Head of Admissions

Founded in 1912, The Park School of Buffalo is a college-preparatory day school founded on the principles and techniques of progressive education philosophy. Park serves approximately 310 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, including a Montessori program. The Park School engages the whole student in a diverse and creative community that nurtures the joy and responsibility of active learning , from our youngest learners to our graduates, who leave with the skills essential to college success and the confidence to serve and lead.

Position Summary

The Head of Admissions advances the School's enrollment goals through student recruitment, family engagement, marketing, application processing, and application review. The position supports prospective families from initial inquiry through enrollment while representing The Park School of Buffalo through campus visits, admissions events, and other recruitment events.

A significant focus is proactive recruitment and relationship building across local, domestic, and select international markets. The successful candidate will be an exceptional communicator and presenter who is relational, organized, energetic, collaborative, and aligned with the mission of The Park School of Buffalo.

Core Responsibilities

Family Engagement & Admissions

• Guide prospective families from initial inquiry through enrollment, providing responsive and personalized support.
• Conduct campus tours, applicant interviews, and family meetings, and respond to inquiries by phone, email, video, and in person.
• Connect prospective students with appropriate faculty, coaches, students, and programs based on their interests.
• Clearly and authentically communicate the distinctive value of a Park education.

Recruitment & Community Outreach

• Actively recruit students through local, regional, national, and international outreach and travel.
• Represent Park at school visits, admissions fairs, conferences, athletic showcases, receptions, and community events.
• Help expand recruitment throughout the Western New York area and other strategic markets.
• Develop relationships and new recruitment pipelines with schools, counselors, educational consultants, churches, athletic programs, community organizations, alumni, and current parents.

Application Review

• Review applicant files, including transcripts, recommendations, testing, essays, and interview information.
• Conduct interviews and prepare applicant evaluations and admission recommendations.
• Serve as a member of the Admissions Committee and contribute to thoughtful, consistent, mission-aligned decisions.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding applicant and family information.

Admissions Events

• Help plan and execute Open Houses, shadow days, information sessions, admitted student programs, counselor events, athletic showcases, fairs, and receptions.
• Participate in virtual admissions programs and recruitment events.
• Collaborate with faculty, coaches, students, parents, and alumni to create engaging prospective-family experiences.

Data, Marketing & Operations

• Maintain accurate applicant information within the School's enrollment management systems.
• Track recruitment activity, applications, enrollment outcomes, and family engagement.
• Support admissions research, reporting, marketing, digital communications, and storytelling.
• Help ensure prospective families receive timely, accurate, and engaging communications throughout the admissions process.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 2–5 years of relevant professional experience preferred in admissions, education, student services, recruitment, marketing, community engagement, or a related field.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and public-speaking skills.
• Strong relationship-building, organizational, time-management, and follow-through skills.
• Proficiency with CRM/enrollment management systems, databases, financial aid platforms, and standard office technology.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend admissions programs.
• Ability to manage confidential student and family information with discretion.

Preferred Characteristics

The successful candidate will be relational, proactive, collaborative, detail-oriented, and solution-focused, with a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for finding and cultivating prospective families. The individual should be comfortable engaging people from diverse backgrounds and able to understand, embrace, and effectively represent the mission and educational philosophy of The Park School of Buffalo.

The ideal candidate understands that successful admissions work is fundamentally relational - finding right-fit Park students, developing authentic relationships with their families, and moving those relationships from initial interest to application and enrollment.

Above all, this person will be a collaborative Admissions colleague who can compellingly articulate why a Park education matters and invite families into a community committed to the mission and core values of Park.

Park is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified professionals regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, or sexual orientation.

Pay: From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person