance indicators.

  • Create and implement standard operating procedures for student enrollment and re-enrollment cycles

  • Partner with school leaders, operations, and student recruitment teams to streamline enrollment from offer to conversion to first-day attendance and beyond

• Family Engagement & Retention

  • Design and implement family engagement strategies that foster a strong sense of community and belonging.

  • Lead communication efforts to ensure families understand the enrollment process, deadlines, and requirements.

  • Support school teams in addressing barriers to enrollment and retention, such as transportation, documentation, and other family needs.

  • Develop and oversee initiatives that improve student retention year over year, including K-12 Strategies and transition between grade levels, such as 4th to 5th grade and 8th to 9th grade 

• Enrollment Operations & Compliance

  • Oversee the collection, management, and reporting of student enrollment data and documentation.

  • Ensure compliance with all state, local, and charter enrollment laws, school policies, and deadlines.

  • Track and analyze enrollment trends to drive continuous improvement and increase student retention.

  • Develop and execute systems that support student transitions between grade levels and ensure high matriculation rates.

  • Own enrollment processes from strategy to implementation aligned to rigorous end goals for compliance and retention 

  • Manage enrollment systems on a daily basis and lead on any adjustments that need to happen at school or regional level 

• Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team to develop outreach materials and messaging that support enrollment completion and retention.

  • Collaborate with Director of Student Recruitment on an ongoing basis to ensure seamless transition from recruitment and application to offer and enrollment, leading school-based and regional operations teams through process

  • Engage school leaders, operations teams, and external partners to ensure a seamless and family-friendly enrollment process, including trainings, priority launches, and best practice dissemination

  • Work closely with school operations teams to drive student enrollment and retention efforts, including training, troubleshooting, and holding teammates accountable. While not directly managing operations teams, the Director will work through them to execute key enrollment and engagement initiatives.

  • Provide ongoing data reporting and updates to senior leadership and school teams.

Must Haves:

• 4+ years of experience in student enrollment, family engagement, operations leadership, or related fields, preferably in education.
• Demonstrated success in managing cross-functional teams and external partnerships to achieve enrollment, engagement, and persistence goals.
• Strong understanding of student enrollment, retention strategies, and family engagement.
• Familiarity with CRM tools, enrollment management software, and digital communication strategies.
• Knowledge of Newark’s education landscape and charter school enrollment policies.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Strong data analysis skills, using insights to drive decision-making and strategy.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience designing and implementing family engagement strategies and initiatives.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize multiple assignments.
• Ability to travel between KIPP Newark schools and community sites as needed.
• Ability to work across cultures and engage with families from diverse backgrounds.

Compensation & Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, KIPP New Jersey offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, retirement, a school laptop and transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into New Jersey from the New York City area. 

KIPP New Jersey | KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer