Chicago International Charter School

JOB TITLE: Director of Student Recruitment & Community Affairs

EMPLOYEE TYPE: Exempt

REPORTS TO: Chief Development & Communications Officer

COLLABORATES WITH: School Management Organizations, Director of Compliance & 

Enrollment, Manager of Enrollment, Manager of Development & 

Marketing

LOCATION: Chicago, IL 

SALARY: $90,000 - $110,000
 

JOB OVERVIEW

The Director of Student Recruitment & Community Affairs serves as a strategic partner and liaison to CICS’s School Management Organization (SMO) partners and campuses, providing hands-on support to strengthen student recruitment and enrollment outcomes across the network.

This role is designed for a highly motivated, self-directed leader who can operate with agility in a dynamic environment—identifying gaps, testing solutions, and implementing data-informed strategies that drive results. The Director will support schools in executing high-quality recruitment efforts by building and optimizing systems and ensuring consistent follow-through on lead generation and conversion strategies. The Director will produce weekly and monthly analyses of recruitment strategies, tactics and activities in order to identify bottlenecks and implement data-informed improvements to boost applicant and enrollment numbers.

In parallel, this role leads CICS’s community affairs and supports advocacy efforts, building strong relationships with local elected officials, including aldermen, CPS School Board members, State Representatives, and State Senators while representing CICS across Chicago communities to increase visibility, strengthen trust, and support long-term enrollment growth.

This role requires a strong on-the-ground presence across Chicago neighborhoods, including regularly visiting schools and community locations, and flexibility to work evenings and weekends, particularly during peak recruitment seasons.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

School Partnership & Accountability  

• Serve as the primary recruitment liaison to SMOs and campuses, ensuring high-quality execution of recruitment and enrollment strategies.
• Provide direct outreach and recruitment support to schools, including presence at events and community engagement activities. 
• Ensure that campus-by-campus activities, applications, and enrollment are tracked and recorded weekly using network systems.  
• Monitor execution of recruitment strategies, and hold teams accountable for follow-through and results.
• Ensure best practices are discussed, understood and implemented network-wide.
• Operate with flexibility and urgency to meet evolving needs across the network.

Data Analysis, Insights & Action Planning

• Analyze recruitment and enrollment data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Translate data into clear, actionable strategies for schools and SMOs, ensuring insights lead to execution.
• Present data in accessible ways for varied audiences, including school staff, operations teams, and leadership.
• Report on weekly activities and outcomes, measuring impact on applications, enrollment, and retention.
• Continuously refine how data is used to drive decision-making and improve results.

Enrollment Pipeline, Growth & Performance Management

• Support schools in managing the full enrollment pipeline from inquiry to application, enrollment and retention. 
• Ensure consistent use of systems (including Finalsite) to capture leads, track interactions, and drive timely follow-up.
• Support alignment and execution of GoCPS processes across campuses.  
• Design and implement pipeline expansion strategies, including family and friend referrals and alumni engagement.
• Activate families and alumni as ambassadors to increase awareness, trust, and application volume.
• Track effectiveness of pipeline strategies and scale those that drive results.

Campaigns, Events & Performance Optimization

• Strengthen recruitment outcomes through high-performing campaigns, activities, and events.
• Support schools to execute multi-channel recruitment strategies (digital and community-based). 
• Track performance (traffic, leads, event conversion, enrollment yield) and hold teams accountable to results.
• Drive continuous improvement through testing and refinement of strategies using quantitative data as the measure of success or failure of activities, tactics, and strategies. 

Community Affairs, Advocacy & Visibility

• Increase CICS’s community presence and advocacy efforts across Chicago. 
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, including aldermen in collaboration with campus team members, the managing director of Managing Director of Governance, and CEO. 
• Identify, launch, and maintain partnerships with community-based organizations and feeder schools in coordination with SMO partners and school leaders. 
• Positively represent CICS to strengthen trust and partnership in local communities
• Ensure CICS maintains strong, consistent visibility in priority neighborhoods.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

• Strong understanding of data-driven recruitment, CRM systems, and lead conversion strategies.
• Strong facilitation skills and ability to lead cross-functional groups. 
• Experience with performance management, accountability systems, and execution tracking.
• Experience with marketing analytics, campaign optimization, and pipeline management.
• Experience in community engagement, advocacy, or government relations.
• Ability to operate independently and adapt quickly in a dynamic environment.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.

REQUIREMENTS 

• 5 years of experience in recruitment, marketing, community affairs, or related fields.
• Experience working in urban communities and multi-site organizations preferred.
• Ability to travel frequently across Chicago neighborhoods and school locations. 
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed, particularly during peak recruitment periods.