Gersh Autism Academy
Director of Admissions & Legal Operations
Gersh Autism Academy, Huntington, New York, United States
Overview
Base pay range: $90,000.00/yr - $120,000.00/yr For over 30 years, Gersh Autism has empowered students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential. Serving individuals aged 5-21 across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, our network of K-12 schools provides personalized education and comprehensive therapeutic services. Our dedicated team collaborates with families to ensure academic, social, and emotional growth, preparing students for success beyond the classroom. The Director of Admissions & Legal Operations is a strategic and relational leader responsible for overseeing Gersh Academy’s legal advocacy operations while driving growth. This dual-role ensures strong external partnerships with advocates and professionals, and operational excellence in contract, documentation management, and Admissions Software Management. The role reports to the Executive Vice President of Admissions and supports placing students in the least restrictive and most supportive educational environment. Responsibilities
Legal & Advocacy Oversight: ensure the strength and viability of each placement case by coordinating internal case review and documentation prior to hearings or district engagement. Maintain and nurture relationships with external advocacy attorneys to position Gersh as a preferred placement referral for complex special education cases. Oversee intake and collection of all required legal and clinical documentation to initiate and sustain student placement. Supervise contract execution and documentation processes related to each student’s placement, ensuring timely and compliant file completion. Partner with admissions and operations staff to streamline workflows that support legal onboarding and contract readiness. Oversee accuracy and completeness of student records in Finalsite CRM, including uploading remaining documents and ongoing data validation. Monitor case timelines and proactively follow up with attorneys, families, and internal teams to ensure timely submission of documentation and enrollment decisions. Admissions Growth & Partnerships
Identify and cultivate new and existing referral sources (developmental pediatricians, neuropsychologists, advocates, attorneys, independent evaluators). Develop and maintain relationships with public school districts and special education directors to position Gersh Academy as a trusted out-of-district placement partner. Represent Gersh Academy at professional events and within key networks in the special education legal and clinical communities. Collaborate with marketing and admissions teams to coordinate messaging and outreach strategies for various referral segments. Leadership & Collaboration
Report regularly to the Senior EVP of Admissions on legal trends, referral activity, pipeline development, and case quality. Provide support and training to internal teams regarding special education law, impartial hearing readiness, and document preparation. Collaborate with education, clinical, and administrative leaders to ensure a seamless experience for families during the admissions and legal advocacy process. Oversee collaboration on the placement of the student with local school campus leaders. Qualifications
Advanced degree in business, public policy, or special education preferred; significant experience in operations, special education advocacy or law required. Minimum of 7 years' experience in operations, the special education legal system, advocacy, or non-public placement environment. Deep knowledge of IDEA, FAPE, IEP processes, impartial hearings, and CSE meetings. Demonstrated success in building referral relationships with attorneys, districts, or evaluators. Highly organized with strong follow-through on documentation, contract workflows, and compliance. Proven process improvement in operations. Willingness and ability to travel regularly for meetings, events, and outreach opportunities. Prior work in a special education school or therapeutic setting. Location
New York or Remote (with regular travel) Benefits
Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k matching) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity) Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Training & Development
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Base pay range: $90,000.00/yr - $120,000.00/yr For over 30 years, Gersh Autism has empowered students on the autism spectrum to reach their full potential. Serving individuals aged 5-21 across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, our network of K-12 schools provides personalized education and comprehensive therapeutic services. Our dedicated team collaborates with families to ensure academic, social, and emotional growth, preparing students for success beyond the classroom. The Director of Admissions & Legal Operations is a strategic and relational leader responsible for overseeing Gersh Academy’s legal advocacy operations while driving growth. This dual-role ensures strong external partnerships with advocates and professionals, and operational excellence in contract, documentation management, and Admissions Software Management. The role reports to the Executive Vice President of Admissions and supports placing students in the least restrictive and most supportive educational environment. Responsibilities
Legal & Advocacy Oversight: ensure the strength and viability of each placement case by coordinating internal case review and documentation prior to hearings or district engagement. Maintain and nurture relationships with external advocacy attorneys to position Gersh as a preferred placement referral for complex special education cases. Oversee intake and collection of all required legal and clinical documentation to initiate and sustain student placement. Supervise contract execution and documentation processes related to each student’s placement, ensuring timely and compliant file completion. Partner with admissions and operations staff to streamline workflows that support legal onboarding and contract readiness. Oversee accuracy and completeness of student records in Finalsite CRM, including uploading remaining documents and ongoing data validation. Monitor case timelines and proactively follow up with attorneys, families, and internal teams to ensure timely submission of documentation and enrollment decisions. Admissions Growth & Partnerships
Identify and cultivate new and existing referral sources (developmental pediatricians, neuropsychologists, advocates, attorneys, independent evaluators). Develop and maintain relationships with public school districts and special education directors to position Gersh Academy as a trusted out-of-district placement partner. Represent Gersh Academy at professional events and within key networks in the special education legal and clinical communities. Collaborate with marketing and admissions teams to coordinate messaging and outreach strategies for various referral segments. Leadership & Collaboration
Report regularly to the Senior EVP of Admissions on legal trends, referral activity, pipeline development, and case quality. Provide support and training to internal teams regarding special education law, impartial hearing readiness, and document preparation. Collaborate with education, clinical, and administrative leaders to ensure a seamless experience for families during the admissions and legal advocacy process. Oversee collaboration on the placement of the student with local school campus leaders. Qualifications
Advanced degree in business, public policy, or special education preferred; significant experience in operations, special education advocacy or law required. Minimum of 7 years' experience in operations, the special education legal system, advocacy, or non-public placement environment. Deep knowledge of IDEA, FAPE, IEP processes, impartial hearings, and CSE meetings. Demonstrated success in building referral relationships with attorneys, districts, or evaluators. Highly organized with strong follow-through on documentation, contract workflows, and compliance. Proven process improvement in operations. Willingness and ability to travel regularly for meetings, events, and outreach opportunities. Prior work in a special education school or therapeutic setting. Location
New York or Remote (with regular travel) Benefits
Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision) Retirement Plan (401k matching) Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity) Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Training & Development
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