Head of Enrollment

Education First•Pasadena, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

EF Academy Pasadena is seeking a dynamic, relationship-driven leader to serve as Director of Enrollment & Community Engagement. This is a senior-level role that combines strategic enrollment leadership with a bold community relations and business development mandate. EF Academy Pasadena is an IB school and is poised to become the only private IB school in the greater Pasadena area; a compelling and differentiating story for prospective families and the wider educational community. The campus community reflects EF Academy’s global footprint: approximately 65% of students are international, drawn from 60+ countries, with 35% enrolling from the local and wider Southern California region. This is not a traditional U.S. boarding school enrollment environment. International student recruitment is managed by a dedicated global network of EF enrollment teams based in-country around the world; this role is focused on local and regional enrollment and community presence, while collaborating as one integrated team with global colleagues to support international families when they visit campus. The Director will serve as a primary external face of the school, cultivating partnerships with schools, counselors, local educational consultants, community organizations, and educational influencers across Southern California and beyond. They will work alongside the Head of School and senior leadership team to grow local enrollment, strengthen the school’s regional profile, and embed EF Academy as a preferred destination for ambitious students and families. This role is as much about community presence, trust-building, and brand representation as it is about managing the enrollment pipeline. The successful candidate will bring the executive presence, educational credibility, and entrepreneurial spirit to open doors, build lasting relationships, and generate measurable results.

Requirements

Executive presence
Educational credibility
Entrepreneurial spirit
Relationship building expertise
Strategic thinking
Enrollment acumen
Maturity
Judgment
Ability to represent the school alongside the Head of School and senior leadership team
Comfort meeting with school leaders, educational consultants, and prospective families
Ability to present to community organizations
Ability to participate in student events and celebrations
Ability to serve as a visible, positive presence within the daily life of the boarding school community
Genuine enjoyment working with adolescents, families, educators, and colleagues
Understanding that thriving boarding school communities are built through meaningful relationships, visibility, and engagement

Nice To Haves

A trusted relationship builder
A strategic ambassador and storyteller
A results-oriented professional with a growth mindset
A collaborative leader who contributes beyond their primary responsibilities
A highly visible community member who embraces the mission and culture of a boarding school environment
A mature professional who demonstrates sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in all interactions

Responsibilities

Lead local and regional enrollment strategy for the Pasadena campus, with a focus on attracting Southern California day and boarding students to a truly international school environment.
Develop and execute a data-informed enrollment strategy aligned with campus goals and EF Academy’s global network priorities.
Maintain and analyze enrollment metrics, pipeline data, and market trends to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Collaborate closely with EF Academy’s U.S. Enrollment Director (based in New York) on nationwide recruitment strategy, pipeline management, and lead generation; support and provide dotted-line guidance to the Enrollment Coordinator who manages day-to-day pipeline and call activity.
Partner as one team with EF’s international enrollment staff based in-country worldwide; serve as the campus point of contact for international families visiting Pasadena during their decision process.
Serve as an external ambassador for EF Academy Pasadena, representing the school to schools, educational consultants, community organizations, civic groups, and local networks.
Identify, cultivate, and formalize strategic partnerships that expand the school’s visibility, referral networks, and enrollment pipeline.
Build and sustain relationships with independent school counselors, college advisors, international student organizations, and regional educational influencers.
Develop and grow relationships with local educational consultants acting as agents — a key channel for reaching boarding families across the wider Los Angeles area seeking 5- or 7- day boarding options.
Represent EF Academy at conferences, community events, school fairs, and professional gatherings.
Communicate the school’s mission, culture, and academic programs compellingly to diverse audiences in person, in writing, and in public forums.
Partner with the marketing and communications team to align outreach materials with enrollment messaging.
Facilitate campus visits, information sessions, open house events, Welcome Days, family orientations, and community presentations.
Actively participate in the life of the school, including major events such as Opening Day, Graduation, athletics and arts programs, and family celebrations.
Serve as a visible, positive presence in the boarding school community, modeling engagement and contributing to campus-wide initiatives.
Support emergency response and campus-wide operational needs as a member of the senior leadership team.
Partner closely with the Head of School and EVP of Enrollment to align local strategy with global network goals.
Collaborate across departments — academics, student life, marketing, finance — to support enrollment, retention, and the overall student and family experience.
Contribute to broader leadership team discussions, planning, and school-wide decision making.