Student Services Manager (Family Engagement & Enrollment)

Friendly Academy; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health benefits

Pension plan

Dental & vision

Job summary

Friendly Academy, a new K-5 charter in St. Louis, seeks a Student Services Manager to bridge between school and families and drive enrollment growth. You will lead outreach, manage lotteries, and coordinate with operations to ensure student success and engagement.

You will partner with families, organize events, and track data to inform strategy while ensuring timely communications and support services are available to families in the community.

Qualifications

• Engaging communicator with ability to connect with diverse families.
• Organized planner who can manage multiple outreach initiatives and events.
• Detail-oriented and proficient with data tracking and follow-up with families.
• Proficiency with data management systems, CRM tools, SIS, and social media for outreach.
• Alignment with Friendly Academy's mission and values.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enrollment strategies to reach 100 students in year one and 75 students of growth annually.
• Conduct outreach events, tours, and community partnerships to attract families.
• Represent Friendly Academy at community events and fairs to promote programs.
• Oversee social media to support recruitment and family engagement and engage with families online.
• Coordinate the student lottery process with transparency and regulatory compliance.
• Build strong relationships with enrolled families to foster belonging and engagement.
• Identify at-risk scholars and coordinate with leadership to intervene and support.
• Track enrollment data, outreach activities, and family engagement metrics and report progress.
• Assist families with wraparound services and home visits to support student success.

Skills

Engaging communicator

Organized planner

Detail-oriented

Technically proficient

Family-centered

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

CRM tools

SIS (Student Information Systems)

Social media platforms

Job description

Friendly Academy Student Services Manager (Family Engagement & Enrollment) SAINT LOUIS, MO·Full time Company website

We are seeking a Student Services Manager who will serve as the bridge between our school and the community — ensuring we meet our enrollment goals while fostering meaningful, lasting relationships with families. This role is critical to establishing and maintaining the trust and engagement of the families we serve.

About Friendly Academy

Friendly Academy is a new school in North St. Louis. Our mission is to equip students with a quality and holistic education rooted in love.

Description

Overview

Friendly Academy is a new K-5 charter school in St. Louis, MO. Friendly Academy's mission is to equip students with a quality and holistic education rooted in love. Partnering with the community and families, Friendly Academy empowers all students to live purpose-driven lives by using their gifts and talents to make a positive difference in their families, their communities, and the world.

As we prepare to launch strong, our goal is to begin the school year with 100 students and grow by 75 students annually. To achieve this, we are seeking a Student Services Manager who will serve as the bridge between our school and the community — ensuring we meet our enrollment goals while fostering meaningful, lasting relationships with families. This role is critical to establishing and maintaining the trust and engagement of the families we serve.

Who You Are

• Passionate Community Advocate: You are enthusiastic about education and committed to promoting Friendly
• Academy's mission to families and the wider community.
• Engaging Communicator: You excel at building relationships, connecting with diverse families, and sharing the value of our school's offerings.
• Organized Planner: You thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple outreach initiatives and events to meet ambitious enrollment and retention goals.
• Detail-Oriented and Technically Proficient: You are highly organized and possess strong technical skills, enabling you to effectively track progress, manage data, and follow up with families and stakeholders.
• Family-Centered: You prioritize the needs of families, ensuring they feel welcomed, supported, and loved throughout their experience with Friendly Academy.

Responsibilities

Enrollment & Recruitment

• Develop and implement strategies to achieve the enrollment goal of 100 students in year one and annual growth of 75 students thereafter.
• Conduct outreach initiatives — including events, school tours, and community partnership— to attract prospective families.
• Represent Friendly Academy at community events and fairs to promote our mission and programs.
• Oversee social media platforms to support student recruitment and family engagement by creating content that highlights school events, programs, and achievements, and by interacting with prospective and current families to build a strong online presence.
• Support the planning, organization, and execution of the student lottery process, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and transparent communication with families.
• Engage with student recruitment consultants to align on strategies, share insights, and implement best practices to achieve enrollment goals.
• Own persistence goals; lead the intent to return process each year.
• Build strong, lasting relationships with enrolled families to foster a sense of belonging and engagement.
• Proactively identify scholars at withdrawal risk and coordinate with school leadership and student support staff to intervene.
• Track retention actions, withdrawal reasons, and persistence outcomes; use data to improve strategy.
• Act as a liaison between families and staff, addressing concerns and facilitating resolutions.
• Assist families in identifying and accessing wraparound services within the community — such as housing assistance, mental health resources, childcare, and employment support — to help address barriers to student success.
• Assist with conducting home visits to build stronger relationships with families, assess student needs, and provide resources or support to ensure student success and well-being.

Family Engagement & Community Partnerships

• Create and organize family engagement events and initiatives to strengthen connections between families and the school community.
• Lead family communications — draft and send regular newsletters, announcements, and one-off messages via the school's family communications platform.
• Maintain family contact logs and track satisfaction through surveys and informal feedback.
• Develop partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders to enhance recruitment efforts and expand resources for families.
• Track partner contributions and family feedback; secure required approval before making any commitments on behalf of the school.
• Serve as the primary contact for inquiries from prospective families, providing personalized and timely responses.

Transportation

• Manage the school's transportation vendor — hold them accountable for route reliability, timeliness, and communication.
• Coordinate routes and timing, respond to family concerns, and response to service failures appropriately.
• Maintain all documentation required for transportation compliance and reporting.
• Administrative Support & Data
• Assist the Director of Operations with student registration processes, including ensuring families submit necessary documentation and complete forms accurately.
• Provide support for enrollment data entry, maintenance, and verification in student information systems.
• Participate in meetings and trainings related to the Common School Application process to ensure a thorough understanding of application procedures and provide accurate guidance to prospective families.
• Track enrollment data, outreach activities, and family engagement metrics.
• Provide regular reports to the Director of Operations on progress toward enrollment and persistence goals.

Daily School Operations

• Take an active post in arrival, lunch, and dismissal systems daily — every operations team member contributes to keeping scholars safe and the day running smoothly.
• Support special-day logistics (field trips, assemblies, special schedules) as assigned by the Director of Operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., communications, marketing, education, or social work) preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in family engagement, recruitment, or community outreach, ideally within an educational or nonprofit setting.
• Proficiency in data management systems, CRM tools, student information systems (SIS), and social media platforms for outreach and engagement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to connect with diverse families and community stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of and sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the families we serve.
• Willingness to work non-traditional hours when needed, including some evenings and weekends for events and community outreach.
• Alignment with Friendly Academy's mission and values.

What We Offer You

• Join a school community where love is the center of our education model — without deprioritizing academic rigor and excellence.
• A school culture that promotes wellness by serving the whole child and adult through community partnerships and monthly wellness days.
• The opportunity to innovate and be part of a founding team that creates the landscape for strong student outcomes.
• Professional development based on growth areas and interests.
• Competitive compensation, pension, health, dental, and vision benefits.

Employment Status

Full-time, exempt position. Reports to the Director of Operations.

We review applications on a rolling basis — early applications are encouraged.

Friendly Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression), citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, military status, veteran status, genetic information, or any legally protected status in any of its employment practices, educational programs, services, activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

This job description is intended to accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. The Board reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary.