The Executive Director (ED) of Recruitment & Admissions is responsible for developing and executing a holistic, global recruitment, admissions and enrollment strategy that drives sustainable growth for The Washington Center’s (TWC) flagship Academic Internship Program, short-term programs and boot camps and academic seminars. This role combines strategic oversight of institutional partnerships—both domestic and international—with proactive business development to expand TWC’s portfolio of affiliate higher education institutions. Additionally, the ED ensures that admissions and enrollment processes are aligned with strategic revenue goals, student success outcomes and TWC’s commitment to equitable access and inclusion.

As a key revenue driver, the ED manages a multimillion-dollar enrollment portfolio (approximately $7M–$11M) across various programs. The ED leads a cross-functional team of approximately ten professional staff, ensuring that recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and partner management efforts are data-driven, collaborative and optimized for efficiency. The ED will also oversee digital and campus-based engagement strategies, leveraging marketing resources, CRM technology and analytics to attract, engage, and convert prospective students from diverse geographies and academic backgrounds.

The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of global higher education landscapes, a track record of closing new partnerships and proven success in meeting ambitious revenue and enrollment targets. They will collaborate extensively with Marketing, Employer Relations, Programs, Housing and Community Life and other internal teams to ensure a cohesive partner and student experience from initial outreach through program completion.

The Washington Center is a remote/hybrid organization with the majority of employees working on average one day per week in TWC’s Residential and Academic Facility, conveniently located near Union Station and public transportation in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, DC. Given our organizational mission focus on skills, workforce development and collaboration, there are times where cross-collaboration among teams and departments will require more than one day per week in the office. The individual in this role is expected to reside in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Essential Functions

Global Enrollment Strategy, Planning & Management 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive global enrollment strategy—encompassing both the U.S. and international markets—to achieve annual revenue targets ($7M–$11M).
• Develop data-driven recruitment and admissions plans that address a diverse range of TWC offerings: semester-long internship programs, short-term programs, academic seminars and customized learning experiences.
• Continuously evaluate enrollment funnels using KPIs, conversion metrics, and market intelligence, providing timely performance reports and revenue projections.
• Strategically allocate state, donor-provided and discretionary scholarship funds (totaling $2M–$3M+) to maximize access, yield and program impact, particularly for historically underrepresented populations.
• Negotiate and advocate for state-funded allocations and donor investments, engaging in partnership with Advancement and Government Relations with state governments and philanthropic partners to maintain or expand appropriations and scholarships.
• Continuously utilize market intelligence and emerging trends to refine global recruitment strategies, ensuring responsiveness to shifting demands and competitor landscapes.

Business Development & Partnership Management 

• Serve as the lead for new business development, cultivating relationships with prospective domestic and international institutional partners, including HBCUs, MSIs and global universities, and converting these relationships into sustainable enrollment pipelines.
• In partnership with Chief Growth and Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer, negotiate and tailor partnership terms, including custom pricing, cohort-based programs and customized or while label programs to meet the needs of varying institutional partners.
• Oversee a domestic portfolio of approximately 400 colleges and universities in the U.S. and globally, ensuring ongoing relationship management and identifying opportunities for growth.
• Design and implement account-based marketing strategies and digital engagement campaigns, working closely with Marketing, to strengthen existing relationships, introduce new offerings, and retain partner loyalty.
• Establish clear, measurable performance targets (including KPIs and other success metrics) for business development and partnership management staff, regularly evaluating progress and outcomes to inform data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing and other internal teams to leverage cutting-edge digital marketing techniques and tailored messaging for both domestic and international audiences.

Admissions, Enrollment and Financial Aid Strategy

• Establish and execute strategic enrollment and admissions frameworks aligned with TWC’s goals, ensuring a streamlined journey from prospect to enrolled participant.
• Set benchmarks for inquiry response times, application review timeliness, and financial aid awarding processes. Ensure staff meet or exceed KPIs for each stage of the admissions funnel.
• Leverage technology, CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), and digital marketing platforms to enhance lead generation, application conversion, and personalized outreach efforts.
• Collaborate closely with the Marketing team to refine value propositions, integrate compelling messaging into all enrollment activities, and deploy robust digital outreach strategies, including webinars, virtual info sessions, social media campaigns and targeted email marketing, supported by consistent brand and content guidelines.

Staff Leadership & Unit Operations

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of approximately nine full-time professionals, setting high standards for performance, accountability and professional development.
• Implement robust training programs to ensure staff can effectively use TWC’s CRM, analytics tools and digital engagement platforms.
• Oversee and set the unit’s annual expense budget, scholarship allocations, travel-related expenditures and other operational costs, ensuring responsible fiscal management.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, leveraging technology and data to optimize recruitment pipelines, reduce administrative complexity and improve overall efficiency.
• Foster a culture of continuous professional growth by offering staff training in sales, data analysis, DEI best practices, and innovative recruitment methods.

Holistic Partner & Student Journey Management 

• Work cross-functionally with Employer Relations, Marketing, Programs and Housing and Community Life to ensure a cohesive and supportive student and partner journey—from pre-enrollment advising to arrival and beyond.
• Develop and maintain strong communication pathways and integrated messaging campaigns that promote consistency in student and partner touchpoints.
• Use feedback loops, partner surveys and enrollment analytics to continually enhance the partner and student experience, identifying gaps and implementing corrective strategies swiftly.

Required Education and Experience

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered.

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of work experience in higher education, nonprofit management, or association management
• Experience with strategic account management, partner engagement and new business development, and/or marketing
• Proven history leading revenue generation strategies
• Experience stewarding multimillion-dollar appropriations or donor-provided grants
• Experience managing a team of early- and mid-career professional staff

Preferred Education/Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree
• Significant experience with Salesforce or similar CRM system

Competencies required to perform the job successfully

• Strategic Operational Thinking: Ability to translate organizational goals into actionable global recruitment and admissions strategies.
• Business Development Acumen: Skilled at identifying and cultivating new market opportunities and building sustainable partnerships.
• Change Management: Comfortable driving innovation, implementing new technologies and upskilling team members to meet evolving market demands.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, using metrics and analytics to refine strategies and improve outcomes.
• Collaboration & Leadership: Strong ability to lead, inspire and develop others while working cross-functionally to enhance the student and partner experience.
• Equity & Inclusion Focus: Commitment to using scholarship funds and other resources to broaden access and representation in TWC programs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability and desire to motivate and lead a diverse group of staff members.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work collaboratively.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and around deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Familiarity with the norms, structures, and processes of college and university campuses. Knowledge of higher education trends.
• Ability to speak as a peer with faculty and administrators.
• Current knowledge of strategies, resources, and techniques in the field of student recruitment.
• Proficiency in MS Office with strong knowledge of Excel and Word, as well as ability to use online databases (preferably Salesforce.com) and mass email platforms (preferably ExactTarget).

Supervisory Responsibility

This position is a leadership role and supervises a team of nine (9).

Travel Requirement

Periodic business travel for building relationships and business development is required.

The Washington Center’s Values

Values which guide our mission work in every regard – internally and externally:

• Equity & Inclusion
• Learning
• Connection & Collaboration
• Integrity
• Impact

Equipment Used to Perform the Job

May be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position:

• Cloud-based technologies
• Standard office equipment including a computer, job-related software and printer

Physical Abilities

Commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform described essential functions of this job. These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws.

Certain job functions described herein may be subjected to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. 

The Washington Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of The Washington Center to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Provisions in applicable laws providing for bona fide occupational qualifications, business necessity or age limitations will be adhered to by the organization where appropriate.

The Washington Center stands in solidarity with all marginalized communities. We believe communities are strengthened by the inclusion of and equity for all people. Racism, hate, and violence have no place in our society, and we condemn all such acts. We are committed to becoming an anti-racist and anti-hate organization.

We commit to continuously striving for diversity, equity and inclusion through ongoing education and self-awareness. At The Washington Center, each person brings unique and varied experiences which inform our thoughts, actions, and decision-making processes. Our mission is to create an inclusive, safe environment for our staff and our students, where everyone’s differences are celebrated, every perspective is valued, and everyone feels safe to bring forth their authentic selves.