Deerfield Academy, a private coeducational boarding school founded in 1797 and annually serving approximately 650 students grades 9-12, seeks an Associate Director of Multicultural Recruitment with a start date of July 1, 2024. Working with and reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Admission/Director of Multicultural Recruitment, the Associate Director’s primary responsibility will be to identify, cultivate, recruit, and enroll students of color through the admissions process. Specific elements of this work include: initiating and maintaining relationships with programs that identify talented students of color; organizing campus visits for Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) and programs; attending events and functions to promote Deerfield and boarding schools more generally to underrepresented candidates; assistant with Deerfield’s TSAO Flyback Program for students of color; and partnering with the Office of Inclusion & Community Life to facilitate external messaging. The Associate Director will also collaborate with other Admissions Officers to develop strategies consistent with enrollment goals; review and create external admission materials; and execute all phases of the candidate selection process, including conducting interviews, writing and sharing candidate summaries, and participating in selection committees. Outside the Admissions Office, other responsibilities will include leading co-curricular activities (varsity or sub-varsity teams, community service activities, publications, etc.), dormitory residence or supervision, advising, committee work, and family-style dining hall meals with students. Faculty also have opportunities to design and lead domestic and international travel programs.
We are looking for candidates who exhibit excellence in their work and who can help develop a student body that represents the fundamental learning objectives traits outlined in The Deerfield Student: leadership and judgment, open-mindedness and curiosity, mastery and metacognition, and scholarship. Additionally, we seek colleagues who are life-long learners. Candidates must be prepared to fully participate in the life of a bustling boarding school, teaching, mentoring, and modeling in all aspects of school life. We believe diversity and inclusion are essential elements of a thriving educational community and actively seek candidates who are members of and/or exhibit the skills needed to support traditionally underrepresented groups, especially in terms of race, sexual orientation, and educational background.
Additionally, candidates for this position will possess the following specific attributes/qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (required)
- 3-5 years’ experience in admissions or a related professional field
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite, Google Docs/Sheets, data entry and integrated databases
- Demonstrated cultural competency and commitment to inclusivity
- Willingness and flexibility to conduct 4-5 weeks of off-campus travel during the Admissions recruitment season
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to multitask and prioritize in a detail-and deadline-driven environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Discretion and a sensitivity to confidential matters
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Interest in and demonstrated skill working with adolescents
- The interest, initiative, and energy to thrive in a lively and fast-paced residential academic community
- A sense of humor
Why Deerfield?
Deerfield Academy offers faculty an opportunity to contribute to a dynamic educational institution, continue to develop professionally, and live in a close-knit community. Among the reasons faculty are drawn to and continue to work at Deerfield:
Our students, who come to us from 36 states and 47 countries, are excited to learn, work hard at their studies, and actively engage in a variety of activities outside the classroom.
Our 300-acre campus boasts exceptional facilities and access to the picturesque natural surroundings of Western Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. Our physical spaces on and adjacent to campus support powerful teaching, learning, and community building.
Our proximity to the Five Colleges network (Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst) provides ample opportunities for collaboration beyond our campus.
Our faculty are committed to continuous growth for themselves and our programs, and we provide extensive support for that growth. Over the past five years, we have committed $1.6M to funding faculty professional development, including supporting 33 faculty in their work towards advanced degrees. Our faculty enjoy an excellent benefits package, including on-campus housing, meals, and use of campus facilities for themselves and their families.