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President

Employer
National Association of Independent Schools
Location
Washington D.C.

President
National Association of Independent Schools

POSITION SPECIFICATION
Position: President
Organization: National Association of Independent Schools 
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting Relationship: Board of Trustees
Website: https://www.nais.org/

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a nonprofit membership association that provides services to more than 2,000 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including more than 1,600 independent private K-12 schools in the U.S.

Mission and Vision
As the largest association of independent schools, NAIS co-creates the future of education by uniting and empowering the community. Through thought leadership, research, creation and curation of resources, and direct collaboration with education leaders, NAIS supports members and serves as an advocate on behalf of independent schools.

The association envisions a world where all learners find pathways to success through the independence, innovation, and diversity of schools, ultimately creating a more equitable world. 

Core Values

  • Thinking independently. Believe in independence and its power to inspire excellence.
  • Leading change. Imagine possibilities and innovate to strengthen the education landscape.
  • Embracing diversity. Welcome and encourage diverse identities and perspectives.
  • Championing inclusivity. Affirm the rights of every individual to belong and flourish.
  • Empowering community. Address complex issues through collaboration and advocacy.

Governance
The president reports to the NAIS board of trustees. The board is composed of 12 or more individuals (currently 17) and addresses fiduciary, strategic, and generative duties. It is led by the officers and the executive committee. The board meets three times a year: in February, June, and November. 

THE OPPORTUNITY
This is an exciting and critical moment for NAIS and for the independent school sector. Unprecedented events such as the pandemic, a volatile economy, political polarization, and social and racial justice movements underway bring continuous change and present both challenges and opportunities for the sector. As the largest convenor of independent schools, and with extraordinary levels of member engagement, NAIS was built for such times.

NAIS is poised for transformative leadership that can meet the needs of today and, with the help of its member base, can help envision and create what the sector will look like in the decades to come. The new president will explore and deliver new ways of leading organizational operations and engaging stakeholders from across the independent school community, enabling NAIS and its member schools to remain sustainable, vibrant, and impactful. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate perseverance and the skills required to navigate a turbulent environment and thoughtfully mobilize member schools to respond to the challenges independent schools face. This individual will provide inspirational leadership, strategic planning, and management to drive and deepen NAIS’s impact. The president will model empathy, humility, and inclusivity to ensure that staff, members, and other stakeholders are heard.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The president shapes and leads the strategic direction and overall management of NAIS. In collaboration with the board, the president develops a vision for the organization to ensure its relevance and value add to key stakeholders. The president oversees a budget of approximately ~$21 million and inspires the ~60-member NAIS team. The president’s primary responsibilities include the following: 

Vision and Strategic Direction

  • Set and pursue a bold vision for the future of the independent school sector, in consultation with NAIS members and stakeholders
  • Establish and articulate a national agenda advocating for independent schools, serving as a thought leader and chief spokesperson
  • Cultivate and foster close working relationships with the broad range of members to solicit input and build consensus around priorities that serve the needs of all independent schools

External Affairs

  • Establish strong working relationships with members and key external partners to ensure that NAIS can remain a thought leader and provide innovative, meaningful resources for the independent school community
  • Serve as a media spokesperson and champion for NAIS and its members

Management and Leadership

  • Manage organizational resources with strong financial accountability
  • Maintain clear fiscal priorities
  • Motivate and inspire people at all levels of the organization
  • Develop and implement infrastructural efficiencies
  • Activate, mobilize, and lead appropriate and timely action when members call for NAIS’s voice
  • Model and support a culture of learning, growth, and equity within the organization
  • Grow and diversify the organization’s current revenue streams
  • Enhance membership services through retention and recruitment strategies to ensure a responsive, service-oriented approach to member interests and needs

YEAR-ONE PRIORITIES

  • Learn about and engage with staff to understand where the organization is today; assess talent needs
  • Establish relationships with members and key stakeholders; learn the needs of current members
  • Help to restructure current systems and processes to face changes and take advantage of opportunities that arose during the pandemic.
  • Grow member base and better support all types, sizes, and geographies of schools
  • Partner with other associations in the field and solidify NAIS's unique role
  • Offer products, services, and experiences that cement member commitment
  • Continue to develop thought leadership
  • Expand role as a convenor of schools through conferences, webinars, e-courses, etc.
  • Begin to identify new markets and create a clear vision for the future
  • Begin to develop a strategic plan, priorities, and measurable goals for the organization to work toward 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS
The next president of NAIS will bring demonstrated leadership qualifications and experience in the education sector. The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking and systems-thinking leader who can inspire and influence the board, membership, and staff in advocating for and supporting independent schools. The president will have a significant and successful track record of leading a complex organization of similar size and scope and serving diverse constituencies. 

The ideal candidate will also possess the following characteristics:

  • Passion for the mission of NAIS
  • Understanding of the issues affecting schools and education today and in the future
  • Strategic and agile leadership style
  • Evidence of organizational leadership and ability to build infrastructures
  • High “EQ” with a demonstrated ability to motivate and lead others
  • Track record for developing and encouraging highly productive, innovative, customer-centric teams
  • Political savvy and approachable demeanor
  • Situational adaptability to navigate an ever-changing environment and societal challenges
  • Vision to identify and courage to address opportunities and challenges
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Ability to create safe spaces for candid conversations among members
  • Skill at facilitating peer learning and sharing about adaptive leadership and sensitive organizational topics
  • Strong public speaking skills and comfort being an ambassador for the organization
  • Willingness to travel as needed to establish and build relationships
  • An undergraduate degree preferred, but other pertinent experience may also be considered. 

The NAIS Presidential Search Committee has partnered with the executive search and talent solutions firm Korn Ferry to conduct this search.

Please apply by email to dayna.keene@kornferry.com

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