Director of Family Engagement

$400,000 USD/year ^{Pay is set based on global value, not the local market. Most roles = hourly rate x 40 hrs x 50 weeks}  ($200 USD/hour)

• Manage the complete parent relationship arc—from initial outreach through enrollment, ongoing retention, and sustained advocacy—ensuring faculty remain student-focused and families always have a reliable point of contact
• Detect early signals when something is amiss, and address it with the discretion and insight that preserves trust—including the more difficult judgment of recognizing when a family isn't aligned with the school
• Maintain consistent presence in the spaces families occupy: morning drop-off, afternoon pick-up, evening programming, and the spontaneous exchanges that carry the most weight
• Develop a community that both domestic and international families feel invested in protecting—where referrals occur naturally because the experience justifies them
• Communicate Alpha's mission persuasively—in private conversations, at hosted events, and in the skeptical New York circles where the school's standing is truly established

• Operating from behind a desk—your physical presence within the community defines this role
• Adhering to standard office hours—early arrivals, late afternoons, and evening commitments are inherent to the position, not occasional requirements
• Redirecting challenging parent discussions to faculty or school leadership—these conversations are yours to resolve
• Relying on established infrastructure, predefined workflows, or a built-out team—you'll function with significant independence and create the systems you require
• Managing family relationships as transactional accounts—this role depends on authentic engagement, not procedural execution

Serve as the central trusted relationship for every family at Alpha's Lower Manhattan location. Maintain their confidence through challenging moments, foster a community where belonging is meaningful, and establish the environment in which satisfied families become active champions within the networks that influence New York's independent school ecosystem.

• 5+ years building and sustaining trust with high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth families in a high-touch, relationship-centered capacity
• Demonstrated success advising discerning clients through consequential decisions—with measurable results you can describe: conversion rates, retention metrics, referral generation
• The discretion and poise to manage sensitive, confidential matters without causing disruption
• Instinctive cross-cultural competence—equally adept with a diplomatic family encountering American schooling for the first time and a multi-generation New York household deeply familiar with this environment
• Located in New York, available for full-time on-site presence, and flexible with scheduling demands
• Authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship

• Professional background that New York's most selective families immediately respect—independent school admissions, high-end hospitality, an exclusive membership organization with recognized prestige in the city, or philanthropic development at an institution they already value
• Direct or professional exposure to independent or alternative education models
• Established connections within New York City's private school parent communities
• Experience working with internationally mobile, diplomatic, or globally oriented families
• A personal network extending through the residential buildings, private clubs, and institutions where Alpha's families make decisions and form opinions