DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID

Sage Hill School

Newport Coast, California

Sage Hill School (Sage Hill) seeks an innovative, strategic admission leader to serve as its next Director of Admission and Financial Aid. The Director will join one of the finest secondary schools on the West Coast as it embarks on a new strategic plan, with a two-pronged admission focus: creatively increasing the School’s admission pipeline through data-driven analysis and market research, and furthering its commitment to socioeconomic diversity through a planned expansion of financial aid. Founded in 2000, Sage Hill has experienced remarkable growth and success in the past 20 years, and the new Director will play a central role in further advancing the trajectory of a relatively young, nimble independent school.

Sage Hill boasts a vibrant, 28-acre campus with inviting classrooms, wide-open spaces, state-of-the-art athletics and arts facilities, and a recently renovated library. It offers a dynamic, college-preparatory curriculum to its 538 students in grades 9-12, designed to inspire independent, creative, and critical thinking. An average class size of 14 enables students to challenge themselves and nurture relationships with motivated peers and an excellent, dedicated faculty. Sage Hill’s mission emphasizes love of knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge creatively, compassionately, and courageously throughout one’s life. As the only independent school in Orange County, Sage Hill competes with strong, well-regarded public and parochial schools, and constantly reevaluates its value proposition and competitive advantage as a result. At the same time, the School has enjoyed strong, stable leadership in its Head of School, enabling it to maintain steady enrollment numbers and a robust financial outlook. 

A member of a committed and collaborative senior leadership team and a direct report to the Head of School, the Director of Admission and Financial Aid will ensure the continued excellence of Sage Hill’s student body through recruitment practices that resonate with the School’s core values. The next Director will focus on building and sustaining a robust, data-informed admission pipeline within its unique regional context; strengthening partnerships across the School to solidify an integrated admission and financial aid strategy; furthering Sage Hill’s commitment to a socioeconomically diverse student body; and supporting a small, close-knit admission and financial aid team.

The successful candidate must be excited to assume this important role, bringing demonstrated success in admission and financial aid management, as well as an in-depth understanding of the trends and forces shaping independent school admission. The Director must possess exceptional analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills; the ability to synthesize and present complex admission and financial aid data in a clear, concise, and understandable manner; a record of strong mentorship; evidence of building and sustaining diversity – in all its forms – in a student body; and a high level of energy in line with a fast-paced environment. Significant experience in education, either at the secondary or postsecondary level, is essential, as is a resonance with the mission of Sage Hill School.   

Sage Hill has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically to Sheryl Ash and Berkley Burke at www.imsearch.com/8023 .

Sage Hill School is an equal employment opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit, qualifications and competence. The School does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy and breastfeeding), race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality), age (40 and over), marital status, military or veteran status, genetic characteristic or genetic information, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, termination and other conditions of employment.