Leaders at Riverdale Country School are expected to show competence in all domains outlined in the .  The optimal candidate for this position will successfully develop a positive school culture, especially during periods of change, and will thrive in a fast-paced environment where they manage multiple priorities. In addition, all candidates for this position should have significant teaching experience, ideally in Upper School grades, and have a demonstrated interest in engaging students in an environment that is both supportive and rigorous.  

The most important qualities of a dean are:

• Classroom teaching excellence;
• A desire to work closely with adolescents;
• The ability to both advocate for students and hold them accountable to high standards;
• A collaborative stance towards fellow administrators, department chairs, faculty, and parents;
• A passion for actively creating inclusive and equitable learning environments;
• The capacity to work effectively in a fast-paced and sometimes unpredictable environment;
• Exquisite written and oral communication skills with attention to detail;
• A strong understanding of upper school systems, communication protocols, and academic offerings;
• Patience, empathy, kindness, resilience, and a sense of humor.  

Responsibilities

• Creating the program of study for each student for the four years of high school;
• Helping students discover and cultivate both academic and co-curricular interests, taking into account a student’s strengths, opportunities at the school, and planning for college;
• Setting the culture of the class through grade-level meetings, working with teachers and advisors of the class, and through individual interactions;
• Partnering with families formally and informally to encourage student growth;
• Communicating thoughtfully and clearly with students, teachers, and parents, seeking to understand the perspectives of each;  
• Working closely with colleagues at the school, including the Academic Dean, Department Chairs, Athletic Department, College Counselors, Counselors, Learning Resource Team, Administrative Assistants, Community Engagement Team, and Service Learning;
• Collaborating with the other grade-level deans, the Head of the Upper School, and the assistant division heads in the day-to-day operations and programming of the Upper School;
• Collaboratively determining and executing disciplinary responses when students violate school rules;
• Teaching two classes.  
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$130,000 - $175,000 a year

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 .

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.