As an independent K-8 day school rooted in the Episcopal tradition, The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine educates students to become articulate, confident, and responsible citizens of the world through rigorous academics, innovative approaches to learning, and the nurturing of their aspirations in a diverse community of all faiths. Cathedral is currently seeking an Executive Assistant to the Head of School.

The Executive Assistant to the Head of School serves as a trusted partner to the Head, enabling the highest-level leadership of the School to function with clarity, efficiency, and care. This role is much more than calendar management; it is the operational heartbeat of the Head’s Office and a visible, welcoming presence for the entire Cathedral School community. The Executive Assistant reports directly to the Head of School and works in close daily collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team as well as the Board President.

The Executive Assistant exercises sound judgment, exceptional discretion, and a proactive orientation, managing the complex daily rhythms of a K-8 independent school in New York City while supporting longer-horizon School priorities including Board governance, community events, and strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate brings a genuine enthusiasm for schools, positive regard toward children and families, and the organizational acumen to anticipate needs before they arise. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Executive Office Management

• Manage the Head of School’s daily schedule and calendar with strategic foresight, prioritizing competing demands across school leadership, faculty and staff engagement, Board work, community member relations, and external partnerships
• Screen, triage, and respond to the Head’s correspondence (email, phone, and written) with professionalism, warmth, and sound judgment about what requires the Head’s direct attention
• Prepare the Head for all meetings and engagements: researching context, drafting agendas, assembling briefing materials, and ensuring the Head enters every room informed and ready
• Maintain a consistent, welcoming, in-person presence in the Head’s Office throughout the school day, serving as a first point of contact for students, families, faculty, staff, and guests
• Draft, edit, and proofread communications, addresses, reports, announcements, and presentations on behalf of the Head of School (such as all-school letters, ceremonial remarks, and community messages) with attentiveness to voice, tone, and institutional mission
• Handle confidential and sensitive matters concerning personnel, Board business, community member concerns, and institutional strategy with the highest level of discretion and integrity

• Board of Trustees Support

• Serve as the primary administrative liaison to the Board of Trustees, coordinating all logistics for monthly full Board evening meetings, daytime committee meetings, and any annual gatherings
• Prepare Board meeting materials, including agendas, reports, minutes, and supporting documentation, in close collaboration with the Head and Board President
• Track Board action items and follow-up between meetings, maintaining an organized archive of Board governance documents
• Coordinate onboarding logistics for new Trustees, including scheduling, orientation materials, and introductions to key administrators

• School Events & Ceremonies

• Lead or co-lead the logistics and hospitality for signature school ceremonies and special events hosted by the Head’s Office, including Convocation, Commencement, all-school Evensong and chapel services, faculty and staff events, and special lectures or community gatherings

• Coordinate invitations, programs, seating, and communications for special events with multiple internal and external stakeholders

• Manage the main School Calendar in collaboration with divisional and departmental leaders, ensuring accuracy, alignment, and timely communication of school-wide dates

• Support the planning and execution of professional development days, Senior Leadership gatherings, and faculty/staff appreciation events

• Institutional Liaison & Community Relations

• Act as a key liaison between the Head’s Office and all divisions and departments of the School

• Serve as the primary administrative point of contact with external partners, including the Parents Association, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, NAIS, NYSAIS, and peer institutions

• Support submission of annual statistical and compliance reports to NAIS, NYSAIS, and relevant regulatory bodies

• Coordinate logistics for candidate visits during leadership searches, including travel, hospitality, and scheduling across multiple departments

• Administrative & Financial Operations

• Reconcile the Head of School’s credit card expenditures and maintain accurate budget records for the Head's Office in partnership with the Business Office

• Order and maintain supplies for the Head’s Office

• Utilize the School’s technology systems (including Blackbaud, Google Workspace, and communication platforms) with fluency and a willingness to learn new tools

• Support ongoing strategic initiatives and special projects at the direction of the Head of School

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS)
• Prior executive-level administrative experience; independent school or mission-driven nonprofit experience strongly preferred
• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to write and edit in multiple tones, from warm family communications to formal governance documents
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and pivot gracefully under pressure
• High proficiency in Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides); comfort with utilizing school information systems and communication platforms
• Strong interpersonal skills and an authentic warmth with students, families, faculty, alums, and visitors of all backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professional judgment
• Availability and flexibility to attend select evening and weekend school events, typically scheduled far in advance

Preferred

• Experience in an independent school setting, particularly in New York City
• Familiarity with Board governance and experience providing administrative support to a governing board
• Experience supporting institutional programs or large-scale community events
• Comfort with and appreciation for an interfaith community rooted in an Episcopal tradition
• Fluency in a second language is a plus, given the diversity of the Cathedral School community

The Executive Assistant to the Head of School is a 12-month, in-person role with a start date of July 1, 2026. The hiring range for this position is $95,000 - 120,000 based on experience. Full-time employees who have completed one full year of service are eligible for tuition remission for their child/ren upon application and admission to the School. Cathedral offers a comprehensive benefits package, generous holiday and vacation time, an allotment of remote days for annual use by eligible staff, and a supportive, inclusive work environment within a dynamic, diverse, and authentic school community that believes in the magic and genius of childhood. 

Founded in 1901, The Cathedral School is committed to academic excellence in a curriculum that integrates critical thinking, the arts, athletics, and leadership development. The School believes that the recognition and appreciation of differences in race, socioeconomic status, cultural or religious tradition, age, gender, ability, or sexual orientation enhance the individual’s sense of identity and broaden respect for others. Through curriculum and informal school experiences, students at The Cathedral School come to understand the inherent value of all people and the importance of working towards equity in all that they do. The School’s mission is brought to life on the idyllic 11-acre campus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights on Manhattan’s Upper West Side through seven Core Values: Cooperation, Courage, Integrity, Kindness, Passion for Learning, Respect, and Responsibility.

About The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine

The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine is an independent, Episcopal, K-8 day school for girls and boys of all faiths. The School is committed to a rigorous academic program that integrates the arts, athletics, and leadership development. Located on New York City’s Upper West Side on the 11.5-acre Close of the Cathedral, the School offers a unique setting for the celebration of the many traditions shared by its families. The School prides itself in being a diverse community in partnership with families who take an active role in their children’s intellectual, ethical, social, and emotional growth. The Cathedral School offers a stimulating environment in which each child can become an articulate, confident, and responsible citizen of the world. Continuing a century-old relationship, the School draws upon the Cathedral’s vast resources and provides its children’s choir.

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