Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

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

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

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
• Experience advocating for and supporting equity and inclusion efforts within an organization

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

About the High Mountain Institute: Founded in 1995, HMI is a nonprofit independent school with a focus on outdoor, experiential, and place-based education. HMI serves approximately 150 students per year across its high school, summer, and gap programming. About 30% of students receive financial aid, and a similar percentage identify as people of color. All HMI students participate in extended wilderness expeditions lasting from 10-21 days. HMI is not a rehabilitative or wilderness therapy program. HMI students are high-achieving, healthy students seeking challenge, a strong community, and a deeper connection to nature. HMI has about 25 year-round staff, most of whom live on campus. Learn more at: www.hminet.org

Equity and Inclusion at HMI: The High Mountain Institute is committed to building a more diverse and affirming school and outdoor industry. HMI is an equal opportunity employer that strives for diversity by honoring the differences of each member of our community. We seek to build a community (of faculty, staff, students, and trustees) that is ethnically, socio-economically, and geographically diverse and that brings a diversity of experience, background, talent, and perspective. People of color, LGBTQ+ and gender nonbinary people, and people with other historically marginalized identities are encouraged to apply. Learn more at: www.hminet.org/dei.

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 here

Housing at HMI: HMI is proud to offer recently-constructed on-campus housing to its employees. Living on campus is a condition of employment. Total Compensation is the combination of cash salary plus the value of on-campus housing. For example, a Total Compensation of $60,000 typically represents a cash salary of $51,000 and $9,000 of housing value. Actual figures vary by employee and living arrangement, with typical on-campus housing value of $9,000 for most employees.