Student Recruitment and Enrollment Manager

Des Moines Prep•Des Moines, IA

About The Position

Des Moines Prep is a growing public charter school in downtown Des Moines that opened in 2025 and currently serves grades 8–10, with plans to expand to grades 7–12. Its model combines rigorous college-preparatory academics with student-centered instruction, supporting students to develop agency, purpose, and future-focused goals. The Student Recruitment and Enrollment Manager is responsible for meeting and exceeding annual enrollment goals by building relationships with community partners, families, and the broader Des Moines community. The role leads local outreach and manages the admissions process from initial inquiry through enrollment and matriculation, while ensuring families have an experience that reflects the school’s mission and values. The position combines community engagement, data-driven marketing, relationship building, project management, family communication, application management, and event planning. The manager works with school leadership and the Opportunity Education Communications Team to coordinate recruitment strategies, communications, and enrollment activities. The role also contributes to the broader school community by sharing recruitment insights, supporting events, and helping develop authentic stories about the school.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in marketing, community outreach, or a related field.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust across diverse communities.
A competitive, goal-driven approach and a history of achieving results.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and detail-management skills, with the ability to manage 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.

Nice To Haves

Education experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Build partnerships with community organizations, schools, churches, youth programs, and local businesses to increase awareness of Des Moines Prep.
Represent the school at community events, fairs, and speaking engagements, and develop relationships with families, students, and community influencers.
Coordinate and lead school tours, open houses, shadow days, and similar events for prospective families.
Design and implement lead-generation strategies using community referrals, events, social media campaigns, and online advertising.
Maintain a CRM or tracking system for leads, inquiries, and conversion rates, and analyze recruitment data to inform outreach strategies.
Collaborate with the Opportunity Education Communications Team to align messaging, campaigns, and materials.
Manage the school’s social media presence and develop a content calendar in coordination with the communications team.
Capture and share stories about student projects, teachers, families, and campus events, while ensuring materials follow OE brand guidelines.
Track social media and marketing engagement, including followers, reach, click-throughs, and lead conversions, and use the findings to refine outreach.
Coordinate photography, videography, and design needs, including timely content creation and archiving.
Identify local stories, student achievements, and partnerships for broader Opportunity Education public relations efforts.
Serve as the primary contact for prospective families from inquiry through enrollment and the first day of school.
Communicate with families in a timely, professional, and personalized manner by phone, email, text, and in person.
Explain the school’s mission, programs, and expectations, and support families with financial aid, documentation, and onboarding.
Oversee the application process and ensure accuracy and a positive family experience.
Track and report progress toward enrollment goals daily, providing regular updates to the school principal, Chief of Schools, and Foundation leadership.
Coordinate admissions timelines and class placements with school leadership.
Lead family onboarding, including acceptance communications, enrollment paperwork, orientation, and transition support.
Maintain accurate student enrollment data and collaborate with operations staff on compliance reporting.
Plan and execute recruitment and enrollment events, managing scheduling, setup, promotion, logistics, and follow-up communications.
Collaborate with staff, students, and families to make events engaging and representative of the school’s culture.
Support school-wide events that strengthen community engagement and pride.
Participate as a visible, active member of the school community by attending key events and supporting the student experience.
Provide leadership with input on community sentiment and recruitment trends.
Collaborate with teachers, staff, and students to develop authentic marketing stories and social media content.
Assist with other school projects and priorities as needed, particularly those related to family and community engagement.