Hiring Campus Director in Baltimore

Cortiva Institute is a nationally recognized provider of hands-on career training in allied health, wellness, and beauty fields, with 12 campuses across the United States dedicated to helping students build fulfilling, in-demand careers through accessible, high-quality education. For our Baltimore/Linthicum Heights, MD campus, we are seeking an experienced Campus Director to lead all campus operations, drive student success, and uphold our mission of removing barriers to career advancement for learners across the Baltimore metro area.

This is a hands-on leadership role with direct impact on every facet of campus performance, from student outcomes to staff engagement to regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading post-secondary campuses, building cross-functional teams, and delivering measurable improvements in retention, enrollment, and operational efficiency. You will report directly to the Vice President of Campus Operations and serve as the primary leader for our 25+ person campus team, as well as the key point of contact for students, local healthcare partners, state education officials, and community stakeholders.

Key responsibilities for this role include:
- Overseeing end-to-end campus operations including academic scheduling, facilities management, student services, and administrative workflows, ensuring full compliance with Maryland State Department of Education regulations, Title IV federal financial aid rules, and Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) standards, with zero non-critical compliance gaps during annual regulatory audits.
- Leading a cross-functional campus team of academic faculty, student advisors, admissions staff, and operations personnel, implementing performance management frameworks that reduce voluntary staff turnover by at least 15% year-over-year and improve annual team engagement scores by 10%.
- Developing and executing targeted student retention strategies to achieve a 90%+ term-to-term retention rate, including proactive outreach for at-risk students, coordination of academic support resources, and alignment with career services to improve post-graduation employment rates for our massage therapy, medical assisting, esthetics, and personal training programs.
- Managing an annual campus operating budget of $3.2M, implementing cost-control measures for supplies, facilities, and vendor contracts that reduce operational expenses by 5-7% annually without compromising program quality or student support services.
- Building and maintaining partnerships with local hospitals, wellness centers, and clinical placement sites to expand hands-on training opportunities, with a target of securing 3+ new formal placement agreements per year to support program growth.
- Leading campus recruitment and enrollment initiatives in partnership with the admissions team, meeting annual enrollment targets of 350+ new students per year while ensuring all admissions processes adhere to federal and state regulations and ethical recruitment standards.
- Overseeing campus facilities and safety protocols, conducting monthly safety audits to ensure all spaces meet ADA accessibility and fire safety requirements, with a target of zero reportable safety incidents per academic year.
- Analyzing campus performance metrics including enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and student satisfaction scores, presenting monthly reports to the regional leadership team and implementing data-driven improvements that increase overall student satisfaction by 10% within the first 18 months of tenure.
- Serving as the primary point of contact for student escalations, implementing structured feedback processes that reduce unresolved student complaints by 20% per year.
- Representing Cortiva Institute at local workforce development and education events, building brand awareness in the Baltimore community and supporting outreach to prospective students.

Our campus culture is collaborative, student-centered, and focused on collective impact: every team member is invested in learner success, and we prioritize work-life balance, professional growth, and inclusive practices for all staff. You will have access to national operational support, shared leadership resources, and the flexibility to implement creative solutions tailored to your campus's unique needs.

To qualify for this role, you will need:
- 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in higher education administration, preferably at a career-focused or allied health college.
- Proven track record of improving student retention, enrollment, and operational efficiency in a post-secondary setting, with measurable results from previous roles.
- Deep understanding of federal and state higher education regulations, including Title IV financial aid, state licensing requirements for allied health programs, and career school accreditation standards.
- Proven experience managing annual operational budgets of $2M or more, with a track record of delivering cost savings without compromising service quality.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience building partnerships with local healthcare and community organizations.
- Proficiency in higher education information systems including Ellucian Banner or PowerCampus, learning management systems such as Canvas or Blackboard, and advanced Microsoft Excel for budget tracking and reporting.
- Bachelor's degree in Education Administration, Business Management, or a related field; Master's degree is strongly preferred.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel between the Baltimore and Linthicum Heights campus locations as needed. Background check clearance is required for this role.

This role offers a competitive total rewards package aligned with your experience and impact:
- Base annual salary of $95,000 - $115,000, commensurate with experience, plus a performance-based annual bonus of up to 10% of base salary tied to campus enrollment, retention, and compliance targets.
- Full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, with 90% of premium costs covered for employees and 50% for covered dependents.
- 20 days of paid time off annually, plus 10 paid company holidays and 5 dedicated paid professional development days per year for relevant continuing education or conference attendance.
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,000 per year for education administration or leadership-related coursework.
- 401(k) retirement plan with 4% employer match.
- Hybrid flexible work schedule, with 3 days per week on campus for team and stakeholder meetings, and 2 days per week available for remote administrative and strategic planning work.

As a Campus Director with Cortiva Institute, you will have clear pathways for career advancement: high-performing leaders are regularly considered for regional director roles overseeing multiple campuses, or corporate leadership positions in academic operations, student success strategy, or national program development. We provide quarterly leadership development sessions, executive coaching for emerging leaders, and opportunities to lead cross-campus initiatives that shape the future of career education across our national footprint.

The hiring process will proceed as follows:
1. Application submission: Qualified candidates should submit their resume, a 1-page statement outlining your experience improving campus operations and student outcomes in higher education, and contact information for 3 professional references to [email protected] by October 15, 2024.
2. Initial screening: Complete applications will be reviewed within 5 business days, and selected candidates will be invited to a 30-minute phone screening with the regional operations manager.
3. On-site panel interview: Selected candidates will complete a half-day on-site interview at our Baltimore/Linthicum Heights campus, including a facility tour, panel interview with campus staff and student representatives, and a 20-minute presentation on your approach to improving student retention in a career college setting.
4. Final interview: Advancing candidates will meet with the Vice President of Campus Operations for a 45-minute interview focused on long-term strategic alignment.
5. Offer extension: Final offers will be extended within 10 business days of the final interview, with a target start date of 30 days from offer acceptance, pending successful background check and reference verification.