Associate Director of Admission

Walnut Hill School for the Arts has an immediate opening for an Associate Director of Admission to join our dynamic Admission team. Responsible for both domestic and international recruitment, the Associate Director will play a crucial role in attracting and supporting students, with a specific focus on the Theater and Music majors.

The Associate Director is an integral member of the Admission team and serves as both a primary recruiter and an important contributor to the strategy and operations of the office. In addition to managing a portfolio of prospective students and families, this role provides leadership in key areas of the admission process, including recruitment strategy, yield initiatives, and operational effectiveness. The Associate Director helps coordinate all aspects of the admission cycle while contributing to departmental planning and enrollment goals.

This individual will act as a key relationship manager, guiding students and families through the admission process and serving as an ongoing point of connection within the Walnut Hill community, while also representing the school at a high level across domestic and international markets.

Evening and weekend hours, as well as extensive travel both domestically and internationally, is required. This is a full-time (12-month) position reporting to the Director of Enrollment Management. 

All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events and supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and who have the ability to self-reflect on their own practice.

Admission Duties:

• Lead day-to-day recruitment efforts for Theater and Music applicants, including identifying opportunities, planning travel, and contributing to outreach and yield efforts across domestic and international markets; evening and weekend travel is required;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of outreach plans to engage and recruit students within assigned majors (Theater and Music);
• Develop and execute strategies to convert admitted students to enrolled students;
• Guide prospective students and families through every step of the admission and enrollment process;
• Communicate regularly and proactively with prospective families via email, phone, and virtual platforms;
• Collaborate closely with Theater and Music department leadership and faculty to support applicant evaluation and recruitment efforts;
• Interview prospective students and families;
• Read and evaluate applications as a member of the Admission Committee; 
• Maintain accurate and timely records of all interactions with prospective students, families, and educational consultants in the School’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system;
• Conduct presentations or information sessions for prospective families; 
• Plan and execute on- and off-campus programs for prospective students and families, including Open Houses, Admitted Student Days, individual and group visits, and auditions;
• Other duties as assigned.

Associate Director Responsibilities:

• Operational and Systems Oversight: Lead the evaluation and improvement of communication workflows (email, events, applicant tracking), and refine processes to increase efficiency and enhance the candidate experience;
• Recruitment and Outreach: Drive expansion of recruitment pipelines by identifying new feeder schools and build relationships with key partners, consultants, and organizations; analyze enrollment data and market trends to inform travel, outreach, and engagement strategies;
• Events: Lead or co-lead major admission events and initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and delivering a high-quality experience for prospective families;
• Admission Committees: Coordinate the file reading and admission committee process, helping to set timelines and ensure consistency, efficiency, and integrity in decision-making;
• Yield: Oversee and design yield programming (admitted student events, revisit days, virtual engagement), with a focus on increasing conversion of admitted students to enrolled students;
• Marketing: Partner with marketing/communications on messaging, event promotion, and enrollment campaigns to strengthen recruitment and yield efforts;
• Leadership: Serve as a leader on the Admission team, contributing to departmental planning, mentoring junior staff and supporting training and onboarding where appropriate, and helping to advance strategic enrollment goals.

Community Involvement & Engagement

• Actively participate in the student community by supporting the Student Life program which may include serving as a faculty or club advisor, chaperoning School events, providing weekend duty (3 per year), or other opportunities for community involvement that arise throughout the school year; 
• Speak authentically about the imperative for community and belonging in schools; be committed to learning about and practicing anti-racist work;
• Attend student performances, art openings, and art events throughout the year; support and engage richly in arts productions, shows, exhibitions, and performances; and
• Attend Family Weekend, Open House, Class Night, Boar’s Head, Candlelight, Awards Ceremony, and Graduation; attend other events as required.

Collaboration, Professional Development, and Training

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments to foster a positive working and educational environment for students and employees to support the school’s mission, vision, and core values;

• Attend and participate in required faculty and staff meetings and department meetings; participate and engage fully in individual reviews and evaluations; be open to feedback and work with supervisor to set goals and expectations for the future; 

• Pursue PD opportunities in and out of school; display willingness and ability to grow, learn, explore new approaches, and practice self-reflection; and

• Perform other administrative or educational duties as assigned by the Head of School or their designee.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required;

• 3+ years of admission, academic counseling, or related experience required; independent school experience a plus;

• Ability to work independently and effectively in a changing, fast-paced environment; 

• Share an educational and artistic vision that aligns with the core principles of Walnut Hill; 

• Possess exceptional written and oral communication skills; multilingual is a plus; 

• Strong customer service skills and ability to work with a wide range of people and respond effectively to the needs of a diverse and engaged student and parent population;

• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive community; 

• Possess cultural competence in working with diverse populations and commitment to learning about and practicing anti-racist work;

• Experience with, or interest in, working with international students and families; 

• High integrity and the ability to handle highly sensitive information with discretion;

• Outstanding organizational, time management, presentation and interpersonal skills; 

• Strong collaboration skills and team-oriented; and

• Possess strong computer skills and a high level of proficiency with a variety of technology and cloud-based computing systems, including Microsoft Office Suite and Google Applications.

Physical Demands

Physical demands include dexterity for office machine and supply operation including but not limited to writing, typing, using electronic devices, computer, phone, calculator, copy machine, fax machine, and printers. Stooping, bending, traveling to/from locations on campus, ascending/descending stairs, reaching and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are common. Ability to travel domestically and internationally as well as conduct physical tours of campus required. 

About us:

Walnut Hill School for the Arts, located in Natick, Massachusetts and 20 minutes from Boston, is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience designed for student artists in grades 9–post graduate. Walnut Hill combines a comprehensive college-preparatory academic curriculum with intensive, pre-professional artistic training in theatre, dance, music, visual art, and writing, film & media arts. Walnut Hill is committed to creating and enhancing an inclusive environment, and welcoming and celebrating a wide range of cultural, artistic, and educational backgrounds that compliments and supports our diverse community.

Commitment to the school’s Core Values, of Community, Growth, Excellence, Creativity, and Respect are imperative to the success of all Walnut Hill faculty, staff, and administration members. All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events, supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and who have the ability to self-reflect on their own practice. Adults at Walnut Hill participate in school events, support students in their arts, embrace the immersive, residential mission of the school, and support other employees in a warm and caring community of high expectations.

To Apply: Submit resume and cover letter through the Walnut Hill School for the Arts online Career Center.

Note: All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of state and federal background checks. Walnut Hill does not provide visa sponsorship.