Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Overview

The High Mountain Institute is seeking a Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, a full-time administrative, FLSA-exempt position, starting in Summer 2026. This position is based on HMI’s campus in Leadville, CO; on-campus housing is included in the compensation package. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director is responsible for overseeing all marketing, recruiting, admissions, and financial aid initiatives for the school in order to maximize enrollment and meet strategic enrollment priorities. The Director serves as a senior school leader and supervises two or more associates.

The ideal candidate will have previous marketing and/or admissions experience, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting. The candidate will be a strong communicator and public speaker, an innovative storyteller, and have an eye for design. The candidate will be passionate about increasing diversity and access in the independent school and outdoor recreation industries, and be a champion of equity in the school’s admissions, marketing, and enrollment efforts.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

Admissions and Financial Aid
– Oversee all admissions and financial aid initiatives for the HMI Semester, Summer Term, Gap, and short programs
– Maintain and develop relationships with contacts at sending schools, summer camps, and educational non-profits; introduce HMI to new schools and administrators
– Cultivate relationships with parents and students that lead to applications
– Travel for 5-10 weeks per year for admissions and create promotion & travel schedules for the admissions team (100+ school visits, evening presentations, administrative visits, virtual events, etc.)
– Advance initiatives to increase diversity in the student body
– Collaborate with HMI’s alumni and parent community to engage prospective students and families
– Manage and improve HMI’s website; oversee HMI digital marketing efforts via digital ads, social media, and professional videos
– Make and communicate admissions and financial aid decisions for all HMI programs
– Serve as an advocate for students and families receiving financial aid

Other
– Serve as a member of HMI’s administrative team and fulfill administrative responsibilities, including serving as an Administrator on Call.
– Supervise two full-time associates
– Opportunity to lead backpacking trips, gain wilderness medicine certifications, and engage with students as appropriate
– 10% of every position is doing whatever needs to be done at HMI

Start Date: Summer 2026 (exact start date flexible)

Location: On-site at our campus in Leadville, CO.

Position Pay & Benefits:
– $56,000-$71,000 annual Total Compensation (inclusive of on-campus housing)
– Health, dental, and vision benefits
– Paid parental/FAMLI leave benefits
– 4-9% retirement benefits match after 1 year
– 6-8 weeks of vacation per year
– View a full list of employee benefits at https://hminet.org/employment-2/

Tagged as: Administrative Staff

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:
- Commitment to HMI’s mission and core values
- Strong communication and public speaking skills
- Highly organized self-starter/entrepreneur; strong multi-tasker
- Creative thinker; innovator; story-teller
- Ability to pass a criminal background check
- Current driver's license

Required Skills:

Physical Requirements: Ability to travel independently around the country (in planes, trains, rental cars, etc), ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Skills:

Preferred Qualifications:
- BA/BS, 2+ years of admissions and/or marketing work, preferably in an educational or non-profit setting
- Experience in an independent school, outdoor program, or summer camp setting
- Experience with web design, graphic design, and online marketing tools
- Experience with enrollment management tools (specifically Finalsite and Clarity)
- Experience with database/CRM systems (specifically Salesforce)
- Experience supervising and managing personnel