Head of Admissions

Head of Admissions
Laurel Hill School – East Setauket, NY
Full-Time, On-Campus | 12-Month, Year-Round Role

About Laurel Hill School
Laurel Hill School is a leading independent school on Long Island, serving students from infancy through Grade 8. Our ten-acre campus provides a dynamic learning environment that celebrates curiosity, creativity, and character. We pride ourselves on a warm, inclusive community where every member of our team is deeply valued for their expertise, professionalism, and care.

Position Overview
Laurel Hill School is making a foundational hire. We are seeking an experienced admissions leader to design and build a comprehensive admissions program — establishing the systems, processes, relationships, and team infrastructure that will drive enrollment for years to come.

The Head of Admissions will serve as the primary ambassador for the LHS community, building meaningful relationships with prospective families while leading a strategic, data-informed enrollment program aligned with the school's long-term growth and mission. The ideal candidate brings both the vision and the practical expertise to build from the ground up — and the warmth and interpersonal skill to make every prospective family feel genuinely welcome from first contact through enrollment.

This role will initially operate with lean support, with the expectation of building a team as the program grows.

This is a senior leadership position. The Head of Admissions is a member of the school's senior leadership team, working in close partnership with the Head of School, divisional directors, and the marketing and communications function to advance LHS's enrollment goals.

Reporting Line: Head of School

Key Responsibilities

Program Development

• Conduct a full audit of current admissions activity, data, and family touchpoints to establish a clear baseline.
• Design and implement end-to-end admissions systems and processes, including CRM selection and setup, inquiry management, application workflows, interview protocols, and decision timelines.
• Establish admissions policies, procedures, and documentation from the ground up.
• Build and lead a comprehensive admissions events calendar — open houses, school tours, information sessions, and accepted family receptions — tailored to the LHS community.
• Oversee the full admissions process from inquiry through enrollment, ensuring a seamless, high-quality experience for every prospective family.
• Manage application review, family interviews, shadow visits, assessments, and admissions decisions.
• Evaluate, select, and implement an admissions CRM; establish data management protocols and produce regular pipeline and enrollment reports for school leadership.
• Develop and implement a formal re-enrollment and family retention strategy as part of the broader program build.
• Supervise and develop admissions team members, providing clear direction, coaching, and professional development.
• Support the development of a camp enrollment strategy for Laurel Hill Summer Camp, building on the systems and relationships established for the school's admissions program.

Enrollment Strategy & Planning

• Develop and implement a multi-year enrollment strategy aligned with the school's mission and growth goals.
• Set and monitor annual enrollment targets; analyze pipeline data, conversion rates, and yield trends to inform strategy and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with the Head of School and senior leadership on tuition, financial aid, and enrollment sustainability.

Community Engagement & Outreach

• Serve as the primary point of contact and ambassador for prospective families throughout the admissions process.
• Build and maintain relationships with feeder preschools, community organizations, and referral networks across Suffolk County and the broader Long Island area.
• Represent LHS at community events, school fairs, and local networking opportunities.

Marketing & Communications

• Develop admissions marketing materials, digital content, and outreach campaigns from the ground up, in partnership with school leadership and communications staff.
• Assess and strengthen LHS's admissions-related digital presence, including the school website and social media channels, to ensure they accurately reflect the school's mission and appeal to prospective families.
• Ensure consistent, compelling messaging that accurately reflects the LHS brand, mission, and community.

Collaboration & School Life

• Serve as an active, engaged member of the LHS senior leadership team, contributing to school-wide planning and decision-making.
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings, school events, parent programs, and professional development.
• Uphold and model the values, culture, and standards of Laurel Hill School at all times.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Education, School Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressive independent school admissions experience, including a senior leadership role with demonstrated responsibility for enrollment outcomes.
• Proven experience building or significantly rebuilding an admissions program from the ground up — CRM implementation, process design, event programming, and team development. Candidates who have only managed established programs are unlikely to be the right fit for this role.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the interpersonal ability to build authentic relationships with families, colleagues, and community partners.
• Experience supervising staff and proficiency with admissions CRM platforms and Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with the Long Island independent school landscape and membership in AISAP or equivalent preferred.
• Experience with summer program or camp enrollment a plus.

Conditions of Employment

• Submission of a copy of relevant credentials and official transcripts required prior to first day.
• Three professional references required, who can speak directly to the candidate's admissions program development experience.
• Background check and fingerprinting required prior to hire, in accordance with NYS requirements.

What We Offer

• Salary: $85,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Access to LHS's full benefits package, including health coverage and 100% tuition remission for enrolled children of employees.
• A seat at the senior leadership table with direct access to and partnership with the Head of School.
• The opportunity to build something lasting — to design Laurel Hill School's admissions program from the ground up and leave a defining mark on the school's future.

Schedule

• This is a full-time, year-round position. Core hours are Monday through Friday; regular evening and weekend commitments are expected during peak admissions season and for school events. Enrollment activity at Laurel Hill School is ongoing throughout the year, particularly for our youngest students, and this role reflects that continuity.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit an application via the link below. Please include a resume and a cover letter describing a specific admissions program or process you substantially developed or built from scratch — what you inherited, what you built, and what it achieved.

https://airtable.com/appn9OkUiuu4RDZEE/pagXYdyXFwdmKdYt9/form

Only applications submitted here will be considered.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 - $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Have you applied via the application form in the job description? Only these applications will be considered

Work Location: In person

Salary : $85,000 - $125,000