Director of Financial Aid

Ethical Culture Fieldston School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City seeks a Director of Financial Aid to oversee the aid process and serve as a visible ambassador for access and affordability across both campuses. You will implement aid policies, manage the aid budget, oversee need assessment and award recommendations, and collaborate with the Board, senior leadership, and cross‑campus teams to inform strategy.

The role requires five or more years of progressive financial aid experience, a Bachelor’s degree

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive financial aid experience in independent schools.
• Bachelor degree required; Masters degree preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement financial aid strategy aligning with enrollment goals.
• Model aid budget and net tuition revenue scenarios for long-range planning.
• Prepare financial aid reports and present trends to the Board and leadership.
• Lead the Financial Aid Committee processes and award recommendations.
• Serve as primary contact for applicants and families; coordinate with departments.

Skills

Financial aid experience

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Communication skills

Conflict resolution

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Clarity

Job description

Salary Range: $115,000.00 To $125,000.00 Annually

Who we are?

Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves an inclusive community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan.

What is essential about working at our school?

The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of inclusion and belonging deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace all aspects of an individual, including their ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs. We affirm both our differences and commonalities and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students' cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives and see the world beyond the self.

We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in an inclusive environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.

Position Summary

The Director of Financial Aid is the primary point of contact for all families throughout the financial aid process and a visible ambassador for ECFS's commitment to access and affordability. The Director brings clarity and sound judgment to personal and sensitive conversations, helping every family understand the process.

The Director is responsible for implementing ECFS's financial aid policies, procedures, and practices as well as the management and distribution of financial aid awards in conjunction with the Financial Aid Committee. This position reports to the Chief Strategic Enrollment Officer and serves as a staff resource to the Board of Trustees, the Director manages the aid budget, oversees need assessment and award recommendations across both campuses, and uses data to inform policy, enrollment and long-range financial aid planning.

The hiring range for this position is $115,000-$125,000. When determining the salary for a position, ECFS considers factors including, but not limited to: the scope and responsibilities of the position, internal peer equity, key skills required for the role, the candidate's work experience, education and training, as well as market and organizational considerations.

Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Developing and recommending financial aid strategy that advances the school's commitment to access and aligns with enrollment goals, including yield, retention and balance across divisions and campuses;
• In partnership with the Chief Strategic Enrollment Officer and the Finance Office, model aid budget, discount rate, and net tuition revenue scenarios, recommending annual financial aid budget and contributing to long-range financial planning;
• Serving as a staff resource to the Board of Trustees and its Finance Committee and, in coordination with the Chief Strategic Enrollment Officer, preparing and presenting financial aid reports and trend analyses to the Board and senior leadership;
• Leading the financial aid review process and assessment for new and continuing families using established standards and guidelines, and recommending award amounts;
• Serving as the primary contact for financial aid applicants and current families;
• Scheduling and leading the Financial Aid Committee meetings, preparing and providing all relevant materials and data;
• Creating and scheduling informational financial aid programming and materials for new and continuing families;
• Managing financial aid systems and vendor relationships, including Clarity;
• Evaluating appeals and recommending appropriate adjustments in award value;
• Partnering with Student Accounts and other departments to align tuition processes and implementing financial aid policy;
• Representing ECFS in ISAAGNY and other related peer networks;
• Building and sustaining trusting relationships with faculty, staff, parents/guardians, students and other constituencies.
• Motivating and inspiring coworkers to achieve goals; and
• Performing other related projects and duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Five or more years of progressive financial aid experience, preferably in independent schools;
• A Bachelor degree required, Masters degree in related field preferred;
• Excellent time-management and problem solving skills;
• Must possess strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills with empathy to guide families through difficult financial conversations
• The ability to effectively and diplomatically address the needs of competing constituencies;
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills;
• A high degree of organization, resourcefulness and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated ability to build financial models and analyze data to inform policy and budget decisions;
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed;
• Experience working with Clarity, SSS, Finalsite, and Senior Systems is a plus;
• The ability to handle confidential materials with discretion while maintaining a high level of integrity;
• A willingness to learn and embrace new ideas and procedures and a consistent initiative to help streamline processes and improve efficiencies;
• A positive attitude and the ability to listen effectively and be receptive to feedback;
• The ability to work collaboratively in group settings, as well as independently, to meet project goals and team needs;
• Proficiency in utilizing and learning new technologies (i.e., Google Workspace tools);
• Reliability, punctuality, and consistent attendance; and
• The ability to cultivate a welcoming culture in which all members of our community feel valued and appreciated.

EEO ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to be a welcoming community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to hiring practices that ensure all candidates are given fair consideration in alignment with our institutional mission and goals.