St. Joseph Catholic STEM School inspires and empowers all learners to become the person God intends by integrating Catholic virtues, faith formation, academic excellence, and 21st-century STEM learning.

Located in Waconia, Minnesota, St. Joseph Catholic STEM School serves Preschool through Grade 8 and is recognized for its strong Catholic identity, innovative STEM programming, family-centered culture, and commitment to forming students in soul, mind, and body.

As we enter a new phase of growth, we are seeking an exceptional leader to serve as our Director of Enrollment & Admissions.

The Director of Enrollment & Admissions is a key leadership position responsible for developing and executing strategies that attract, enroll, and retain students and families who are aligned with the mission of St. Joseph Catholic STEM School.

The Director serves as the school's primary ambassador to prospective families and leads all enrollment efforts from initial inquiry through student enrollment and family onboarding.

This position directly impacts the long-term sustainability and growth of the school by increasing enrollment, strengthening retention, and building lasting relationships within the parish and broader community.

The Director of Enrollment & Admissions is a member of the school leadership team and collaborates closely with the Head of School, Principal, faculty, parish staff, advancement personnel, and parent ambassadors.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive enrollment growth plan.
• Establish annual enrollment goals and recruitment benchmarks.
• Analyze enrollment trends, retention data, and market opportunities.
• Develop and monitor enrollment pipelines and conversion metrics.
• Provide regular enrollment reports and forecasts to school leadership.
• Collaborate with the Head of School on long-term enrollment strategy.

Student Recruitment & Admissions

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective families.
• Manage all admissions and enrollment processes.
• Conduct engaging and personalized school tours.
• Coordinate student shadow days and family visits.
• Lead admissions events, open houses, STEM showcases, and recruitment programs.
• Ensure timely follow-up with all inquiries and prospective families.
• Maintain a welcoming and highly relational admissions experience.

Family Engagement & Retention

• Build strong relationships with current families.
• Support retention initiatives and family satisfaction efforts.
• Develop strategies to strengthen Preschool-to-Kindergarten enrollment.
• Coordinate new family onboarding experiences.
• Create systems to identify and address barriers to retention.

Parish & Community Outreach

• Develop strong partnerships with parish ministries and organizations.
• Represent the school at parish and community events.
• Cultivate referral networks among current families and alumni.
• Build relationships with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders.
• Coordinate ambassador and referral programs.

Marketing & Enrollment Communications

• Collaborate on enrollment-focused marketing campaigns.
• Assist in developing messaging that highlights:
  • Catholic identity,
  • STEM innovation,
  • academic excellence,
  • family culture,
  • and student formation.
• Support digital advertising, social media campaigns, website content, and promotional materials.
• Ensure consistent messaging throughout the enrollment journey.

Leadership

As a member of the leadership team, the Director of Enrollment & Admissions will:

• Advance the mission and vision of the school.
• Promote a positive and faith-filled culture.
• Contribute to strategic planning and school growth initiatives.
• Collaborate effectively with school and parish leadership.
• Demonstrate professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
• Serve as a visible and enthusiastic advocate for Catholic education.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in:
  • Education,
  • Business,
  • Marketing,
  • Communications,
  • Public Relations,
  • Nonprofit Management,
  • Theology,
  • or a related field.
• 2 years of experience in admissions, enrollment management, marketing, communications, development, sales, customer relations, educational leadership, or related fields.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple projects.
• Proficiency with technology, databases, spreadsheets, and communication platforms.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Catholic School Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience working in Catholic schools or faith-based organizations.
• Experience with enrollment management systems and CRM platforms.
• Demonstrated success in recruitment, admissions, enrollment growth, fundraising, sales, or business development.
• Practicing Catholic who actively supports the mission and teachings of the Catholic Church.

The ideal candidate is:

• Deeply committed to Catholic education.
• Relational and people-focused.
• Warm, welcoming, and hospitable.
• Strategic and growth-minded.
• Self-motivated and entrepreneurial.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable speaking with individuals and groups.
• Passionate about helping families discover a school where their children can thrive academically, spiritually, and personally.

Please send resume', letter of interest and reference list to Deacon Bruce Richards at brichards@stjosephwaconia.org