Director of Education

The Cape Eleuthera Island School

July 2019

The Cape Eleuthera Island School (CEIS), a not-for-profit organisation based in The Bahamas, was founded to create and support transformational educational experiences on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.

The diverse CEIS educational initiatives, which include our semester program (The Island School – www.islandschool.org), our middle school (Deep Creek Middle School – www.dcmsbahamas.org), and our outreach (CEIS Outreach – www.islandschooloutreach.org), deliver unique educational journeys that rely on the authentic and meaningful work our organisation undertakes in marine conservation science (Cape Eleuthera Institute – www.ceibahamas.org) and sustainable design and engineering (Centre for Sustainable Development – www.csdbahamas.org).

Our educators, scientists, engineers and students live and work shoulder-to-shoulder on a 28 acre campus powered by renewable energy; we live the philosophy that students should be generators of knowledge, not just consumers of knowledge.  There is no such thing as an academic exercise, as all the work undertaken has real-world value outside of the educational experience.

We are an ecosystem of education-based programs operating at the forefront of educational reform and experiential learning and aligned around a common mission of Leadership Effecting Change.  We are reimagining what education is for, and redesigning how education is delivered.

Job Summary

The Cape Eleuthera Island School is looking for a dynamic leader who has the experience and motivation to support a diverse and innovative educational ecosystem. The Director of Education. will be responsible for  all of the organisation’s educational activities which currently include:

• The Island School – Four semesters of 52 students, two 100 day semesters in the spring and fall and two 30 day summer semesters
• Educational Programs – Short courses less than 30 days in length that cater to ~750 visiting students annually, two GAP semesters of ~18 students each and an internship program that caters to ~80 students annually.
• Deep Creek Lab School & The Early Learning Centre – A private Bahamian middle school with 48 students, a public – private partnership with the Deep Creek Primary School that caters to ~40 students and an in house school ages 2-9 for faculty children.
• Outreach and Partnerships – Local school programming, after-school enhancement and a Young Men's Leadership Program that focuses on at risk youth in South Eleuthera.

The Director of Education will report to the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Edward J. Brooks for all operational, management and budgetary aspects of the job, and to Chris Maxey, the Founder and Headmaster for all aspects of vision, direction and content pertaining to our educational journeys. The responsibility will be to work closely with the Founder to help maintain and enhance the vision and deliver on our powerful mission that focuses on leadership development as we all work to live well in this place.

The Director of Education will form part of the executive management team which includes the CEO, the Founder, the Business Officer and the Chief Administration Officer.

The successful candidate will lead a large team including division heads, managers, instructors and interns as they deliver all of the CEIS educational initiatives.  The ideal candidate requires skills and experience in organising, administering and delivering programs in addition to possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and a keen sense of business acumen.  The successful candidate will be a strong leader with a proven record of mentoring and developing talent at all levels of the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as the educational leader of the organisation, responsible for the day-to-day operation of all of CEIS’s educational programing
• Oversee and collaborate on the design, creation and maintainence and delivery of program curriculum and resources
• Be at the table to help guide th strategic vision for the community
• Strategically hire, train and mentor personnel
• Communicate proactively and share the work of CEIS with stakeholders ranging from Ministers of Government to parents to community neighbors
• Collaborate across divisions and work with peer leaders to create collaborative, inclusive and innovative educational programming that focuses on authentic work
• Contribute to the short and long-term planning for the organisation
• Collaborate with development staff and peers to continue to build financial support of the organisation and its mission
• Committed to fostering and sustaining an inclusive and diverse community
• Promote a positive environment around the vision, values and mission of CEIS

Skills and Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability preferred and yet there is flexibility to hire the best candidate who does not possess the full scope of experience. As always the most important attribute is a positive can-do spirit and willingness to learn.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education
  • A graduate level degree that celebrates critical thinking and problem solving

• Experience
  • A minimum of 15 years experience as an educator. Experience living and teaching in a boarding school, semester program, or other such relevant setting would be a significant asset
  • A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the management and leadership of education focused organisations
  • An excellent track record of hiring, mentoring and developing talented staff members
  • Experience developing and maintaining the administrative necessities of an educational environment (e.g. risk management, insurance etc)
  • Experience living in an intentional community where sustainable practices are prioritized
  • Experience collaborating across functioning teams. This requires excellent listening skills. Leadership team has to feel that this leader is accessible and able and willing to understand challenges and opportunities
  • Love of the natural world and a life-time commitment to exploration across a range of wilderness and culturally diverse environment
• Business Acumen
  • Familiarity with creating and monitoring budgets and proposals
  • Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
  • Ability to read and interpret documents
  • Ability to write routine reports, correspondence etc.
  • Effective at verbal communication at all levels
• Computer Skills
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint tools
• Adaptability
  • Able to survive and thrive in a small, tight-knit, green, sustainable campus community, located in a remote part of The Bahamas with a “can-do” attitude to address challenges and opportunities of such a place
• Preferred Certifications/Abilities –
  • First Aid - Wilderness First Responder or better
  • SCUBA - Preferably a Divemaster or Instructor
  • Swimming - Demonstrated snorkelling and swimming ability. Lifeguard or swimming instruction experience or qualifications preferred
  • Boat Operation - Safe boat handling experience. Formal qualification preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Accommodation, on-campus meals and medical insurance
• Eligibility for matching retirement plan after two years of service
• Professional development opportunities

Schedule

This is a full-time position with an annual review, and the potential for extension depending on circumstance.  The Cape Eleuthera Island School and its related entities operate year round and working hours vary depending on needs but are typically Monday-Friday (40 hours/week), however, evening and weekend work will be required.  Special events will require periods of time outside of normal working hours when staff must be on site for extended periods.  Given the degree to which this position specifically supports the most senior leaders of the organisation the successful candidate should expect, and desire to work a variable and mission driven schedule.

Contact

Lisa Quackenbush

Lisa@sagesearchadvisors.com

203-340-9261 (office)

203-536-9354 (mobile)

Linda Petrone

Linda@sagesearchadvisors.com

203-622-4519 (office)

917-608-2376 (mobile)

Sheila Gallagher

Sheila@sagesearchadvisors.com

203-622-4528 (office)

203-921-9461 (mobile)