HEAD OF SCHOOL
GILMOUR ACADEMY
POSITION SCOPE
The Head of School is the Chief Executive Officer of Gilmour Academy, appointed by the Members of the Corporation and reporting to the Board of Trustees. The Head of School has overall authority and responsibility for executive leadership of the school, implementation of the Catholic, Holy Cross Mission, ensuring the school’s reputation of academic of excellence and facilitating highly effective relationships among Gilmour Academy’s various constituencies.
The Head of School delegates authority and responsibility to the senior administrators who are chosen because of their willingness and capability to carry out the mission and philosophy of the school and the agreed-upon policies, procedures, and principles. These administrators comprise an Administrative Cabinet and currently include: Head of School, Associate Head of School, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Head of School for Admission and Marketing, Assistant Head of School for Advancement, Director of Upper School, Director of Middle School, Director of Lower School, Assistant Director of Upper School and Dean of Student Development and Guidance, and Dean of Institutional and Curriculum Research.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Leadership
The Head of School is an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the Board of Trustees. In this capacity, the Head of School reports directly to the Board, is an Executive Officer, attends Board and Board committee meetings, and serves as a liaison and resource for the Board. As the executive leader of the Academy, he/she also;
Has responsibility for the safety and security of all Gilmour’s students and staff and for ensuring that the school is in compliance with all applicable state codes; (health, fire, disaster, etc.)
Develops, refines and propagates the vision of the school engaging students, parents, alumni constituencies, faculty, staff, administrators, the Board, and the community.
Oversees the development, implementation, and periodic updates to Gilmour’s Strategic Design.
Creates, revises and monitors the standards/policies at Gilmour Academy by constantly interacting with students, parents, faculty and staff.
Attracts and develops a talented administrative team, investing in professional development and continuing with the comprehensive performance assessment program.
Is responsible for the sound fiscal management of the institution.
Oversees an annual operating budget, business operations and school finances in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer, including the development of the annual budget for final approval by the Board of Trustees.
Executes all contracts and agreements consistent with the directives of the Board of Trustees.
Develops and maintains maintenance and facility oversight/management/improvement including construction of new facilities.
Holy Cross Leadership
The Head of School provides leadership to the school’s Holy Cross educational mission and the campus ministry consistent with the Holy Cross tradition.
Assures the implementation of the Catholic, Holy Cross charisms and vision of education within the school and staff and the particular derived philosophy of the Academy with the resultant policies, principles, and procedures.
Partners with the Congregation of Holy Cross, including the Holy Cross Institute (HCI), the Catholic Church, the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and other key constituencies of the Academy in support of the Holy Cross educational philosophy.
Serves as a personal and spiritual role model of the mission and core values for students, parents, faculty, staff and greater school community.
Academic Rigor/Vision and Leadership
Supported by the Administrative Cabinet, the Head of School is charged with sustaining and furthering the school’s impressive academic reputation and strengthening ongoing relationships within the school community.
Partners with faculty to ensure dynamic, ambitious and relevant academic programs that engage students, piques curiosity and leads them to be passionate, life-long learners.
Shepherds school’s traditions while encouraging curricular innovation and supporting programmatic developments that enhance education and drive distinctiveness of the school, including harmonization among academic fields of study and grade levels.
Champions a climate where academic excellence and character development are valued and enforced within curricular and broader programs.
Oversees and ensures successful completion of the school’s accreditation process.
Ensures student’s academic needs are met by working with faculty to ensure a positive learning environment.
Relationship Building/Development
The Head of School will be the institutional spokesperson and will represent Gilmour Academy to its varied constituencies, both internally and externally.
Collaborates with the Assistant Head of School for Advancement and directs fundraising activities that include endowment as well as annual and capital giving to meet the present and future needs of the Academy. Oversees the cultivation of potential donors as well as the solicitation of grants and donations, unrestricted and restricted, from foundations, trusts, organizations, and individuals.
Collaborates with the Assistant Head of School for Admission and Marketing in establishing and overseeing the school’s marketing, public relations, admission and related activities in cooperation with the members of the Administrative Cabinet.
Enthusiastically engages alumni, parent groups, and related stakeholders with their respective events, initiatives, and activities.
TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS:
The Head of School embraces the principles of servant leadership. He/She is a proven visionary, has the ability to inspire excellence, is people centric, values service to others and possesses a deep belief that we all have a duty of stewardship. The Head of School will be a fiscally capable, responsible executive who ensures that the school prudently manages its financial and capital resources. The Head of School will have a commitment to continuous improvement and should be a proactive and entrepreneurial administrator who anticipates challenges and identifies potential opportunities. He/She will be a creative person who, in collaboration with colleagues and with a long-term view of growing and enhancing Gilmour’s future, can increase revenue from fundraising, admissions, auxiliary services and new programmatic resources.
The Head of School must have a genuine commitment to Catholic faith and education; must be a practicing Catholic, a registered parishioner, and in good standing with the Catholic Church; and must demonstrating faith visibly in daily life and work. He/She must be able to articulate the Holy Cross vision of college-preparatory education.
The Head of School must have a strong intellect, being adept in the communication and delivery of, academic excellence and educational innovation.
The Head of School must possess the ability to create a collaborative, inclusive environment conducive to sincere and open communication. The Head of School must have an accessible and approachable style, demonstrating a willingness to listen to new ideas while also offering creative solutions to a variety of challenges. It is important that the Head of School respect the dignity of every person and embrace the school’s commitment to educating in the family spirit. The successful candidate must have the ability and willingness to relate well to students from all walks of life, be visible to them, and interact with them regularly on campus and at various school events. The Head of School needs to be a coalition builder within the entire school community and perpetuate the spirit of “one school.” He/She will be an articulate ambassador who inspires prospective students and families and can foster and maintain collegial relationships with Catholic and independent schools.
EDUCATION:
An advanced degree preferred.
Background in teaching and K-12 education, ideally in Catholic school setting is preferred.
COMPENSATION:
Annual compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. A comprehensive benefits package will be provided. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable.
TO APPLY:
Please send a resume and compelling letter of interest indicating how your skills, knowledge, and experience match the responsibilities articulated in the job description in confidence to:
JHL@BRIGHT.NET
or
James Herget Limited
4415 Euclid Avenue, Suite 306A
Cleveland, OH 44103
Please visit www.gilmour.org for additional information.