The Director of Strategic Enrollment 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 Director of Strategic Enrollment will drive enrollment growth, support financial sustainability, create admissions outreach strategies, and ensure an exceptional student experience.  

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

Key Information:

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

• Location: Remote in eligible NOLS locations

• Target Start Date: August 1st, 2025

Questions: please contact peopleteam@nols.edu

What does a Director of Strategic Enrollment do?

Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Sales, the Director of Strategic Enrollment is a new position that will serve as the chief strategist on all matters related to program enrollment. This position has full responsibility for creating, leading and managing a comprehensive strategic enrollment program that incorporates best practices in recruitment outreach, admissions, financial aid, and application management. NOLS is a leadership-driven organization, and this role will be a change agent who leads a team that values innovation and creativity.

Duties and Tasks Include:

• Responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the execution of a multi-year and annual comprehensive strategic enrollment plan that includes but not limited to tailored recruitment strategies, appropriate territory and program goals, prospect development, yield analysis and financial aid leveraging strategy.  

• Develop annual admissions forecasts, predictive models and budgets using enrollment data analytics.

• Build, lead, and motivate a high performing results driven team of approximately 16 admissions and recruitment staff.  

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

• Develop and implement an integrated marketing and communication plan in partnership with marketing that leverages the School’s CRM and serves to build and sustain relationships with prospective students and their families. 

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

• Monitor and assess enrollment data management and systems that ensure student data collection, maintenance, protection, and use to support data-informed enrollment operations, tracking, reporting and analysis of key metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment strategies.

• Engage instructors, staff, senior leadership, alumni and students in the recruitment process, galvanizing the many constituencies of NOLS to join in helping realize enrollment goals. 

• Continuously evaluate and improve the practices of the student enrollment experience, including timely, effective and positive engagement with students and families throughout the entirety of enrollment lifecycle.

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

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.

What makes a great Director of Strategic Enrollment 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 experience in the development and implementation of a comprehensive college/university or secondary school enrollment management plan with evidence of effectiveness in recruitment.

• Ability to interpret data and analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations.  

• Knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) principles and strategies. 

• Ability to give presentations to a variety of audiences.  

• Ability to organize and track multiple projects. 

• Ability to translate complex issues to internal teams.

• Demonstrated skill in communicating effectively and establishing cooperative working relationships. 

• Master’s degree in education, student services, higher education administration or a related field is preferred.

In your first 6 months, you will: 

• Understand and assess the current state of NOLS Admissions and Financial Aid team, processes, and technology. 

• Develop a Strategic Enrollment Framework for NOLS built on industry best practices and standards that will serve as the foundation to an annual and multi-year strategic enrollment plan that will support future enrollment growth beginning summer 2026.  

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.

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.

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.