Career Center

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

St. Paul's School announces a search for the position of Dean of Academic Affairs to begin July 1, 2023. The Dean of Academic Affairs oversees and coordinates the School’s academic program, culture, and learning environment, ensuring their integrity, excellence, and complete alignment with the mission and goals of St. Paul’s School. Reporting to and working closely with the Rector, the Dean of Academic Affairs is a visible and powerful advocate for the school’s intellectual culture, as well as for the school’s curriculum.  The Dean of Academic Affairs collaborates continually with other senior administrators, particularly the Dean of Faculty, to articulate a powerful, distinctive curricular vision for St. Paul’s and to ensure that the School’s academic curriculum meets and exceeds relevant standards of excellence.  The Dean of Academic Affairs provides leadership by implementing the use and analysis of the data and benchmarking necessary to ensure accountability to best practices in secondary school education.  As a highly-visible academic leader, the Dean of Academic Affairs is a respected teacher and colleague, possessed of a lively and powerful intellect, and a high-capacity, principled professional whose life and professional experience reflect personal and professional intellectual strengths and curiosity; personal traits of empathy and understanding; and great skills with collaboration, problem-solving, and positivity.

The Dean of Academic Affairs leads the Academic Department Heads and serves as a member of the Administrative Team, the Studies Committee, the Visitors Committee, the Calendar Committee, the Board of Trustees’ Education and Student Life Committee, the Board of Trustees’ Grounds and Buildings Committee, and other committees as assigned by the Rector.

The Dean of Academic Affairs supervises the Director of the Ohrstrom Library, the Director of Academic Technology, the Director of Studies, the Director of the Independent Studies Program, and the Registrar and Academic Office staff.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• primary responsibility for the strength and excellence of the School’s academic curricular offerings and student experience, including discussions about appropriate homework and grading standards; the coordination of departmental offerings for the Course Catalogue; and design of the daily and yearly academic schedule;

• primary responsibility for investigating and responding to situations of academic misconduct, working with the Dean of Students, the Disciplinary Committee, and Dean of Faculty as necessary;

• primary responsibility for all questions regarding processes for any academic requests outside the current curricular offerings including waivers, reclassifications, and leaves.

• oversight and management of the school’s faculty professional development with regard to academic pedagogy and advising, differentiated instruction, and all elements that contribute to students’ thriving in our classrooms;

• primary responsibility for guiding the development and implementation of an outstanding curriculum, including the development of modes of assessment, grading, tutoring, and support to promote excellence in our students’ experience;

• primary responsibility for creating, implementing, and supervising academic review practices (assessment of teachers, classes, course offerings, departments, department chairs, and other academic program options) to promote best practices, including visits to other schools and internal assessment;

• with the Dean of Faculty, responsibility for shaping, constructing, and nurturing a vibrant, diverse, and excellent faculty;

• with the Dean of Faculty, primary responsibility for the orientation and on-boarding of new faculty;

• with the Dean of Faculty, collaboration with Department chairs/Division heads and the Director of Human Resources, and Director of DEIJ Strategic Initiatives, to establish and institute best practices with regard to recruiting, hiring, evaluation of faculty and to promoting cultural competencies for faculty;

• with the Dean of Faculty, primary responsibility for determining, documenting, and communicating the academic workload of the faculty;

• supporting the Dean of Faculty with faculty evaluation, response and follow-up to evaluation, and professional development requirements and programs;

• with the Dean of Students, co-chairing the Student Review Committee;

• with the Director of Academic Technology, oversight and management of the school’s choices in learning management platforms and faculty professional development with regard to pedagogy and differentiated instruction.

• primary responsibility for defining and collaborating with academic departments and College Advising on the role of standardized testing in student experience and achievement and establishing relevant data standards and benchmarks for analysis;

• engagement with peer groups (., Consortium of Independent Secondary School Administrators; Eight Schools Deans);

• with the Dean of Faculty, scheduling and planning weekly and special faculty meetings ( opening days, year-end) as well as professional development days during the school year;

• writing reports for and presenting to the Board of Trustees and other constituencies as necessary; attending Board of Trustees meetings and participating in strategic planning and other Board initiatives;

• primary responsibility for planning and executing academic ceremonies and events (in consultation with the Rector), graduation, awards ceremonies, etc.

• oversight and management of office budget (including recruitment and professional development expenses and funding) and staff.

St. Paul’s is a completely residential, co-educational, Episcopal, secondary school in Concord, NH, welcoming to all faiths. St. Paul’s seeks applications from candidates who will promote the School’s commitment to attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse faculty. A successful candidate will embrace the fully residential living experience and have a demonstrated gift for engaging a diverse student body and strengthening the St. Paul’s School inclusive community. In addition to teaching or administrative responsibilities, faculty at St. Paul’s School are responsible for a variety of activities typical to the boarding school environment, including advising, dormitory association, coaching, committee work and other duties.

The Dean of Academic Affairs will teach one academic class, serve as a non-resident student adviser, and perform other faculty duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred;

• 8-10 years of faculty teaching experience or experience in academic environments, preferably with administrative experience as an academic department head or Dean;

• demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusivity, and justice in professional practice;

• demonstrated ability to lead teams and work on teams; collaborate, and organize colleagues around practical and strategic goals; to work independently, set timelines, and hold self and others accountable for productive, timely processes and outcomes;

• demonstrated experience with hiring, supervision, evaluation, and management of people, with a proven record of empathy, sensitivity, and flexibility;

• ability to create, gather, and analyze data for effective organizational improvement;

• ability to work effectively at all levels and with all people engaged in a diverse, independent school community and to serve as a role model for excellence in character and scholarship, as well as teaching and faculty responsibilities;

• high-energy, high-capacity problem solver with excellent leadership and communication skills;

• an excellent listener who models empathy, compassion, resilience, and courage;

• a role model in terms of being an individual unimpeachable character, fully committed to the well-being of students and colleagues and to the School.

SALARY:  Competitive, based on experience.

About St. Paul's School

Founded in 1856, St. Paul’s School is a fully residential independent high school located in Concord, N.H. The 2,000-acre grounds are home to approximately 535 students from more than 30 states and 13 countries. All students and the more than 100 full-time faculty members live on the grounds. The School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as other nationally recognized agencies. In addition to its regular program for grades nine through twelve, St. Paul’s also offers the Advanced Studies Program each summer for academically talented New Hampshire high school juniors. Learn more at sps.edu.

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