The Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement and Strategy (AHOS) is a new and exciting position at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School with the goals of expanding our School’s capacity to meet our growing needs and to position CESJDS to excel in attracting major philanthropic investment, create new and enhanced revenue streams, and drive prospective interest in CESJDS. The AHOS will lead and oversee the institutional advancement team and strategic plan in these areas. The AHOS will bring together CESJDS’s Development, Admission, Marketing and Communications functions to work in a highly collaborative manner as well as integrate this work throughout the school.
The AHOS is an executive leader at the school and is also part of the senior leadership team of CESJDS. The AHOS reports directly to and is supervised and evaluated by the Head of School. The AHOS will partner directly with the Head of School and our Board of Directors to bring significant impact to our dynamic school by planning, managing, and implementing strategies, initiatives, and activities that and achievement results that increase, diversify, and sustain philanthropic support, generate new revenue on an annual basis, drive enrollment, and elevate the quality and awareness of our program.
As a senior executive leader at CESJDS, the AHOS is expected to be a role model, promote professional practices, and embody the values and mission of the School within the context of a pluralistic Jewish community. The AHOS leads the School’s overall Development, Enrollment, and Marketing and Communications efforts and takes a leadership role in institutional strategy in these areas. The AHOS supervises, evaluates, and coordinates the activities of the Director of Resource Development, the Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Directors of Admissions (Lower School and Upper School) and the Enrollment Team.
LEADERSHIP
- Provide vision and leadership for all fundraising, enrollment, and marketing and communication activities, functions, and leads an aligned team of CESJDS professionals in each of these areas by providing direct supervision and management of day-to-day functions for the three teams.
- Serve as partner and advisor to the Head of School on long-range strategic priorities related to institutional advancement and manages the Head’s role in all institutional advancement efforts, using the Head’s time strategically.
- Develop short-term and long-term goals, in partnership with the Head of School, Board of Directors, and senior leadership, for the development, admission, and marketing and communications teams to significantly increase philanthropic support and community engagement, help ensure a robust pipeline of prospective students and families, and consistently raise brand awareness.
- Convene the entire institutional advancement team to align functions, drive innovation and excellence, and advance the School’s strategic priorities.
- Be an active member of the school’s executive and senior leadership team.
- Develop relationships and take leadership roles with the broader educational, Jewish, development, enrollment, and marketing professional communities to ensure awareness of trends, best practices, major funders, and potential opportunities.
- Cultivate and strengthen relationships with partner schools, summer camps, local Jewish youth movements, the Israeli Embassy and other individuals and organizations that can contribute to robust enrollment.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
- Develop, implement, oversee, and evaluate a comprehensive fundraising strategy to significantly increase philanthropic support through annual giving, major gifts, targeted campaigns, planned giving, alumni giving, grants and other areas of philanthropy.
- Lead CESJDS’s dynamic Institutional Advancement team, developing a high-performance team culture focused on leadership and accountability at all levels, continuous professional learning, collaboration, assessment, and goal achievement.
- Supervise, evaluate, mentor, and grow the CESJDS Development Director and through the Director, the entire team.
- Develop, cultivate, and steward donors, prospective donors, board members, and community members with strong personal relationships.
- Personally identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and major gift prospects in conjunction with the Major Gifts Officer.
- Engage, educate and collaborate with board members and other lead volunteers to increase overall giving.
- Serve as lead support to the board on matters related to development.
- Manage volunteer leadership, ensuring committees are managed effectively, with clear direction and support.
- Partner with the Chief Financial and Operating Officer to maintain best practices in record keeping, developing opportunities to show the impact of philanthropy and generating additional revenue.
- Analyze giving trends using data to drive decision making and new approaches.
ENROLLMENT & TUITION ASSISTANCE
- Lead all aspects of the student recruitment, retention, and admission strategy in collaboration with Admission Directors.
- Supervise, evaluate, mentor, and grow the Admission Directors and Sr. Manager for Enrollment and Tuition Assistance and through them the entire admission team.
- Oversee, in collaboration with Admissions Directors, Parent Ambassadors Program and New Family Orientations.
- Oversee and manage all retention efforts.
- Collaborate with the division leaders to develop, implement, and evaluate retention strategies.
- Analyze enrollment and retention trends using data to drive decision making and new approaches.
- Oversee the implementation of all aspects of the financial aid budget and program in partnership with the Sr. Manager for Enrollment and Tuition Assistance and in collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer.
- Organize parent ambassadors to assist in the admission process.
- Oversee the preparation, evaluate, and report statistics to the HOS and Board regarding enrollment, attrition, and tuition assistance.
- Oversee the Holistic Enrollment Management Calendar.
- Convene tuition assistance appeal committee for returning and new families who have appealed their decisions.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
- Develop, implement, oversee, and evaluate a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy, in conjunction with the Director of Marketing and Communications, to carefully and consistently best position CESJDS as a flagship and leading independent, pluralistic Jewish day school in all areas.
- Supervise, evaluate, mentor and grow the CESJDS Marketing and Communications Director.
- Collaborate with the Director of Marketing and Communications to develop effective messaging and promotional materials, online and digital resources, and all media particularly related to Development and Admissions.
- Serve as lead support to the head of school and the board on matters related to marketing and communications.
- Analyze marketing and communications trends and statistics using data to drive decision making and new approaches.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: Ten+ years of increasing responsibility and leadership in advancement, admission, and/or marketing and communications, and proven people and project manager. While a formal background in Jewish and/or independent schools or education is not required, the successful candidate is a quick study and eager to learn how to speak about education in a sophisticated, nuanced and intellectual manner.
Education: BA required, advanced degree preferred
Jewish Community, Culture, and Practice: A deep appreciation for the history and lived practices within Jewish tradition, and contemporary Jewish culture, identities, and community. Desire and ability to celebrate the CESJDS pluralistic community.
Communication: Outstanding oral and written communication and ability to further develop and tell CESJDS’s story in a compelling manner to a broad range of constituents and stakeholders.
Proficiency with data and technology: Strong analytical thinker, with a demonstrated strategic understanding of the admissions funnel, development analyses, target marketing, prospect development, and quantitative analysis. High-level of comfort using all applications and a willingness to learn platforms and systems including CESJDS’s Enrollment Management system, Raiser’s Edge Development Software, and all of the School’s databases and platforms.
Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrated track record of the highest level of interpersonal skills and collaboration. Work effectively and collaboratively with direct reports, and interdepartmental staff across the school to advance the mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
COMPENSATION
Salary, commensurate with experience, $185,000-$195,000. CESJDS offers a strong benefits package including health, dental, retirement match program, disability insurance.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV to [email protected] To learn more about this and other opportunities please visit https://www.cesjds.org/about/work-at-cesjds
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants without unlawful consideration of race, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The School encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.