Assistant Director of Beginning & Lower School Enrollment

WHO WE ARE

Catlin Gabel is an independent, progressive PreK-12 school whose mission is to foster compassionate and curious citizens of the world by inspiring in every student a love of learning and the courage to take responsible action. The School is nestled in the southwest hills of Portland, OR on a 67-acre wooded campus. All team members are an integral part of the student experience and are expected to uphold our core values of Kindness, Integrity, and Inclusion in all that they do.

Enrollment is both relational and strategic work. Our team has the privilege of introducing families to Catlin Gabel, helping them navigate an important decision for their children, and partnering across the School to build a vibrant community of mission-aligned students and families.

Catlin Gabel School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. If you have any questions, please reach out to HR@catlin.edu.

Department: Enrollment| Reports to: Director of Enrollment Management | Hiring Range: $70-$80,000

FTE: 1.0, Full-Time, Benefit-Eligible | FLSA: Exempt | EEO: 2

THE ROLE

Catlin Gabel School is seeking an Assistant Director of Beginning & Lower School Enrollment to lead the enrollment experience for prospective families from Preschool through Grade 5. This role is often one of a family's first relationships with Catlin Gabel and plays an important part in helping children and families discover whether our School is the right place for them.

The ideal candidate is a warm, highly organized and relationship-oriented enrollment professional who genuinely enjoys connecting with children and families. You will guide families from initial inquiry through admission and matriculation, build community relationships that strengthen our enrollment pipeline, and partner closely with Beginning and Lower School colleagues and the Enrollment team to create a thoughtful, welcoming and highly personalized experience.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Assistant Director of Beginning & Lower School Enrollment reports to the Director of Enrollment Management and is responsible for:

• Lead Beginning & Lower School Enrollment: Guide the Preschool through Grade 5 enrollment process from inquiry through matriculation, including tours, applicant assessment, student visits, admission committees, decisions, yield, and retention.
• Build Relationships & Drive Recruitment: Develop recruitment and outreach strategies, cultivate relationships with schools and community organizations, and lead the BLS Parent/Guardian Ambassador Program to build a strong pipeline of prospective families.
• Create an Excellent Family & Applicant Experience: Create welcoming, thoughtful and well-organized tours, visits, events, and communications that help families understand Catlin Gabel and feel supported throughout the enrollment process.
• Collaborate, Analyze & Strengthen Enrollment Practices: Partner across the Enrollment team and School, use enrollment data and trends to inform strategy, and continually improve recruitment, yield, retention, and enrollment practices.

WHO YOU ARE & KEYS TO SUCCESS

To be successful in this role, you will excel in these areas:

• Relationship Builder & Communicator: You connect naturally with children and adults, communicate with warmth and clarity, and build trust with families, colleagues, volunteers, and community partners.
• Organized & Reliable: You can manage a complex annual cycle, multiple families and events, detailed timelines, and confidential information with excellent follow-through.
• Collaborative & Culturally Responsive: You work effectively across teams and with people of varied backgrounds and family structures, listen with curiosity, and contribute positively to a team-oriented environment.
• Sound Judgment & Adaptability: You exercise discretion and diplomacy, solve problems thoughtfully, balance competing priorities, and remain effective during the intensity of peak enrollment periods.
• Strategic & Data-Informed: You see how individual family experiences connect to broader enrollment goals and use data, trends, and institutional knowledge to strengthen recruitment, yield, and retention.

We are looking for someone with three to five years of relevant experience, preferably in independent school enrollment. Related college or boarding school enrollment, school administration, or teaching experience may also provide relevant preparation. Strong written and verbal communication, technology and data skills are important. A bachelor's degree is required; a master's degree is preferred.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW

This is a full-time, benefit-eligible position with year-round on- and off-campus commitments. The role requires regular movement around our wooded campus and limited evening and weekend work for community outreach, tours, applicant visits, and enrollment events. 

The annual enrollment cycle includes both quieter periods of independent work and busy seasons that require energy, flexibility, and strong prioritization.

The School offers a generous benefits package. Please see our website for details: https://www.catlin.edu/about/employment.