Associate Dean of Parents - Santa Barbara $200,000 USD/year Pay is set based on global value, not the local market.
Most roles = hourly rate x 40 hrs x 50 weeks
Not accepting applications on crossover.com at this time.
Description
Santa Barbara families do not follow trends. They set them.
Alpha is launching a campus in one of the most selective, relationship-driven communities in California. We are not another private school competing on amenities. Students complete core academics in two focused hours using AI-powered learning systems, then spend the rest of the day building public speaking skills, critical thinking, and real-world execution. The results place students in the top 1% nationally. The model works. The question is whether it can earn trust here.
In year zero through year one, this is a build-from-zero enrollment leadership role. In Santa Barbara, that means earning confidence inside tight social circles where reputation compounds and missteps linger. You will curate intimate info sessions, host private tours, meet families for one-on-one conversations, and selectively shape the founding cohort. Once enrollment is secured and an admissions director joins, you shift into the campus’s primary parent-facing leader, protecting alignment and turning satisfied families into ambassadors within their networks.
This is not transactional sales. It is trust-building at the highest level. You must be credible with families who can afford any school in the country and who expect thoughtful answers to hard questions about AI, screen time, and long-term outcomes. One misaligned family can destabilize a 25-student cohort. Selectivity is not optional.
If you want to build something elite in a market that rewards polish, discretion, and results, this is your opportunity.
What you will be doing
- Own the full enrollment funnel from inquiry to signed agreement until 25 students are secured
- Host curated info sessions and private tours that convert right-fit families while screening out poor-fit applicants
- Build visibility and trust through daily in-person networking, private meetings, and community partnerships across Santa Barbara
- Serve as the primary contact for families, delivering high-touch, concierge-level service
- Clearly articulate and defend Alpha’s AI-powered model to thoughtful, skeptical parents
What you will NOT be doing
- Working a predictable 9–5 schedule; mornings, afternoons, and select evenings are required
- Relying on a large admissions or marketing team to fill your pipeline
- Accepting every applicant to hit a number; protecting cohort quality matters more than volume
- Sitting behind a desk; this role requires consistent in-community presence
Key responsibilities
Build and enroll a 25-student founding cohort in Santa Barbara, then cultivate parent loyalty and advocacy to drive sustained, referral-based growth.
Candidate requirements
- Reside within commuting distance of Santa Barbara or willing to relocate within 60 days
- Legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship
- 5+ years of experience serving high-net-worth clients in consultative sales or high-touch client experience roles (private school admissions, luxury services, hospitality, philanthropy, etc.)
- Demonstrated success managing a sales or enrollment funnel with clear conversion metrics
- Executive presence and communication skills suited for affluent, highly educated families
- Entrepreneurial self-starter comfortable operating independently in an early-stage campus environment
- Conviction in AI-powered education and comfort addressing concerns about screen time and non-traditional models
- Availability for early mornings (7–9am), late afternoons (2–4pm), evening events (2–3x per month), and occasional weekend activities
Nice to have
- Established relationships within the Santa Barbara or Montecito community
- Experience in private or independent school admissions leadership
- Background in luxury real estate, development, or major gift fundraising
- Startup or early-stage company experience
- Experience hosting high-end events or cultivating community partnerships
You will be working for
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