Position Opening

Interim Chief Enrollment Management Officer

Sacred Heart Schools, Chicago, IL

Start Date: Fall 2025

Status: Full-Time, 10-12 Month Interim Role

Reports to: Head of Schools

School Overview

Founded in 1876, Sacred Heart Schools at Sheridan Road (Hardey Preparatory for Boys and Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls) are Catholic, independent, single-sex elementary schools serving approximately 550 students in preschool through 8th grade. A member of the international Network of Sacred Heart Schools, Sacred Heart is grounded in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart and its five Goals and Criteria, which prioritize faith, intellect, service, community, and personal growth.

Position Summary

Sacred Heart Schools seeks a mission-driven and highly experienced Interim Chief Enrollment Management Officer (CEMO) to lead its enrollment efforts during a time of transition. This interim role blends strategic vision with day-to-day execution—overseeing all aspects of the admissions process while directly mentoring and supporting a dedicated, mission-aligned admissions team. The CEMO will have the opportunity to re-envision the enrollment process and mentor/coach the admissions team in enrollment management best practices.

Reporting directly to the Head of Schools, the Interim CEMO will bring structure, warmth, and expertise to the enrollment program, ensuring that families experience a clear and mission-aligned admissions journey from inquiry through onboarding. The ideal candidate will be energized by the opportunity to provide both leadership and capacity-building support as the school lays the foundation for future success in enrollment management.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Design and implement a mission-driven enrollment strategy that meets or exceeds budgeted goals and supports long-term growth.
• Serve as the school’s lead enrollment voice—internally and externally—ensuring alignment across divisions and departments.
• Serve as a steady and confident presence to engage community members in the enrollment picture across constituencies, particularly current parents.
• Use data to monitor trends, assess funnel health, and guide responsive decision-making.
• Retention
• Creativity in new ideas, particularly for recruitment and brand awareness

Admissions Operations

• Oversee all stages of the admissions process, including inquiry response, events, application review, communications, and onboarding.
• Ensure every prospective family receives a welcoming, well-organized, and mission-centered admissions experience.
• Maintain and improve systems for tracking, reporting, and managing applicant data.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Supervise and mentor a dedicated but inexperienced admissions team, offering daily coaching, structure, and professional development.
• Build team confidence and competence through modeling, feedback, and systems that clarify expectations and routines.
• Foster a collaborative and mission-aligned culture rooted in service, responsiveness, and continuous learning.

Marketing & Community Engagement

• Collaborate with Communications to create compelling marketing content and campaigns that attract mission-appropriate families.
• Represent Sacred Heart Schools at community events, sending schools, and other recruitment opportunities across Chicago and nearby suburbs.
• Oversee planning and execution of tours, open houses, and onboarding experiences that reflect the school’s values and strengths.

Transition Planning

• Ensure operational continuity during leadership transition while preparing the school for the eventual onboarding of a permanent enrollment leader.
• Document systems, assess staff capacity, and provide recommendations for future structure and support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in admissions, enrollment management, or institutional advancement, ideally within independent or Catholic schools.
• Proven success leading admissions strategy and operations.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop staff members.
• Strong communication, organizational, and data fluency skills.
• Familiarity with admissions platforms such as Ravenna, Blackbaud, or Finalsite is a plus.
• Commitment to the values and mission of Catholic education and Sacred Heart’s Goals and Criteria.

The Ideal Candidate

• Strategic and detail-oriented, with the ability to balance long-term planning with hands-on execution.
• Warm and relational, with the ability to connect authentically with families, colleagues, and community partners.
• Encouraging and patient, with a passion for developing people and building team capacity.
• Calm under pressure and energized by creating structure, improving systems, and modeling best practices.
• Organized, trustworthy, and mission-aligned.