KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open enrollment, college preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. There are 285 KIPP schools across the nation and the District of Columbia, serving more than 175,000 students and alumni with more than 15,000 educators. 

Founded in 2008 with 50 students in 5th grade, KIPP Columbus currently educates more than 2,000 students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth. With a mission to, together with families and the community, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose -- college, career, and beyond --  KIPP has maintained excellence in its growth, and will improve upon that standard – proving what is possible in public education.

KIPP Columbus continues to see incredible academic results, including in our early literacy program where more than 80% of kindergarten and first grade students ended last school year reading on grade level. In addition, in our first four graduating classes (in spring 2020 -2023) 100% of students were accepted to college and/or military service and 100% graduated. 

In addition to academic excellence, KIPP Columbus also partners with nearly 100 community organizations to provide extracurricular activities, programming, health and wellness services, meals, and more to KIPP students, families, and the broader community. The KIPP Columbus learning campus will continue to advance student learning, expand partnerships, enable superior programming, and serve as a teaching and leadership lab for schools nationwide, reimagining education through a deeper lens of antiracism, excellence, and joy as we expand to educate nearly 4,000 students on our learning campus in the coming years. 

Interested in learning more about our school?  Please check out our website: https://www.kippcolumbus.org/

The Opportunity

The Assistant Director Operations: Admissions is responsible for setting the vision for the team’s work on enrollment, enrollment compliance and student recruitment. The Assistant Director Operations: Admissions plays a critical role in realizing our mission of providing all students at KIPP Columbus with an excellent educational option by overseeing all student recruitment and enrollment strategy and processes. The Assistant Director Operations: Admissions will report directly to the Director of School Operations.

To be successful in this role, the Assistant Director Operations: Admissions brings a track record for designing and implementing successful recruitment and enrollment strategies; and experience building and maintaining relationships with community members and partners. The Assistant Director Operations: Admissions should be comfortable working in an environment that requires you to project manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines, while never losing sight of the overarching goals and desired outcomes.  The Assistant Director Operations: Admissions must always have a working understanding of KIPP Columbus’ enrollment numbers, and actively make strategic decisions based on what the data is showing.  The Assistant Director Operations: Admissions must be available to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends depending on event coordination duties. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategy and Vision Setting

• Lead the development and implementation of a regional vision and strategy for student recruitment and enrollment, ensuring full enrollment of 100% of KIPP Columbus schools throughout the year
• Create and implement a regional student recruitment strategy plan which includes enrollment targets, measurements, and an emphasis on online/social media outreach, and community partner outreach
• Define metrics, set targets, and track progress against recruitment and enrollment goals
• Develop and update standard operating procedures for student recruitment and enrollment, ensuring that all practices and policies are in full compliance with local and federal regulations
• Train and launch student recruitment and enrollment cycles in conjunction with school teams
• Develop and deliver a comprehensive training and support program-including leading on-the-ground efforts around family and community engagement, canvassing, etc
• Partner with School Teams to oversee execution of information sessions, lottery, and new family orientations
• Partner with Director of School Operations and School Leaders to oversee management of student and family enrollment process from lottery to first day of school
• Collaborate with the Family Engagement Coordinator to engage families in the enrolment and recruitment process
• Manage enrollment and recruitment data systems to ensure we have accurate data reporting
• Manage proper compliance of all charter enrollment laws, KIPP Columbus enrollment policies and lottery practices

Management

• Directly manages the Senior Operations Associate: Enrollment
• Manage weekly one on one meeting meetings with direct reports
• Progress monitor student recruitment and enrollment goals
• Lead and manage enrollment systems and meetings to ensure school operations teams are planning and executing on recruitment and enrollment deliverables

Enrollment Systems 

• Manage and lead the collection of student applications and ensure that they are accurately entered into KIPP Columbus’  enrollment management system and student information system
• Manages the distribution and collection of enrollment packets and/or online enrollment procedures for families of admitted students
• Ensure each submission for enrollment is verified and complete in accordance with compliance requirements
• Event planning for enrollment events for families to submit paperwork and learn more about KIPP
• Ensure that every enrollment milestone is executed on time and with fidelity
• Track and analyze all data regarding student recruitment benchmarks and goals 
• Manage the annual enrollment lottery
• Manage and approve transfer process between KIPP Columbus and other schools
• Lead and manage the re-enrollment process for all current students at KIPP Columbus, ensuring all applications are tracked and documents are submitted in full compliance

System Proficiency

• Utilize SchoolMint enrollment system and Power School (SIS) to ensure fidelity of student information

Student Recruitment 

• Develop and lead a marketing strategy to recruit students 
• Maintain a portfolio of programs and community organizations to build and sustain partnerships that support student recruitment
• Develop process for students to transition from elementary to middle and middle to high school 
• Ensure that all recruitment metrics are met throughout the recruitment season including the recruitment of 450 Kindergarten applications each year

Student Transition

• Create and facilitate strong cooperation and systems across KIPP Columbus schools to optimize student transitions between schools and achieve at least 85% Elementary-to-Middle and Middle-to-High school matriculation for our KIPPsters

• Bachelor’s degree is required; Masters (Preferred)
• Five years work experience in people and/or project management
• Demonstrated record of success in managing varied stakeholders to outcomes
• Experience in school operations, enrollment management, systems management  or business operations (project management, vendor management, etc.) with track record of success
• Strong project management experience; strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Excellent organizational, planning and implementation skills. Always think multiple steps ahead.
• Able to work humbly with multiple stakeholders ranging in knowledge and experience with data / tools
• Ability and proven track record for overseeing systems
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Google Apps
• Ability to manage ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in fast-paced work environments
• Ability to establish relationships and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making ability
• Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a professional
• Belief that outstanding school leaders, staff, and teachers can achieve excellent outcomes for all students
• Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem solving skills, and desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community
• Willingness, and commitment, to go above and beyond to prove the possible with students.
• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions

Compensation and Benefits

KIPP Columbus offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefit plan including medical and dental insurance, as well as group term life insurance, retirement plan and paid time off.  

Statement of Non-Disclosure

KIPP Columbus is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying to the school for consideration of any position (admission, employment, etc.). KIPP Columbus does not discriminate on the basis of disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 4112.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.