Admissions & Development Associate

Apply

Description

School Name: Santa Sophia Academy

Location: 9806 San Juan St, Spring Valley, CA 91977

Reports to: Principal

Employment Type: Full Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Range: $20 - $25/hr.

Position Summary:

The Director of Admissions and Development plays a vital role in advancing the mission of Santa Sophia Academy by leading strategic initiatives in student recruitment, enrollment management, fundraising, and community engagement. This position supports the long-term vitality of the school by cultivating relationships with prospective families, donors, alumni, and the broader parish and school community.

Rooted in the Catholic faith, the Director champions the values of our school and works in close collaboration with the principal, pastor, faculty, and school boards to ensure the continued growth and sustainability of the school.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Enrollment Process:

• Greet students, parents, staff, and visitors warmly and with a spirit of hospitality reflective of our Catholic identity.
• Answer phones and manage email inquiries, directing calls and messages appropriately.
• Maintain a welcoming, organized, and safe front office and reception area.
• Monitor visitor check-in/out procedures and student attendance records in accordance with school policy.

Development:

• Design and execute the school's annual fundraising plan, including annual giving, major gifts, and special campaigns.
• Cultivate relationships with current and prospective donors, alumni, and community partners.
• Coordinate and support school fundraising events and volunteer efforts.
• Write and distribute donor communications, newsletters, and impact reports.

Marketing and Community Engagement:

• Coordinate marketing initiatives to increase school visibility and support enrollment and development goals.
• Manage school branding and produce marketing collateral in print and digital formats.
• Maintain and update the school website.
• Develop and execute a social media strategy to showcase school life, student achievements, and fundraising efforts.
• Work with school leadership to ensure consistent and mission-aligned messaging in all communications.
• Act as a liaison between the school and parish, alumni, local organizations, and the wider community.
• Support and attend school events to build relationships and foster goodwill among stakeholders.
• Create and manage alumni engagement initiatives and maintain alumni records.

Donor Outreach:

• Implement a Moves Management Strategy
• Work with key stakeholders of Parish and School to identity prospects and donors
• Set-up 1 on 1 meetings with donors to better understand why they give and what their potential for future giving may look like.
• Formulate annual appeal mailing to donors.
• Create and manage on-line donor campaigns
• Facilitate important pastor and principal donor engagement interactions, including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Invite major donors to special events (Golf Tournaments and Galas, etc.)
• Partner with event chairs, from mailings (save the dates, invitations, thank you letters) to event implementation.
• Keep record of RSVP's, strategize about major donors' role.
• Find and complete grants

Database management:

• Create a database of donors and potential donors.
• Update records with pertinent donor interaction information within 24-48 hours.
• Create and manage on-line donor campaigns

Stewardship Activities mailings

• Send Thanksgiving cards with personalized messages (label envelopes, cards, etc.).
• Annual reports (compose these in collaboration with the principal).
• Send acknowledgement receipt letters adhering to IRS guidelines.

Complete other work as assigned.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 1 - 2 years of experience in marketing
• Excellent people and communication skills, written and oral. Compelling personal presence.
• Proficient in technology (Microsoft and Google platforms)
• Highly organized and self-motivated. Entrepreneurial.
• Passion for the mission of the parish and the school
• Able to work independently and also as part of a team.
• Willingness to share office space.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Bilingual Spanish and English preferred

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to remain in an office at a computer workstation and access information from a computer and use a telephone. The employee is required to be mobile to, from, and within the office, as well as maneuver throughout the parish/school facility to attend meetings, briefings, and other work-related events. The employee may be required to conduct trips to, from, and within various city and county-wide locations to attend meetings or events. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Santa Sophia Academy, as part of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.