Partner Admissions Lead in North Carolina at Project Kitty Hawk

The Partner Admissions Lead (PAL) is the operational leader of a dedicated “Core Team” assigned to a specific Project Kitty Hawk partner institution. The PAL serves as both a people manager and a subject matter expert, combining day-to-day team leadership of Application Specialists (APS) with deep institutional knowledge of their assigned partner’s admissions processes, systems, policies, and people. The PAL is responsible for driving performance outcomes across their Core Team’s admissions funnel while representing PKH Admissions as the primary SME in partner-facing settings. This position reports to the Manager of Admissions Services.

1. Core Team Leadership and Performance Management

• Manage the day-to-day activities, priorities, and workload distribution for the APS team assigned to the partner Core Team.
• Own individual and team performance outcomes, monitoring key funnel metrics (contact rate, application completion, admit-to-start conversion, census attendance) and driving corrective action when targets are not met.
• Coach APS team members through regular one-on-ones, call reviews, pipeline audits, and performance conversations. Identify skill gaps and coordinate development plans with the Manager of Admissions Services.
• Identify at-risk students using the Risk Rating Assessment Rubric and direct APS engagement strategies accordingly.
• Review qualitative and quantitative data to recommend coaching strategies and operational adjustments that improve conversion and student progression.

2. Partner Subject Matter Expertise

• Develop and maintain deep expertise in the assigned partner institution’s admissions processes, systems, people, policies, and academic requirements.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the student journey and the admissions experience specific to the assigned partner.
• Contribute to and help maintain the internal knowledge base, ensuring documentation is current, accurate, and accessible to the APS team.
• Train APS team members on partner-specific admissions processes, providing guidance and expertise based on institutional knowledge.
• Ensure timely communication of process changes, updates, and partner feedback to APS team members.

3. Partner Relationship and Escalation Management

• Represent PKH Admissions as the primary SME in partner-facing meetings, including regular admissions, financial aid, and relevant departmental sessions.
• Attend and contribute to STITCH coordination sessions, escalating student issues and providing status updates when appropriate.
• Categorize and prioritize student issues for escalation; engage the partner institution to determine resolution and communicate outcomes to the APS team.
• Identify areas for operational improvements based on APS feedback, student experience trends, and partner processes, and advocate for solutions internally.

1. New Partner Launch Support

• Validate systems, workflows, and processes outlined by the launch team for assigned new partner launches.
• Identify risks that the launch team may have missed and escalate to the Manager of Admissions Operations and Partnership Development.
• Confirm workflows and SLAs match staffing capacity and capabilities.
• Confirm APS team members can access all required systems, tools, dashboards, and notifications prior to launch.

2. Data Integrity, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor specific metrics and analyze data to recommend strategies that improve conversion and student progression across the Core Team.
• Ensure team compliance with FERPA, institutional data security policies, and CRM data integrity standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Student Success, Partnership Success, Operations, and Marketing to ensure holistic partner and student outcomes.
• Completes other reasonable duties as assigned from time to time, to meet the ongoing needs of the Company.

1. Education and Experience

• • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • 3+ years of experience working in higher education with adult students in an online setting, OR equivalent combination of education and experience in admissions, enrollment management, or student recruitment.
  • Preferred: 5+ years of experience in higher education recruiting, advising, and/or admissions, with demonstrated team leadership or supervisory experience.

1. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• • Knowledge of the challenges and needs specific to adult learners in higher education.
  • Knowledge of and experience with CRM, LMS, and SIS platforms and other technologies used in online higher education and student management.
  • Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and manage the performance of individual contributors in a metrics-driven environment.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret funnel data and translate insights into actionable coaching and operational strategies.
  • Excellent communication, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across team leadership and partner-facing responsibilities.
  • Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to represent PKH credibly in partner-facing settings.
  • Knowledge of relevant academic policies and procedures.
  • Knowledge of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
  • Ability to exercise discretion, professionalism, and good judgment and maintain confidentiality.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment while balancing team management, partner engagement, and operational execution.

• This is a remote position with periodic in-person requirements at partner institutions and PKH offices.
• Usually works during normal business hours, Monday through Friday; may require evening or weekend hours, particularly during peak enrollment periods, partner meetings, or times of travel.
• Travel is expected approximately 3–5 days bi-monthly, utilizing standard forms of travel, including public transportation, individual rental cars, and/or the team member’s personal vehicle.