Annie Wright is seeking an Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director to begin on August 1. This is a full time, exempt position that reports directly to the Assistant Head of Schools.
Mission Statement
Annie Wright’s strong community cultivates individual learners to become well-educated, creative and responsible citizens for a global society.
About AWS
Tradition meets innovation at Annie Wright Schools, where we honor our rich history and traditions, embrace the present, and continue always to move forward. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool through Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options in Grades 9 through 12, welcoming students from Tacoma and around the world. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering IB programs in every division.
Position description
Working closely with the Upper Schools Program Team, Residential Life Team, Admissions Team and Marketing & Communications Team, the Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director brings creativity, clarity, and empathy to all admissions office functions for families exploring international boarding enrollment in Grades 9 - 12. The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director is a driven, ethical, resourceful and collaborative professional with a team approach to problem solving and the communication, presentation, leadership, management, and planning skills necessary to collaborate productively with staff, faculty, students, agents, and families.
The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director develops and implements recruitment plans for international students, to include events such as school visits and fairs, agent communication plans, student interviews, tours, and other recruitment activities. The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director manages and develops relationships with international agents while keeping the students and families at the core, relying on interpreters when necessary, and ensuring the admissions experience is as thorough and personal as it is for the day families applying directly.
Annie Wright Schools’ strong community starts with the faculty and staff who are dedicated to the growth, health, and education of our students. By creating a welcoming environment and providing a warm initial contact for new families in the Upper Schools, the Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director helps the school uphold the mission and the students at the core of the institution.
Position Overview: duties & responsibilities
The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director:
Serves as an internal and external “ambassador” for the school to advisors, prospective parents, current families and members of the faculty/staff
Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of recruitment, retention, tuition assistance, and strategic enrollment planning in an independent school setting
Travels domestically and internationally with relative frequency to represent Annie Wright at various events (boarding school and agent fairs, promotional tables at sponsored events, meet and greets with schools and prospective families, etc.), sometimes in the evenings and on the weekends
Designs and implements unique models of boarding student recruitment that go beyond the traditional venues
Using the Blackbaud admissions database, manages inquiries and applications from prospective Grade 9 - 12 international boarding families, tracking their cultivation and engagement throughout the admission and enrollment process, including gathering documentation, managing mailings, and ensuring follow-through on admissions checklists, thus maintaining data integrity
Enthusiastically, knowledgeably, and warmly welcomes prospective families for tours, interviews, and assessments
Collaborates with current AWS parents to identify and recruit potential new students
Works collaboratively with the appropriate faculty, staff, and division heads, to coordinate prospective student’s visits
In partnership with divisional teams and admissions committee, carries out an assessment and evaluation program of candidates for admission
In alignment with school enrollment goals, coordinates divisional admission committee structure and decision-making procedures to ensure an equitable experience for all candidates
Supports planning and execution of admissions events throughout the year, sometimes in the evenings and on the weekends
Manages enrollment logistics for Grade 9 - 12 international boarding students and Upper School Day students including publishing enrollment contracts, mailing welcome packages, and managing admissions communications
Assists with other duties as assigned by the Assistant Head of Schools.
Qualifications
The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director will demonstrate key elements of the listed expertise and experiences. This is an aspirational list and Annie Wright Schools encourages candidates to apply who may not currently possess, but are working on building, all of these qualities. The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director:
Holds a bachelor’s degree; a master’s degree or equivalent experience is preferred;
Has five to seven years work experience, preferably in independent or boarding school admissions settings, sales, or high-end customer service;
Has a focus on hospitality and experience or a strong interest in working with students and in helping students and families feel welcome;
Has a high level of proficiency in Google and Microsoft Suites; strong database skills are required, experience with BlackBaud K-12 products is preferred;
Is comfortable with independent domestic and international travel;
Is creative, reliable, proactive, and has a solution oriented mindset;
Is able to effectively manage sensitive and confidential situations;
Has a desire to build trust and strong relationships with colleagues;
Has excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to contribute in a team environment and interface well with varied constituencies;
Has the ability to handle multiple projects and tasks with great attention to detail to meet deadlines in an environment with interruptions and competing deadlines;
Is able to work evenings and weekends, and travel as required;
Has experience with and commitment to, cultural-competency or DEI practices, and seeks to use them to help the school continue to meet its enrollment goals;
Is eligible to work in the United States. Note: Under our current employment policies, we are unable to sponsor work visas and do not offer positions to candidates who are not yet eligible to work in the United States.
Physical Requirements
The Upper School International Boarding Admissions Director:
must be to travel internationally and domestically;
must be able to lift up to 25 pounds and move up and down many flights of stairs a day;
must be able to move around with agility, and engage in active, playful activities with students.
Salary & benefits
This position offers a salary range between $70,000 - $85,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits available to the hired candidate include the following, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Life insurance
Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Up to four weeks vacation accrued per year.
Paid sick leave (known as Wellness Days): Each regular full-time employee earns 80 hours of Wellness leave per accrual year
Seventeen (17) paid Holidays in 2024
Fifty percent (50%) Tuition remission in accordance with school policy. All fees and incidental expenses are the sole responsibility of the employee-parent
All children of benefited employees of AWS, who are currently enrolled at AWS, are eligible for extended day services at no charge when school is in session. Charges apply for faculty in-service days or similar days
A 403(b) retirement plan with a 6% company match with a 3% employee contribution
Application process
Annie Wright Schools remain firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. Annie Wright shall hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment related decisions without regard to an employee’s race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Annie Wright Schools are actively seeking to create a more culturally diverse school community and accordingly, applicants of color and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
To apply, email a cover letter, resume, email and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references, and this completed and signed
application, all in PDF format, to Mrs. Erin Gann, Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools, at
erin_gann@aw.org. In accordance with Annie Wright Schools’ strategic focus on issues related to social justice, candidates should anticipate being asked to address how their past work, as well as future contributions, might serve to advance Annie Wright’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive community. Applications for this position will be accepted until filled.