Employment

President

Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro (NDA), a Catholic independent school sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur serving students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade, seeks an exceptional and visionary President. This position is a leadership opportunity for an individual with strong financial acumen, a demonstrated focus on student recruitment and enrollment, expertise in marketing and communications, proven fundraising capabilities, and a commitment to organizational accountability, Catholic values, and academic excellence across the school. The President will lead NDA through a pivotal juncture, addressing significant challenges and charting a new course for sustainable success and growth. To learn more about the school, please visit www.ndatyngsboro.org.

About Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro

NDA Tyngsboro is a Catholic independent school sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience for students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The school is at a critical juncture, facing financial, operational, and leadership challenges that have emerged from historical issues such as limited information flow to the board, barriers to effective decision-making among the senior leadership team, and underinvestment in administrative and strategic functions. Despite these challenges, there is a strong sense of commitment and passion among the current staff and board members. The school recognizes an urgent need for empowered leadership and a clear, coordinated strategy to navigate this transition and secure a thriving future.

NDA Tyngsboro is dedicated to fostering a community grounded in its Catholic identity and values. While strong academics are a hallmark, the school acknowledges that families seek a broader value proposition including extracurriculars, sports, and other enrichment opportunities. The next President will be instrumental in reinforcing the school's mission and stewarding its legacy.

The Opportunity

The President is the chief executive officer of the Academy of Notre Dame, reporting directly to the board of directors. This role is responsible for all aspects of the organization and its wider community, serving as the administrative and faith leader overseeing the school’s strategic direction, financial health, community relationships, academic excellence, and daily operations. The President will be responsible for providing decisive leadership to stabilize financial operations, revitalize student recruitment and enrollment, enhance marketing efforts, and establish clear decision-making processes and accountability throughout the institution.

This position requires the vibrant daily presence of an experienced and successful leader, someone with a strong understanding of complex school finances, capable of organizing and coordinating a comprehensive response to the school's current needs. The ideal candidate will possess vision, business savvy, and the ability to understand and navigate school culture, inspiring trust and collaboration among all stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Accountability

• Navigate the school through this critical inflection point, establishing clear decision-making processes and fostering a culture of accountability across all departments and functions.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan that honors and extends the legacy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the enduring Catholic values of the Academy of Notre Dame.
• Lead, manage, develop, empower, and support a cohesive senior administrative team, including leaders in academics, finance, advancement, and enrollment, ensuring high standards and best practices.
• Implement structured communication channels within the school and between the school and board to ensure transparency, share progress, and proactively address concerns and capture opportunities.
• Rebuild trust and empower staff within defined parameters.

Strong Financial Acumen and Fundraising Leadership

• Stabilize and manage the school’s critical financial state, addressing ongoing shortfalls, eliminating reliance on prepaid tuition, and proactively managing debt.
• In coordination with the finance team and board of directors, develop a continuous process for generating multi-year financial plans and projections tied to enrollment strategies, endowment growth, philanthropic support, and strategic objectives.
• Develop, present, and adhere to a clear operating budget for operations and infrastructure investments, providing departments with defined spending parameters and holding them accountable for spending within limits.
• Lead the school’s comprehensive fundraising effort, engaging volunteers and board members to foster and secure community support through gifts and grants in alignment with the school’s priorities.
• Address significant deferred maintenance (e.g., a $2-3 million roof repair) in physical infrastructure and internal systems, and initiate discussions with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur regarding long-term property strategy and capital needs.
• Assess restricted endowment funds to identify opportunities for flexible use or re-evaluation in alignment with the school’s mission and establish clear policies for accepting future gifts.

Student Recruitment, Enrollment, and Enhanced Marketing & Communications

• Revitalize student recruitment and enrollment, reversing declining trends and significantly increasing the student population, particularly at the high school level.
• Enhance and modernize the school’s marketing and communications functions, addressing the website and absence of programs to attract families.
• Shift the institutional mindset towards proactive student recruitment, leveraging the school's strengths (e.g., college outcomes, student success stories) and actively engaging parent ambassadors.
• Set clear, measurable enrollment and marketing goals for all divisions, including activity metrics (e.g., open houses, school visits, community engagement).
• Differentiate the school effectively in a competitive market by clearly articulating its unique value proposition, especially for the upper school, and educating prospective families about its distinct offerings.
• Utilize data-driven approaches and analytical skills to identify viable recruitment sites and optimize engagement with prospective families.

Catholic Values and Academic Excellence

• Embrace and articulate NDA Tyngsboro's Catholic mission and identity, serving as the faith leader of the community and exemplifying the school’s values in their fullest form.
• Ensure a rigorous, innovative, and mission-aligned academic program across all grades (preK-12) that prepares students for success in college and beyond, nurturing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, self-discipline, faith formation, and a lifelong love of learning.
• Recruit, support, and retain exceptional faculty and academic leaders, fostering a collaborative culture of professional growth, instructional excellence, and accountability.
• In collaboration with the Principal, promote a culture of continuous improvement and academic achievement, using data and best practices to assess program effectiveness and drive curricular development.

Qualifications

• An experienced and successful leader, preferably with prior Head of School or similar executive-level experience in an independent school setting.
• Visible, involved, and approachable presence within the school community.
• Demonstrated strong financial acumen and experience managing complex school finances, including budget development, oversight, and strategic financial planning.
• Proven track record in student recruitment, enrollment management, and marketing strategies, with a capacity for data-driven decision-making and innovation.
• Exceptional communication skills (written, oral, and interpersonal) to inspire, build community, collegiality, and trust among diverse stakeholders, including students, parents, faculty, staff, alumnae, and the board.
• Deep understanding of and genuine passion for the Catholic mission and values of Academy of Notre Dame.
• Strategic mindset, strong analytical skills, and a creative problem-solver who is decisive and takes ownership.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a senior administrative team, fostering a collaborative and accountable professional learning environment.
• Organizational leadership experience that reflects increasing levels of responsibility over coordination and accountability for the work of others, managing stakeholders, and building community.
• An advanced degree is preferred; relevant experience in the financial and operational leadership in similar environments is highly desirable.

The compensation for this position, which includes comprehensive benefits, includes an annual salary in the $165,000-$185,000 range, depending on experience. We have shared a salary range for transparency, and we are open to further discussion if you feel this role aligns well with your experience and goals.

The Academy of Notre Dame is committed to creating an environment where all individuals are valued. The school celebrates the inherent dignity and value in each person as central to the work of creating justice and peace for all through education. Candidates who bring a substantive and varied combination of educational pursuits and lived experiences are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Candidates will ultimately submit a cover letter expressing their interest in this leadership opportunity, a current résumé and CV, a Statement of Educational Philosophy, and academic transcripts.

Please contact Narwhal Talent Partners at [email protected] or directly: 

Peter G. Hamilton | (617) 620-9268 

Christian G. Henry | (857) 285-3364

Research shows that some professionals will explore opportunities only if they see themselves meeting all of the preferred qualifications. In our recruiting experience no one meets 100% of the listed qualifications. We look forward to your expression of interest.

All inquiries are treated as confidential.