Middle and Upper School Academic Dean
: Job Details :

Riverdale Country School, a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent all-gender school in New York City, is dedicated to inspiring students to live meaningful and purpose-driven lives. The school achieves this by fostering a culture of academic excellence, critical thinking, and curiosity, supportedby a diverse and inclusive community. Riverdale emphasizes both high challenge and high support in its approach to education, encouraging students to engage deeply in interdisciplinary learning, research, and experiential education, both inside and outside the classroom and beyond our campuses. This holistic approach aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on the world.

At Riverdale, we strive to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in our students, faculty, and staff. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community enriches the educational experience and is integral to our mission. With a student body of approximately 1,300 students from 117 different zip codes, Riverdale is a vibrant community where 48% of our students identify as students of color.

We seek to employ educators and leaders who bring a student-centered approach, passion for their work, a commitment to DEIB, and a desire to contribute to the growth and development of our entire school community.

Job Overview:

The Middle and Upper School Academic Dean is a senior-level member of our Hill Campus leadership team, who is responsible for the growth and continued evolution of our academic program, in alignment with the strategic directions of the school. The duties of the Academic Dean include shepherding the vision for curriculum and instruction in Riverdale's middle and upper divisions; directing and communicating programs, calendars, and schedules; and supporting department chairs and teachers in their professional growth, all with an eye to careful stewardship of resources and time. The Academic Dean participates enthusiastically in the life of the school through teaching, advising, and/or other meaningful interactions with students in the Middle and Upper Schools.

Curriculum + Instruction

• Defining a research-informed curricular framework that aligns across divisions and can be communicated to all school constituencies.
• Devising and implementing a curriculum review process to identify areas for growth and allocate resources to ensure revision in high priority areas.
• Reviewing and revising the standards of practice for teaching and learning on the Hill Campus, as well as all academic policies, inclusive of curriculum development, research-based teaching practices, grading and assessment, placement and programming, graduation requirements, and other central priorities (discourse, experiential learning, interdisciplinary courses, etc).
• Manage curriculum development funding lines to support ongoing development of new curriculum and revision / expansion of core departmental offerings.
• Ensuring compliance with external educational standards, policies, and accreditation requirements, with a commitment to maintaining high standards of academic integrity.
• In collaboration with leaders on both campuses, working to develop vertical alignment of curriculum and teaching practice, with a particular focus on supporting smooth divisional transitions.
• With the Dean of Faculty and the campus leadership team, collaborating to support long-term academic planning and the implementation of strategic initiatives, including setting and achieving measurable academic goals.

Programs + Schedules

• Oversee scheduling process for Middle and Upper School, including faculty course assignments.
• With department chairs and the school registrar, building an annual staffing plan, and collaborating with the Dean of Faculty to build and coordinate the annual hiring process.

Organizational Leadership

• With the Dean of Faculty, Co-chairing the Middle and Upper School Department Chairs Group and the Hill Campus Curriculum Committee, with the goal of fostering collaboration and alignment between departments and divisions.
• Supervising the work of academic department chairs, including the Learning Research Team.
• Coordinating with Directors of Summer Programs to ensure alignment with curricular aims.
• Serving as a liaison to the Student, Academics, and Faculty Affairs sub-committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Represent the school's curriculum and pedagogy at admissions and parent-oriented events.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with external educational organizations, other schools, and academic networks, in order to curate and share best practices and innovations from across the field.
• Generally, serve as a visible administrative presence in all areas of Middle and Upper School life.

Salary: $160,000 - $190,000 a year

The optimal candidate for this position will be successful at developing a positive school culture, especially during periods of change. Our ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment in which they manage multiple priorities.

To apply for this position, please click on the red “Apply for this Job” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter. If there are pronouns we should use in potential future communications, we invite you to share that information with us. For information about this position and all open positions, please visit the Careers page of Riverdale's website.

Benefits of Full Time Work at Riverdale Country School

Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:

Transportation:

Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.

Professional Development:

A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Grants and Stipends:

All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of-school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).

Sabbatical:

Full time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.

Health Benefits:

Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.

Retirement:

Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA. The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.

Vacation:

Riverdale Country School has a generous time-off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.

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