Saint Mary’s School is an independent, Episcopal, college-preparatory, boarding and day school for girls in grades 9–12. The School is the fourth oldest girls’ boarding and day school in the country. The School is located on a beautiful 23-acre campus which is within walking distance to many restaurants and attractions of downtown Raleigh. Raleigh-Durham, NC is ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States by US News & World Report.
This benefited position offers campus housing opportunity provided by the School where community members can participate in a vibrant campus life with other families and students and enjoy meals in the dining hall. This exceptional location is in the heart of downtown Raleigh in a gated campus with 24/7 security.
We are looking for candidates who have strong teaching and learning backgrounds that embodies a student-centered philosophy and demonstrates a high degree of cross-cultural competency and inclusion in all aspect of school life. Saint Mary’s School seeks candidates who believe every learner deserves to have her needs met through learning communities that value diversity, compassion, and fairness.
The Dean of Culture, Community & Belonging is responsible for guiding efforts to conceptualize, define, assess, nurture, and cultivate a common culture and sense of belonging as an institutional and educational resource for the entire school community. Reporting directly to the Interim Head of School, the Dean of Culture, Community & Belonging will interact with all areas of the institution including Admissions, Human Resources, Faculty Recruitment, Professional Development, Marketing and Communication, Academic Leadership, Board of Trustees, and Institutional Advancement.
Responsibilities:
The Dean, under the direction of the Interim Head of School, will be responsible for:
- The development and implementation of a strategic plan for the development of a common culture and sense of belonging for the school
- Oversight of efforts to address broad and specific issues of faculty, staff, and student culture. She/he will work at all levels of the school and with each department to develop robust plans for each unit to maximize the infusion of a common culture and sense of belonging, and will monitor the implementation of those plans
- An annual progress report to the School Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees
- Oversight of efforts to achieve a cultural and global diversity of all constituent groups within the school community
- Education of search committees on the value of school culture and how new hires might strengthen the culture of our community
- Implementation and stewardship of pipeline programs to enhance talent pools for recruitment of students and faculty
- Management of budgets for cultural events and program centered around the school’s mission of belonging
- The increased integration in all aspects of school life of boarding and day students on campus
- Oversight of efforts to ensure that St Mary’s School has a culture that is founded upon the mission and values of the school always prioritizing an environment comfortable and attractive to all individuals including those with disabilities, LGBT individuals, international students, faculty, and staff
- Identification and development of plans to deal with cultural issues and opportunities that are not currently being addressed within the school
- Gathering and coordination of data on culture, community, and belonging for the school and serving as the school’s liaison with all outside entities and partnerships
- Seeking external funding, as available to finance cultural initiatives
- Performing other related duties incidental to the duties described herein.
Requirements
- Work requires a master’s degree in education (or educational leadership), social work, psychology, business, or a related field. Terminal degree preferred.
- Work requires a minimum of 5-10 years of experience with progressive responsibility in leadership positions in education, psychology, social work, or business with attendant training responsibility
- Work requires a minimum of 5-10 years of experience working with a global a diverse student population
- Work requires prior experience of working in a boarding school environment
- A preferred understanding of the unique history, traditions, and culture of St Mary’s School
- A preferred background in developing and implementing cultural diversity programs and leading inclusive activities
- A preferred background in the educational pedagogy surrounding the concepts of cultural diversity and belonging
- A preferred background in the educational pedagogy surrounding the instruction of students with educational exceptionalities and differences
- Excellent interpersonal, cross-cultural communication, diversity, organizational and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to listen and effectively interact with individuals from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds.
- Clear understanding of cross-cultural, international and diversity communication theory as applies to a boarding school environment, hierarchy and the unique needs of students, faculty, staff, and alumnae with respect to diversity.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a culturally diverse workforce and provide leadership in organizational change.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.