The Strategic Enrollment (SE) Director is a full-time leadership position reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). This role is responsible for developing and executing strategies to optimize student recruitment, admissions, and financial aid, focusing on aligning enrollment goals with NOLS' mission to elevate the leader in everyone. The SE Director will drive enrollment growth, support financial sustainability, create admissions outreach strategies, and ensure an exceptional student experience.  

The Strategic Enrollment Director will lead efforts to create a seamless, student-centered journey—from initial inquiry to program completion—and to foster connections that encourage lifelong engagement with NOLS. Areas of responsibility include Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, Marketing & Outreach and Partnerships (e.g., K-12 schools, colleges, and organizations). This role requires close collaboration with internal teams and external partners to enhance program outcomes and advance NOLS' strategic goals.

The SE Director will use data-informed decision-making to drive marketing, recruitment, admissions, and retention efforts while integrating best practices in enrollment management. The Strategic Enrollment Director will be pivotal in expanding student access to our courses worldwide.

Please note in order to ensure pay transparency and pay equity the range posted is non-negotiable. If you are unwilling to accept an offer within the posted range, please review our other opportunities to see if one better aligns with your salary expectations.

What does a Strategic Enrollment Director do?

As the Strategic Enrollment Director you will lead NOLS’ admissions and financial aid functions, driving growth and modernizing the school’s enrollment approach. This role will optimize financial aid processes to improve net revenue and expand access. Deep knowledge of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) and Net Tuition Revenue generation is essential for success. In this role you will cultivate a growth-oriented environment by overseeing a team of approximately 16, including two direct reports. NOLS is a leadership-driven organization, and this role will lead teams that value innovation and creativity.

• Lead to grow the impact of the expeditions enrollment management and student services functions.

• Build enrollment focused partnerships with colleges, universities, high schools, and community based organizations. 

• Develop a strategic enrollment plan and provide strategic leadership, vision, and inspiration to achieve enrollment growth and student success goals.

• Utilize data analytics to inform best practices in marketing, recruitment, admissions, financial aid, enrollment management, student success, and retention efforts.

• Organize all of the functions of the pre-enrollment, enrollment, and student support services effectively and efficiently, consistent with the philosophy and mission of NOLS.

• Coordinate and communicate with the President, Vice President, Executive Team, and staff on all necessary business, personnel, and student management matters to provide input and/or leadership direction as appropriate.

• Coordinate student data gathering efforts and ensure timely data reporting to meet deadlines established by the school.

• As a change agent, develop and communicate the vision, goals, and character of the enrollment and student services functions.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies related to financial aid and enrollment management.

• Leverage a $55M endowment and financial aid gifts to make NOLS programs more accessible, focusing on retention and reducing cancellations.

• Increase applicant pools with an initial focus on semester courses 

• Create reports to monitor progress toward strategic goals.

• Oversee enrollment data management and systems that ensure student data collection, maintenance, protection, and use to support data-informed enrollment operations and enable tracking, reporting and analysis of key metrics.

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Understand the current situation for NOLS Admissions and Financial Aid

• Assess Team and Processes for all Admissions and Financial Aid to apply best practices and industry standards

• Develop a Strategic Enrollment Framework for NOLS

What makes a great Strategic Enrollment Director at NOLS? 

We are looking for people who are passionate about our mission, share our values, and are keen to learn and develop their expertise.

• Proven leadership of a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) strategy.

• Previous experience managing and directing Financial Aid and Admission teams in an educational institution

• Oversight of college level and or high school admissions networks and key relationships. 

• Demonstrated revenue growth through strategic enrollment practices.

• Development of strategic marketing plans for college admissions, from conception to creating communications plans to bring new audiences to the school. 

• Creation of financial aid budgets to increase application rates and support enrollment across the organization. 

Who is NOLS?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that believes in the transformative power of leadership through wilderness education. We are dedicated to developing leaders by providing immersive experiences that challenge you to step beyond your comfort zone and unlock your full potential. Whether in remote backcountry settings or through courses near home, we equip people with the skills, resilience, and confidence to lead in all walks of life.

At NOLS, we’re driven by a commitment to education, adventure, and a deep respect for the wilderness. These values are at the heart of every experience we offer, empowering students to make meaningful connections with themselves, others, and the world around them.

Why is NOLS a great place to work?

• Awesome employees! Ask anyone at NOLS and they’ll likely say they work here because of the community.

• Fantastic employee discounts on top outdoor gear brands

• Discounts on NOLS Courses for you and your family

• Free equipment “rentals" at our various locations

• A flexible time off policy for all full-time regular employees, and accrued vacation for part-time regular employees

• Sick time for all employees

• 403(b) available to all employees, with an annual employer contribution

• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with 24/7 access with 5 sessions per issue to assist employees with work or life concerns.

Additional Information

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada, provinces: British Columbia, and Ontario; Chile; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Pre-Employment Check

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.

• NOLS participates in e-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.

• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with People Team and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact peopleteam@nols.edu.

NOLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetics information, disability unrelated to job or admission requirements, or status as a protected veteran. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

NOLS values community and fosters a sense of belonging for our employees and applicants. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace because they embody these values, as well as our operating principle of promoting a positive, safe, and learning environment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment. Reasonable accommodations may be requested at any point of the employment process, including during recruitment. Please email peopleteam@nols.edu with your request.

How to Apply

It’s super easy! Just enter your email and click the “start your application” button at the top of the screen. 

Please upload your cover letter and resume as one document, preferably as a PDF when prompted to upload your CV/resume.

In order to better understand our candidate pools and ensure we are attracting diverse candidates, Applied will ask you some demographic questions before you start your application. The responses are never tied to your application; we only see summary statistics. If you prefer, you can easily opt out of answering these questions.