College Loans Outreach Officer

The Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) advances financial stability and upward mobility for lower-income New Yorkers of all backgrounds by making safe, affordable interest-free loans.

HFLS is the largest nonprofit interest-free lender in the United States. We have been making loans based on financial need to borrowers of all backgrounds since 1892. Our repayment rate is 99%, the result of a unique lending model that relies on guarantors to prevent default. As our loans are repaid, the capital is lent out again and again, helping more people and multiplying impact over time.

HFLS has a strong and supportive work culture and a reputation for innovation and leadership in the field. This year HFLS will lend more than $33 million to nearly 2,000 households, and we strive to help more people every year.

THE OPPORTUNITY

College is increasingly expensive, and recent changes to the federal student loan program restrict the amount of government loans available to pay for college, forcing students into expensive private loans or leaving them without access to credit at all. HFLS interest-free College Loans can save students and their parents thousands of dollars, but not enough families know about them.

HFLS seeks a part-time College Loans Outreach Officer to increase awareness of and referrals to this program. The Officer will connect HFLS with colleges, organizations and individuals throughout the New York City area who are well positioned to refer students and families who may benefit from interest-free college loans.

The College Loans Outreach Officer will increase the number of qualified college loan applicants referred to HFLS by building, strengthening, and sustaining a focused network of referral sources. These may include high school guidance counselors, college access and success programs, financial aid offices and counselors, community organizations, social service agencies, and other organizations and groups that serve students and families planning or paying for college.

Unlike other outreach positions at HFLS, which promote the organization’s full range of interest-free loan programs, this role is dedicated exclusively to expanding access to HFLS’s interest-free College Loan Program. The College Loan Outreach Officer will be responsible for increasing awareness of the program, developing and implementing outreach strategies, building relationships with schools and community partners, and guiding prospective borrowers through the application process to ensure completed applications are submitted for loan committee review.

HFLS currently awards approximately 75 college loans each year. The primary objective of this position is to help double that number during the first year by increasing qualified applications and improving applicant engagement throughout the loan process.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research, identify, and prioritize high-value referral sources in the New York City area that serve students and families who may be eligible for HFLS interest-free college loans.

• With colleagues, create an outreach strategy that targets referral sources and partnerships with the highest potential return on investment.
• Build and maintain relationships with staff at schools, colleges, scholarship and support programs, and other organizations that can refer prospective college loan applicants.
• Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations and produce outreach materials for referral source staff, students, parents/guardians, and other relevant audiences.
• Train referral source staff on loan eligibility, the application process, required documents, and repayment terms; collect feedback to improve the program and process.
• Provide direct assistance to College Loan applicants during the application process, ensuring completed applications are ready to be assessed by a loan officer.
• Enter and maintain accurate, up-to-date information in Salesforce about referral organizations, contacts, meetings, presentations, tasks, and outreach outcomes.
• Promote HFLS College Loans at relevant local meetings, events, and gatherings.
• With colleagues, develop targeted emails, website content, and social media posts about college loans and referral partnerships.
• Maintain regular individual communication with referral sources so HFLS remains top of mind and responsive to questions.

THE CANDIDATE

This is an excellent opportunity for an outgoing, organized candidate with strong communication skills. The ideal candidate enjoys interacting with many different people and takes a customer service-oriented approach to their work.

Must Haves:

• Strong commitment to HFLS’s mission of promoting financial stability and upward mobility and its core values of dignity, mutuality, integrity and opportunity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with a wide range of organizational partners, educators, community leaders, students, and families
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, including comfort presenting both in person and virtually
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain program requirements clearly and accurately to different audiences
• Extremely organized; able to keep large amounts of information accessible, accurate, and up-to-date
• Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with HFLS program, communications, and leadership staff
• At least two years of work experience, ideally in college access, financial aid, administration or customer service

Helpful, but not required:

• Familiarity with the needs of students and families navigating college costs, financial aid, tuition gaps, and related expenses

• Knowledge of or experience with NYC-area nonprofits that serve low- and moderate-income clients
• Experience using Salesforce
• Foreign language proficiency, ideally Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)

POSITION DETAILS

Reports to: HFLS Outreach Officer

Type: Part-time/Exempt (20 hours/week)

Start Date: August 2026

Location: Greater NYC area. Must be able to work from HFLS’s midtown Manhattan office at least one day per week (hybrid work schedule) and other meetings or events when required (infrequently).

NOTE: The schedule will include some daytime meetings and presentations, with occasional evening or weekend events as needed. The position will focus exclusively on organizations and referral sources in the New York City area.

Compensation: $35,000-40,000 per year depending on experience, based on 20 hours/week. Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance and retirement plan with employer contribution. Generous paid time off including Jewish and civic holidays. Financial support for professional development courses and certifications relevant to the role

TO APPLY

Send a resume and cover letter to Jobs@HFLS.org with “[Your name]: “College Loans Outreach Officer” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

HFLS is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.