Director of Enrollment Management
Near North Montessori School, Chicago, IL, United States
Director of Enrollment Management
Educators Collaborative is pleased to be assisting Near North Montessori School (NNM) in its search for a Director of Enrollment Management. This is a senior leadership role at a pivotal moment for the school, offering the opportunity to strengthen enrollment strategy, sharpen market positioning, and ensure long-term enrollment health in close partnership with the Head of School and senior leadership team. Near North Montessori seeks an experienced, thoughtful, and data-informed enrollment leader to serve as its next Director of Enrollment Management. This is a compelling opportunity for an admissions professional who understands enrollment not only as recruitment and admissions, but as mission stewardship, community building, and institutional strategy. The successful candidate will bring the ability to balance relational excellence with analytical rigorleading with warmth and clarity while grounding decisions in data, trends, and long-term planning. As the school continues to stabilize following leadership transitions and looks ahead to its next phase of growth, the Director of Enrollment Management will play a central role in shaping who joinsand remains part ofthe Near North Montessori community. This role requires a leader with the presence and judgment to serve as the school's enrollment expert: someone who can guide strategy, set expectations, collaborate across departments, and help the community understand how enrollment decisions advance the school's mission, financial sustainability, and diversity goals. Near North Montessori's mission is to guide the development of each child to reach their fullest potentialacademically, socially, emotionally, and ethicallyby providing an authentic Montessori education rooted in independence, curiosity, and responsibility. The campus is located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, approximately two miles from downtown. The area is known for its mix of historic character and modern energy, with a diverse blend of families, artists, entrepreneurs, and local businesses. Restaurants, cafs, art galleries, and shops are within walking distance of the school. Near North Montessori benefits from strong yield, high retention, and a deeply engaged school community. Even amid a decline in application volume over recent yearsparticularly at the youngest entry pointsoverall enrollment has remained steady, reflecting mission alignment and family loyalty. The recently completed Enrollment Management Audit and Recommendations offered a candid assessment of current challenges and opportunities, identifying application volume as the most pressing concern while affirming the school's many strengths. The audit also outlined a clear, mission-aligned path forward, emphasizing the need for sharper messaging, more strategic use of data, and a multi-year enrollment plan. Key opportunities include: Increasing application volume, especially in early childhood entry points Clarifying and simplifying enrollment messaging Using data more strategically to inform recruitment, retention, and financial aid decisions Strengthening faculty and staff engagement in enrollment and retention Aligning enrollment strategy with long-term financial sustainability The Director of Enrollment Management will join Near North Montessori at an important inflection point. With strong yield and retention as a foundation, the school is ready to focus on expanding its applicant pool, refining its market presence, and using enrollment data as a strategic tool across the institution. The next Director will be responsible for implementing the Enrollment Audit's recommendations while strengthening systems, processes, and collaboration across departments. This is an opportunity to lead enrollment as an enterprise function, closely aligned with mission, finance, and advancement. Near North Montessori (NNM) benefits from a number of strengths that position the school well for long-term enrollment stability and growth. The school is consistently described by families, faculty, and staff as a place of belonging, shared purpose, and deep commitment to childrenan essential foundation for effective recruitment and retention. Several strengths support Near North's enrollment work at this moment: Strong retention and yield.
Near North maintains high retention and yield rates relative to peer schools, reflecting strong mission alignment, family satisfaction, and confidence in the educational program. A compelling Montessori value proposition.
Families choose Near North Montessori intentionally for its authentic Montessori practice, whole-child approach, commitment to equity and diversity, and vibrant urban setting. These elements continue to resonate strongly with enrolled families and represent important assets for recruitment messaging. Engaged families and faculty.
The school community is deeply invested in student success and school life. Faculty and staff are strong ambassadors for the school, and families often cite relationships and community as primary reasons for enrollment and retention. Clarity about enrollment challenges and opportunities.
The Enrollment Management Audit provides a candid, data-informed assessment of current enrollment dynamics, identifying application volumeparticularly at early entry pointsas the most pressing challenge. This shared understanding creates alignment and readiness for focused, strategic enrollment leadership. Opportunity to strengthen systems and strategy.
With intentional focus on messaging, data use, and multi-year planning, Near North Montessori is well-positioned to translate strong fundamentals into sustained enrollment health and long-term institutional stability. Taken together, these strengths reflect a school that is not starting from scratch, but rather one that is ready to move from strong outcomes to a more deliberate, proactive enrollment strategy. The next Director of Enrollment Management will have the opportunity to build on these assets and help shape a durable, mission-aligned enrollment program. Job Description
Leadership Responsibilities and Opportunities Reporting to the Head of School and serving on the senior leadership team, the Director of Enrollment Management will be responsible for: Strategic Enrollment Leadership Develop and execute short- and long-term enrollment and retention strategies aligned with mission and institutional goals Lead a multi-year enrollment plan grounded in data, trends, and capacity Set enrollment goals that support economic, racial, and ethnic diversity Recruitment, Admissions, and Retention Oversee recruitment, admissions, re-enrollment, and retention from inquiry through enrollment Lead tours, yield activities, and family engagement Partner with academic leadership on applicant assessment and admission decisions Data, Analysis, and Systems Maintain and analyze enrollment, retention, and financial aid data Use tools such as DASL, EMA, and internal dashboards to inform decision-making Support budget development through enrollment projections and modeling Collaboration and Community Engagement Partner with Advancement on messaging, publications, and digital presence Engage faculty and staff as partners in enrollment and retention Support families through the financial aid process Team Leadership and Operations Supervise the Registrar and manage admissions operations Ensure enrollment practices reflect best practice, equity, and transparency Qualifications
Skills, Experience, and Leadership Attributes Bachelor's degree required Prior admissions or independent school leadership experience Montessori experience or demonstrated understanding preferred Strong communication, relational, and organizational skills Comfort with data, CRM systems, and enrollment technologies Inclusive, collaborative leadership style grounded in DEI principles Above all, the successful candidate will be energized by Near North Montessori's mission and motivated to help build a thriving, diverse, and sustainable school community. A complete, detailed job description is available to candidates upon their application for this position. Additional Information
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a single merged PDF document, in the order listed: EC Candidate Summary Sheet Letter of interest, addressed to the Head of School Current rsum A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses) Disclosure Form Please send applications and address inquiries to: George Sanderson, Partner, Educators Collaborative, gsanderson@educatorscollaborative.com Carol Santos, Partner, Educators Collaborative, csantos@educatorscollaborative.com Pay Information: The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000 based on skills and experience. Near North Montessori offers a variety of benefits which include:
Educators Collaborative is pleased to be assisting Near North Montessori School (NNM) in its search for a Director of Enrollment Management. This is a senior leadership role at a pivotal moment for the school, offering the opportunity to strengthen enrollment strategy, sharpen market positioning, and ensure long-term enrollment health in close partnership with the Head of School and senior leadership team. Near North Montessori seeks an experienced, thoughtful, and data-informed enrollment leader to serve as its next Director of Enrollment Management. This is a compelling opportunity for an admissions professional who understands enrollment not only as recruitment and admissions, but as mission stewardship, community building, and institutional strategy. The successful candidate will bring the ability to balance relational excellence with analytical rigorleading with warmth and clarity while grounding decisions in data, trends, and long-term planning. As the school continues to stabilize following leadership transitions and looks ahead to its next phase of growth, the Director of Enrollment Management will play a central role in shaping who joinsand remains part ofthe Near North Montessori community. This role requires a leader with the presence and judgment to serve as the school's enrollment expert: someone who can guide strategy, set expectations, collaborate across departments, and help the community understand how enrollment decisions advance the school's mission, financial sustainability, and diversity goals. Near North Montessori's mission is to guide the development of each child to reach their fullest potentialacademically, socially, emotionally, and ethicallyby providing an authentic Montessori education rooted in independence, curiosity, and responsibility. The campus is located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood, approximately two miles from downtown. The area is known for its mix of historic character and modern energy, with a diverse blend of families, artists, entrepreneurs, and local businesses. Restaurants, cafs, art galleries, and shops are within walking distance of the school. Near North Montessori benefits from strong yield, high retention, and a deeply engaged school community. Even amid a decline in application volume over recent yearsparticularly at the youngest entry pointsoverall enrollment has remained steady, reflecting mission alignment and family loyalty. The recently completed Enrollment Management Audit and Recommendations offered a candid assessment of current challenges and opportunities, identifying application volume as the most pressing concern while affirming the school's many strengths. The audit also outlined a clear, mission-aligned path forward, emphasizing the need for sharper messaging, more strategic use of data, and a multi-year enrollment plan. Key opportunities include: Increasing application volume, especially in early childhood entry points Clarifying and simplifying enrollment messaging Using data more strategically to inform recruitment, retention, and financial aid decisions Strengthening faculty and staff engagement in enrollment and retention Aligning enrollment strategy with long-term financial sustainability The Director of Enrollment Management will join Near North Montessori at an important inflection point. With strong yield and retention as a foundation, the school is ready to focus on expanding its applicant pool, refining its market presence, and using enrollment data as a strategic tool across the institution. The next Director will be responsible for implementing the Enrollment Audit's recommendations while strengthening systems, processes, and collaboration across departments. This is an opportunity to lead enrollment as an enterprise function, closely aligned with mission, finance, and advancement. Near North Montessori (NNM) benefits from a number of strengths that position the school well for long-term enrollment stability and growth. The school is consistently described by families, faculty, and staff as a place of belonging, shared purpose, and deep commitment to childrenan essential foundation for effective recruitment and retention. Several strengths support Near North's enrollment work at this moment: Strong retention and yield.
Near North maintains high retention and yield rates relative to peer schools, reflecting strong mission alignment, family satisfaction, and confidence in the educational program. A compelling Montessori value proposition.
Families choose Near North Montessori intentionally for its authentic Montessori practice, whole-child approach, commitment to equity and diversity, and vibrant urban setting. These elements continue to resonate strongly with enrolled families and represent important assets for recruitment messaging. Engaged families and faculty.
The school community is deeply invested in student success and school life. Faculty and staff are strong ambassadors for the school, and families often cite relationships and community as primary reasons for enrollment and retention. Clarity about enrollment challenges and opportunities.
The Enrollment Management Audit provides a candid, data-informed assessment of current enrollment dynamics, identifying application volumeparticularly at early entry pointsas the most pressing challenge. This shared understanding creates alignment and readiness for focused, strategic enrollment leadership. Opportunity to strengthen systems and strategy.
With intentional focus on messaging, data use, and multi-year planning, Near North Montessori is well-positioned to translate strong fundamentals into sustained enrollment health and long-term institutional stability. Taken together, these strengths reflect a school that is not starting from scratch, but rather one that is ready to move from strong outcomes to a more deliberate, proactive enrollment strategy. The next Director of Enrollment Management will have the opportunity to build on these assets and help shape a durable, mission-aligned enrollment program. Job Description
Leadership Responsibilities and Opportunities Reporting to the Head of School and serving on the senior leadership team, the Director of Enrollment Management will be responsible for: Strategic Enrollment Leadership Develop and execute short- and long-term enrollment and retention strategies aligned with mission and institutional goals Lead a multi-year enrollment plan grounded in data, trends, and capacity Set enrollment goals that support economic, racial, and ethnic diversity Recruitment, Admissions, and Retention Oversee recruitment, admissions, re-enrollment, and retention from inquiry through enrollment Lead tours, yield activities, and family engagement Partner with academic leadership on applicant assessment and admission decisions Data, Analysis, and Systems Maintain and analyze enrollment, retention, and financial aid data Use tools such as DASL, EMA, and internal dashboards to inform decision-making Support budget development through enrollment projections and modeling Collaboration and Community Engagement Partner with Advancement on messaging, publications, and digital presence Engage faculty and staff as partners in enrollment and retention Support families through the financial aid process Team Leadership and Operations Supervise the Registrar and manage admissions operations Ensure enrollment practices reflect best practice, equity, and transparency Qualifications
Skills, Experience, and Leadership Attributes Bachelor's degree required Prior admissions or independent school leadership experience Montessori experience or demonstrated understanding preferred Strong communication, relational, and organizational skills Comfort with data, CRM systems, and enrollment technologies Inclusive, collaborative leadership style grounded in DEI principles Above all, the successful candidate will be energized by Near North Montessori's mission and motivated to help build a thriving, diverse, and sustainable school community. A complete, detailed job description is available to candidates upon their application for this position. Additional Information
Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a single merged PDF document, in the order listed: EC Candidate Summary Sheet Letter of interest, addressed to the Head of School Current rsum A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses) Disclosure Form Please send applications and address inquiries to: George Sanderson, Partner, Educators Collaborative, gsanderson@educatorscollaborative.com Carol Santos, Partner, Educators Collaborative, csantos@educatorscollaborative.com Pay Information: The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000 based on skills and experience. Near North Montessori offers a variety of benefits which include: