The Executive Director of Londonderry is an integral part of upholding the mission and philosophy of the school – as well as envisioning the path forward in a manner that keeps our child-centered way of teaching at the forefront. As the leader of our community, they must be a thoughtful communicator who works closely with teachers and other staff. They must inspire and collaborate while providing accountability and autonomy.
As the administrator of the school, the holder of this position is responsible for setting the highest standards of excellence in our educational programs while promoting and keeping an open dialogue with parents and children. Imperative to a child’s educational success and the school’s, the Executive Director must ensure all programs and approaches align with the school’s mission and philosophy. The Executive Director is also responsible for managing finances, meeting the school’s fundraising and other financial goals, engaging in development and outreach to the community, and cultivating the ability to creatively and readily communicate effectively in order to problem solve in their day to day leadership.
In the administrative portion of the Executive Director role, the responsibilities are cumulative and involve organization-wide leadership. The Executive Director must play a visual role in the lives of our students and lead our dedicated and creative professional staff of approximately 30 people full time, year round.
Essential attributes of the Executive Director are the willingness,,ability, and patience to communicate effectively with staff, parents, and children and to seek input as appropriate. The Executive Director's active leadership of the Londonderry community should constantly nurture and support the mission of the School. The Executive Director's daily example must be a role model for staff, students and parents alike.
Overall responsibilities include:
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Maintain alignment of programs and procedures with the Londonderry mission and philosophy
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Ensure positive outcomes for students through strong collaborative relationships and the cultivation and maintenance of a professional culture with teachers, parents, and staff.
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Demonstrate skill in anticipating, managing, and resolving conflict.
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Supervise staff in a manner that promotes success and on-going development. Encourage effective delegation, training, development, and establish performance requirements to evaluate staff. Direct reports include: Teachers, Business Manager, Director of Operations, Parent Coordinator, Development Director, Early Childhood Director, and Elementary Director.
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Maintain an open and positive working relationship with the Board of Trustees. Keep the Board apprised of current operations and challenges. Report on all significant school matters on a monthly basis and attend all board meetings.
Internal Responsibilities:
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Enforce rules and regulations; honor all local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
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Help resolve disciplinary problems with staff or enrolled students and be willing to make appropriate and difficult decisions when they arise.
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Plan, create, and implement an effective annual budget, accurately report on budget/financial information to the Board, operate within the approved budget to ensure maximum resource utilization, maintain a positive financial position, and ensure all financial matters are accurate and in compliance with legal and accounting standards.
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Create and implement procedures for awarding scholarships and financial aid based on the school budget, community needs, and funding opportunities.
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Maintain an active and visible role for students, parents, and teachers; be approachable and supportive to all members of the community, promoting an open dialogue, and collaborative decision-making and problem-solving process.
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Maintain ongoing communication with the Business Manager regarding HR matters such as benefits selections, payroll, etc.
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Act as a role model for staff, students, and parents.
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Be a visible member of the staff through monthly staff meetings and by routinely observing teachers in a classroom setting.
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Manage the enrollment process, including scheduling and leading school tours, working with parents, and onboarding new families to Londonderry.
External Responsibilities:
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Build and maintain a positive working relationship within the community, including other school systems, institutions, agencies, and professional or community groups.
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Promote community support and involvement, including opportunities to build school enrollment and development and fundraising outcomes.
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Actively participate in all school functions to build relationships with the school community.
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Ten or more years of professional experience, including a minimum 5 years successful and innovative classroom teaching experience.
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Five or more years of management experience
Additional Requirements/Preferences
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Passionate belief in the mission, vision and philosophy of the Londonderry School
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Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills
Salary is negotiable.
Benefits include: health insurance and participation in the TIAA/CREF retirement program.
Please send a cover letter, resume, preferred salary range, and 4 professional references (must include someone who has managed you and someone you have managed) to [email protected]
The Search Committee will commence reviewing all applications after the first of the year, 2024.