Assistant Head of School for Strategy and Operations

Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. A school at the forefront of educational innovation, Riverdale has become a global leader in practices such as interdisciplinary and experiential learning, character education, positive education, and design-thinking in schools, asking fundamental questions about education and its purposes.

Riverdale seeks to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in its students, faculty, and staff. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is the foundational core of community-building that supports the school's mission and empowers all community members to be their whole selves and thrive--especially those who historically have been and continue to be marginalized because of their cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, gender, sexual, spiritual, or socioeconomic identities and their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. Riverdale enrolls about 1,200 students who collectively reside in 117 different zip codes. Approximately 44% of the school's student body identify as students of color.

To learn more, please visit here.

The Assistant Head of School for Strategy and Operations is a newly envisioned strategic leadership position. Reporting to Riverdale's incoming Head of School, Kari Ostrem, the Assistant Head of School for Strategy and Operations will serve as a critical thought partner to the senior administrative team, facilitating thoughtful dialogue, inclusive decision-making, and creative problem-solving. Overseeing Riverdale's operational teams, composed of roughly 90 staff members, the Assistant Head of School will lead the evolution of the school's infrastructure to support the vision and priorities of the school community.

This is an ideal opportunity for a collaborative and forward-thinking leader to help advance the mission of a dynamic independent school.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Organizational Leadership

• Act as a trusted thought partner to the Head of School, collaborating closely on organizational vision and strategy
• Serve as a member of the senior administrative team, partnering with senior leaders across the organization to advance strategic initiatives
• Develop and facilitate decision-making processes that are inclusive, efficient, and student-centered
• Contribute to an organizational culture committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; cultivate a place-based orientation that takes into account the community as a whole

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Oversee financial strategy, working in close partnership with the CFO, Head of School, and Board of Trustees on the development of financial models and analyses to inform long-term planning
• Ensure that the budget development and approval process is inclusive, and advances Riverdale's strategic priorities
• Provide periodic updates to the Finance and Investment Committee of the Board

Operational and Systems Leadership

• Oversee Finance, HR, Facilities, Security, Technology, Nursing, Food Service, and Institutional Research teams
• Supervise 6-8 team leads, elevating their expertise and supporting their learning and growth
• Partner with senior leaders to identify, develop, and implement operational systems improvements that will drive coherence and impact across the organization
• Support the hiring efforts of leaders across campuses and bring the lenses of professional and leadership development to the HR function
• Ensure structures are in place to support the leadership development of mid- and senior-level administrators
• Ensure that Riverdale's facilities (spanning 27.5 acres across two campuses) are maintained and maximized in alignment with the school's mission and values
• Ensure that the school's technology function effectively supports and advances Riverdale's mission
• Facilitate school-wide Risk Management committee to identify areas of potential risk, prioritize among those risks, and track mitigation efforts