Young Women's Leadership Academy, Las Vegas, Executive Director

ORGANIZATION

The mission of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA) in Las Vegas is to provide a choice for Las Vegas area public school families who are interested in a high-quality, all-girls’ education model. Our aim is to provide rigorous, college preparatory academic programming paired with nationally-recognized best practices in girls’ education to create a learning environment in which girls are positioned to lead in school and beyond. Our model includes “whole girl” social/emotional learning and a dedicated College Counselor to ensure that every student receives the guidance that she needs to achieve college success. 

YWLA in Las Vegas is a Young Women’s Leadership Network (YWLN) Affiliate School, a program of the Student Leadership Network. To learn more about Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Las Vegas, please visit www.ywlalv.org. 

OPPORTUNITY

The Executive Director (ED) works at the direction of the Board of Directors and in concert with the Principal. The ED oversees the fiscal, operational and educational areas of the Young Women's Leadership Academy. The ED is responsible for ensuring that the school’s academic programs and operations are successful and faithful to the school model and the terms of its charter. The ED will accept leadership accountability for continuous improvement and implementation of the mission, vision, goals, values, and policies of the school. 

RESPONSIBILITY

Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Lead the charter school compliance processes in concert with the principal and in accordance with authorizer regulations.
• Ensure that the school facility is a safe and inspiring learning environment for students and staff.
• Conduct fund-raising efforts to ensure the financial viability of the school.
• Represent and communicate on behalf of the school to its authorizing sponsor, local school district, local and state government agencies, and business partners, as directed by the Board. 
• Maintain a visible and accessible presence to the school’s families and the local community. 
• Ensure legal, financial and ethical integrity in the school. 
• Supervise and direct the school’s day-to-day activities and affairs. 
• Recruit, manage, evaluate, provide leadership to, and inspire the Principal.
• Stay current on best practices in girls’ education, instructional programs, and charter school operations. 
• Execute all decisions approved by the Board. Understand that authority resides with the Board, corporate by-laws, Articles of Incorporation, charter agreements, state and federal law. 

Operations & Finance 

• Oversee all school operations including budgeting, accounting, human resources, contract management, security and compliance. 
• Create initial school branding and marketing plans.
• Oversee grant compliance.
• Work with the Board to set economic objectives, financial and accounting policies. Implement the corporate Financial Policy and Procedure Manual, and recommend updates, as necessary. 
• Manage facility acquisition, maintenance and renovation efforts. 
• Provide financial reports to the Board, county, state, and other agencies, as required. 
• Provide direction for maintaining and seeking new funding sources.

Communication 

• Provide responsive and anticipatory communication with transparency, trust, and integrity.
• Provide the Board with regular updates of the school’s activities regarding board directives and fiscal matters. 
• Provide timely communication to stakeholders, including the Board, staff, school families, the local community, state and federal agencies. 
• Provide direction and oversight to marketing, PR and development team(s).

Human Resources 

• Oversee the development and execution of consistent and fair personnel policies and procedures, including grievance procedures. 
• Oversee Principal in the development of hiring and training practices.
• Oversee Principal in development of evaluation protocols for all teachers and school-based employees. 
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to strategize, develop, and implement plans for staff development.

Strategic Planning & Board Support

• Work with the Board and Leadership Team to create, refine, and implement a strategic plan that develops a stable, sustainable school. 
• Assist the Board President in the development of Board agendas and attend all board meetings. 
• Provide guidance to the Board and assist in decision-making. 
• Ensure legal compliance with all applicable laws. 
• Work with the Board and the school principal as a "governance advisory team" to create a positive organizational culture. 

Academic Performance 

• Make student-centered decisions that ensure equitable education for all students. 
• Promote the success of all students and support the efforts of the Board to keep the organization focused on learning and achievement. 
• Develop academic goals and performance benchmarks with the Principal. 
• Execute sound performance management of the Principal to ensure student achievement gains are being realized. 
• Support principal in building a high-performing, consistent, data-driven culture in the school, reflective of the successful all-girls’ public school model on which the school is based.
• Ensure that academics, school culture and climate, community engagement, and external partnerships are positive, effective, and tightly aligned to the organization’s mission and goals. 
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of 6-12 education practices and policies within the state and encourage best practices in the school. 

Relationship Management 

• Oversee principal in developing a strong student recruitment and community outreach plan.
• Create and maintain a positive school “brand” both within and outside the school community.  
• Build a strong, positive relationship between the school and its governing board, employees, charter school families, and the broader community. 
• Lead funding and development efforts for the school.

Requirements

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Executive Director candidate will be:

• A joyful approach to work and supervision.
• Passion for education, single-gender schooling, and a commitment to serving children. 
• Experience in managing and leading high performing teams, schools, school districts, private schools or non-education organizations including strategic development and operations. 
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial drive with a proven track record. 
• Graduate degree in Education, Business, or related area. 

Required Knowledge & Skills 

• Knowledge of Whole Girl education or willingness to study and learn models and practices.
• Superior relationship skills. 
• Excellent coalition-building skills, negotiation skills and ability to navigate a complex political environment. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example and create a positive work environment. 
• Commitment to a culture of transparency, high expectations, and continuous improvement. 
• Experience recruiting, building, and retaining a strong, diverse team. 
• Experience with student recruitment and/or community outreach.
• Superior presentation and communications skills, including the ability to be an effective spokesperson. 
• Capacity to work well with people at all levels within the organization and at key external agencies and organizations. 
• Excellent business skills including financial management, personnel administration, vendor relations, and regulatory compliance. 
• Track-record of ability to fundraise and inspire giving within the community.

Preferred Experience 

• Running successful schools. 
• Leading a successful nonprofit. 
• Designing and launching new schools. 
• Direct classroom or instructional leadership. 
• Successful fundraising. 
• Launching new ventures or major initiatives especially in educational institutions.

Benefits

This position offers a competitive salary range of $130,000-$160,000 and robust benefits including medical, dental, and retirement. More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

For additional questions about this position or to speak with someone about your interest, please contact Nora Maligmat at [email protected] or at 510.495.0040.

Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Las Vegas is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.