Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admissions

Job Description

Job Description

Position Purpose

The Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admissions has a key role within Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's Admissions and Enrollment Management Office. This position leads the administration of the school's financial aid program while managing operational details around enrollment and using data analysis and reporting to help guide admissions strategy. Reporting to the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management and working in close collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer, the Director is responsible for aligning financial aid awarding with enrollment goals, supporting tuition revenue planning, and providing data-backed insights to inform SCH's recruitment, yield, and retention efforts. The role requires a strong balance of analytical thinking, operational excellence, and sound judgment in working with families and managing financial aid resources. Ideally, this position starts on August 1, 2026.

Essential Functions

I. Financial Aid Leadership and Administration

• Oversees the full administration of SCH's financial aid program, including application review, need analysis, award determination, and communication with both new and returning families.
• Partners with the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management to align financial aid decisions with enrollment priorities and class composition goals.
• Serves as a key member of the Financial Aid Committee, contributing to discussions on policy, philosophy, and award allocations.
• Manages and monitors the financial aid budget, ensuring responsible stewardship and alignment with tuition revenue goals.
• Exercises professional judgment in evaluating complex financial situations while maintaining consistency, equity, and confidentiality.
• Ensures compliance with all policies, procedures, and ethical standards related to financial aid.

II. Enrollment Operations and Analytics

• Oversees SCH's Finalsite admissions and enrollment dashboard and workflow process.
• Collaborates on the forecasting and modeling of enrollment, tuition revenue, and discount rate.
• Tracks and evaluates key metrics, including:
  • Financial aid budget and discount rate
  • Yield by aid level and student segment
  • Retention and attrition metrics
  • Socioeconomic and demographic composition of enrolled students
  • Develops and maintains reports and dashboards related to financial aid and enrollment metrics.
• Participates in creating and delivering board presentations.
• Partners with the admissions team to strengthen data tracking, pipeline visibility, and forecasting processes.
• Ensures accurate record-keeping and confidentiality of all financial aid data.
• Develops reports and benchmarks to improve enrollment processes, streamline workflows, and enhance data accessibility across multiple platforms.

III. Admissions

• Plays a crucial role in all aspects of Admissions, including:
  • Interview student applicants.
  • Conduct parent interviews.
  • Serve on the retention committee and the admissions committees.
  • Work admissions events and open houses.
  • Assist in the training of student tour guides.
  • Act as an SCH ambassador.
  • Lead campus tours when needed.

IV. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Community Engagement

• Works closely with the Business Office to support budgeting, tuition billing alignment, and financial aid reconciliation.
• Communicates the financial aid process clearly and compassionately to prospective and current families.
• Develops materials and programming to educate families about financial aid and affordability at SCH.
• Meets with new and returning families about their financial aid questions to support enrollment and retention efforts.
• Collaborates with admissions colleagues to support enrollment and yield efforts, including interviewing applications and being a team player at large-scale admissions events.
• Contributes to broader conversations around enrollment, access, and affordability at SCH.
• Builds trust with families while navigating sensitive financial conversations with professionalism and discretion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5-10 years of experience in financial aid, enrollment management, finance, or a related field required, preferably within an independent school setting.
• Experience managing financial aid programs and working with need-analysis platforms (e.g., Clarity, SSS).
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience interpreting data to support decision-making.
• Proficiency in Excel and data tools; experience with reporting systems and dashboards preferred.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion in handling confidential financial information.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments, including admissions and finance.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated sensitivity, knowledge, and understanding of the diverse backgrounds of community members with a continuous focus on healthy relationship building.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of cultural competency skills and enthusiasm for issues of diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism, particularly as it relates to access and affordability.
• Must be able to manage a fast-paced, dynamic work environment with flexibility, humor, and a focus on collaborative, team-based problem solving.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally.
• Able to move around school environments.
• Regularly use close and distance vision.

Application Procedures

To be considered, candidates must upload a cover letter, resume, and information for three professional references through our online platform.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The School is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application process and in employment as required by law.