Executive Director of CSJ Sponsored Schools

About the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Brentwood- Click to view

For more than 375 years, the Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood have been guided by a mission of unity, inclusion, justice, and love of neighbor without distinction. Rooted in the Catholic tradition, the Congregation believes in the dignity and worth of every person and has long worked to advance educational opportunity, empower women and girls, welcome immigrants and vulnerable communities, promote racial and social justice, advance environmental stewardship and climate justice, and respond to the evolving needs of society. Their faith calls them not only to serve others, but to help build a more compassionate, equitable, and connected world with values rooted in Catholic Social Teachings.

Throughout their history, the Sisters have established and supported schools, colleges, healthcare institutions, retreat centers, social service organizations, and community programs that have touched countless lives. Across each endeavor, they have remained focused on developing leaders, expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and creating meaningful pathways for individuals to thrive.

Education remains one of the Congregation's most enduring and transformative ministries.  The Sisters sponsor four all-girls, college-preparatory academies: Sacred Heart Academy (Hempstead, NY), The Mary Louis Academy (Jamaica Estates, NY), Fontbonne Hall Academy (Brooklyn, NY), and Academia Maria Reina (San Juan, PR). Together, they form a network committed to academic excellence while nurturing intellectual curiosity, leadership, critical thinking, faith formation, and a commitment to service.

In recent years, the Sisters have undertaken thoughtful, forward-looking work to ensure their schools remain academically excellent, mission-centered, and responsive to the evolving needs of young women. Recognizing that exceptional schools require both educational innovation and sound stewardship, they have explored curriculum renewal, enrollment strategies, financial sustainability, operational modernization, and new models of collaboration across the network. This work reflects a commitment not simply to preserve the schools, but to continually strengthen their academic offerings, student experience, and long-term impact for future generations.

At the heart of this work is a deep belief in the transformative power of all-girls Catholic education. The Sisters recognize that environments designed specifically to empower young women foster confidence, intellectual curiosity, strong peer bonds, and leadership that extends far beyond the classroom. By investing in these schools, the Congregation is investing in generations of women who will shape families, communities, professions, and movements for years to come -  carrying forward a mission where faith, education, and justice remain inseparable.

To learn more, please visit: https://brentwoodcsj.org/

Position Summary: Executive Director

The Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood seek an Executive Director of CSJ Sponsored Schools to provide strategic oversight on behalf of the Board of Members (Congregation's Leadership Council) for its four all-girls Catholic, college preparatory schools across New York and Puerto Rico. This role emerges from two years of thoughtful planning led by a volunteer executive advisory group convened by the Sisters to assess financial sustainability, enrollment trends, and future opportunities for the schools. 

Reporting to and acting directly on behalf of the President and Board of Members, the Executive Director carries full authority to engage school Boards and administrators to lead and advance network priorities in alignment with the Congregation's expectations and mission. Ultimately, the role exists to guide implementation of key priorities while monitoring shifts in private education to ensure each school's curriculum, student experience, and resources remain contemporary, distinctive, and positioned to thrive.

The Executive Director will bring deep educational leadership experience and a forward-looking perspective on teaching and learning, helping the schools remain academically vibrant, relevant, and distinctive in an evolving educational landscape. Serving as a trusted advisor to school administrators and boards, the Executive Director will help advance academic priorities while also supporting enrollment growth, financial sustainability, governance effectiveness, fundraising, marketing, and long-term institutional vitality.

Working in close partnership with school Presidents, Principals, and Boards, this leader will help troubleshoot academic and administrative challenges and advance priority initiatives across the network. This single-contributor role blends strategic thinking with hands-on execution - identifying solutions, coordinating resources, facilitating training, and project-managing initiatives that move the strategic plan forward across four different institutions, each with unique contexts and needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Academic & Program Excellence - Drive the schools to strengthen faculty structures, academic benchmarking, and cross-school best practices, including curriculum collaboration, faculty professional development, and college counseling standards.

• Network Strategy, Innovation & Future Direction - Lead implementation of network-wide priorities while helping the schools look ahead - translating trends in education into practical initiatives that modernize programming, strengthen enrollment, and position each school to succeed in a changing educational landscape.

• Network Collaboration & Shared Services - Identify opportunities for collaboration across the schools, including shared vendors, joint initiatives, and data systems, while establishing network-wide benchmarks, processes, and best practices that strengthen consistency without compromising each school's identity.

• School Performance Monitoring - Develop dashboards, KPI's, and evaluation processes that provide visibility into enrollment, financial health, academic indicators, and operational priorities while continuously refining standards to keep the schools innovative, competitive, and forward-looking.

• Financial Sustainability Support - Partner with school finance leaders and Congregation Chief Operating Officer to review budgets, tuition strategies, and long-term planning, helping identify practical paths toward stability and growth.

• Enrollment & Marketing Collaboration - Support school leaders in strengthening enrollment strategy, positioning, and outreach while advancing a compelling narrative around Catholic, all-girls education and sharing best practices across the network.

• Advancement & Fundraising Alignment - Help schools and their respective board members implement effective development approaches and donor engagement to support operating capital and academic needs.

• Facilities & Capital Planning - Partner with school leaders and Congregation Chief Operating Officer to assess deferred maintenance across historic campuses including  capital investments that support contemporary learning environments, technology readiness, and future-focused campus design.

• Governance & Trustee Partnership - Support school boards with governance clarity, leadership evaluation, succession planning, trustee recruitment, and alignment with Congregation expectations, including vetting candidates and confirming appointments in collaboration with the Board of Members.

Leadership & Competency Expectations

Academic Excellence and Innovation

This leader will bring deep experience within educational institutions and a passion for academic excellence. They stay informed on emerging trends in education and understand how curriculum, teaching practices, and student development continue to evolve. They help school administrators and boards think strategically about the future of learning, encouraging thoughtful innovation while ensuring each school's educational experience remains rigorous, relevant, and mission-aligned.

School Sustainability and Growth

This leader will also bring a strong understanding of the operational, financial, and governance factors that influence school success. Comfortable analyzing enrollment trends, financial performance, fundraising capacity, facilities needs, and resource allocation to help school leaders make informed decisions. Balances mission aspirations with practical realities, helping schools strengthen long-term sustainability while remaining focused on student success.

Multi-School Leadership and Network Coordination

Operating across four independent schools, the Executive Director brings the ability to hold multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining clarity and forward momentum. They combine strong project management discipline with strategic perspective - tracking initiatives across schools, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and ensuring the network's priorities translate into tangible progress.

Stakeholder Influence and Relationship Building

Deputed by the President to act on behalf of the Sisters, the Executive Director will exercise clear authority in advancing the Congregation's priorities across the schools, bringing gravitas, experience, and sound judgment. The ideal candidate quickly earns trust and adds value in conversations with school leaders and boards. They listen first, offer thoughtful counsel, and guide progress through influence rather than mandate.

Champion of All-Girls Catholic Education

This leader is inspired by the mission of educating young women and appreciates the distinct strengths of all-girls learning environments. They recognize the important role these schools play in fostering confidence, leadership, academic achievement, and personal and spiritual growth. The ideal candidate is energized by the opportunity to strengthen and advance schools that prepare young women to lead lives of purpose, service, and impact.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in education, educational leadership, or related discipline required (e.g., M.Ed, EdD, PhD, Ed.S., or comparable). Additional credentials (e.g. MBA or equivalent) and  experience in business including finance, organizational leadership and strategic planning is strongly preferred.

• Alignment with the mission and values of the Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood, including a commitment to educational opportunity, the dignity of every person, social justice, inclusion, service, and the transformative power of all-girls education.

• Senior leadership experience within secondary education, including public, private, independent, Catholic, or college-preparatory institutions and school networks.

• Demonstrated success leading academic innovation, curriculum development, faculty excellence initiatives, or other future-focused educational strategies that strengthen student outcomes and institutional relevance.

• Business and operational acumen, including the ability to interpret financial statements, assess long-term sustainability, and advise on facilities, capital planning, and resource allocation.

• Experience working across multiple entities, campuses, or programs - brings the ability to balance network priorities with the unique identity and needs of individual schools.

Location, Compensation & Benefits

This is an on-site position based in Floral Park, New York, with travel to other school locations in Jamaica Estates, Hempstead, Brooklyn, and Puerto Rico as needed. The salary range for this opportunity is $175,000 - $225,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes multiple medical plan options, dental and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, and FSAs for health, dependent care, and commuter expenses. Employees also receive a 403(b)-retirement plan, generous paid time off including vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays, as well as access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), wellness resources, and professional development opportunities. These offerings reflect the Congregation's commitment to supporting the well-being of those who carry forward its mission.