Student Recruitment and Enrollment Manager

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

About Des Moines Prep

Des Moines Prep is a new growing public charter school in downtown Des Moines committed to achieving exceptional outcomes for students: where they own and drive their learning and love their school experience. Our model combines rigorous college preparatory academics and a robust student-centered approach to instruction. We believe students learn best when they are known well, challenged deeply, and supported fully.

Des Moines Prep opened in 2025 and serves grades 8–9, expanding to serve grades 7–12 in the coming years. Our school emphasizes agency, purpose, and preparation for the future, giving students opportunities to explore college and career pathways and pursue their ambitions in a supportive, close-knit environment.

Overview of the Role

The Student Recruitment and Enrollment Manager is responsible for ensuring that Des Moines Prep meets and exceeds its annual student enrollment goals by building deep relationships with community partners, families, and the broader Des Moines community. This role requires a creative, driven, and community-minded professional who can lead local outreach, manage the full admissions process from inquiry to enrollment to matriculation, and ensure every family’s experience reflects the mission and values of Des Moines Prep.

The ideal candidate is part data-driven marketer, part relationship builder, and part project manager - someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and believes deeply in the power of education to change lives.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Community Engagement

• Build strong partnerships with community organizations, schools, churches, youth programs, and local businesses to increase awareness and visibility of Des Moines Prep

• Represent the school at community events, fairs, and speaking engagements

• Develop authentic relationships with families, students, and community influencers that build trust and enthusiasm for the school

• Coordinate and lead school tours, open houses,  shadow days,  and similar events to connect with prospective families

Lead Generation and Engagement

• Design and implement strategies to generate new leads through community referrals, events, social media campaigns, and online advertising

• Maintain a CRM or tracking system to monitor leads, inquiries, and conversion rates at each stage of the recruitment funnel

• Collaborate with the Opportunity Education communications  team to align messaging, campaigns, and materials

• Track and analyze recruitment data to inform ongoing outreach strategies

Marketing and Communications

• Manage the school’s social media presence across platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), ensuring consistent, mission-aligned content that engages current families and attracts prospective ones
• Develop and maintain a content calendar for posts, campaigns, and events in coordination with the Opportunity Education Communications Team
• Capture and share authentic stories from the school - student projects, teacher highlights, family testimonials, and campus events- that showcase Des Moines Prep’s unique culture and outcomes
• Ensure visual and message consistency across digital, print, and in-person materials by adhering to OE brand guidelines (logos, colors, tone, and imagery)
• Collaborate with OE Communications to align school-level messaging with network-wide priorities and campaigns, including new school launches and recruitment pushes
• Track engagement data (followers, reach, click-through, and lead conversions) and use insights to refine outreach strategies
• Coordinate photography, videography, and design needs for the school, ensuring timely, high-quality content creation and archiving for ongoing use
• Support network-wide PR efforts by identifying compelling local stories, student achievements, and partnerships for OE’s broader communications channels

Family Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective families from inquiry through enrollment to the first day of school

• Provide timely, professional, and personalized communication via phone, email, text, and in-person meetings

• Clearly articulate Des Moines Prep’s mission, programs, and expectations to ensure strong family-school alignment

• Support families through all stages of the process, including financial aid, documentation, and onboarding

Application Management and Enrollment

• Oversee all aspects of the application process, ensuring accuracy and quality experience

• Track and report progress toward enrollment goals daily; reporting to the school principal, Chief of Schools, and Foundation leadership with regular updates

• Coordinate with school leadership to manage admissions timelines and class placements

• Lead family onboarding, including acceptance communications, enrollment paperwork, orientation, and transition support

• Maintain accurate student enrollment data and collaborate with operations staff for compliance reporting

Event Planning

• Plan and execute recruitment and enrollment events such as open houses, information sessions, shadow days, and community celebrations

• Collaborate with staff, students, and families to ensure events are engaging, informative, and reflective of the school’s culture

• Manage event logistics including scheduling, set-up, promotion, and follow-up communications

• Support school-wide events that enhance community engagement and pride

General Support of the School Community

• Participate as a visible and active member of the school community, attending key events and supporting the student experience

• Provide input and feedback to leadership on community sentiment and recruitment trends

• Collaborate with teachers, staff, and students to create authentic marketing stories and social media content

• Assist with other school projects and priorities as needed, particularly those connected to family and community engagement

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in marketing, community outreach, or related fields (education experience strongly preferred)

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust across diverse communities

• A competitive goal-driven approach, with a history of achieving results

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed for key recruitment events

• Deep belief in the mission of Des Moines Prep and the Opportunity Education Network

Compensation

Salary is currently budgeted in a range competitive with regional expectations. The starting salary is budgeted at $55,000.  

Non-Discrimination Statement

Des Moines Prep and the Opportunity Education Network are committed to providing equal opportunity in employment and education. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected by law.