Who we are?
Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves a diverse community of about 1,700 students on two campuses - one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan. The Upper School, located in the Bronx, is comprised of approximately 600 students and 80 faculty members.
What is essential about working at our school?
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of equity and inclusion deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace diversity of ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs and seek a student body and faculty that reflect the pluralism and socio-economic diversity of metropolitan New York. We affirm both our differences and commonalities and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives and see the world beyond the self.
We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in a diverse environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.
Position Summary
The Executive Director of Belonging and Social Impact serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Council and reports directly to the CEO. This position is responsible for guiding and leading the development and implementation of strategic programs and initiatives that foster a sense of community and belonging across the school’s PK-12 divisions. The director oversees a team of professionals focused on promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social impact, ensuring alignment with the school’s progressive values and ethical foundation.
The hiring range for this position is $220,000-$260,000. When determining the salary for an offer, ECFS considers factors including, but not limited to: the scope and responsibilities of the position, internal peer equity, key skills required for the role, the candidate’s work experience, education and training, as well as market and organizational considerations.
Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.
Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities of the Executive Director of Belonging and Social Impact will include:
- Leading the development and execution of strategies that promote community, belonging, and inclusion across the entire school community.
- Collaborating with divisional leaders, faculty, and external partners to foster trust, cultural competence, and alignment with the School's mission.
- Working in partnership with the Board of Trustees and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Council.
- Overseeing the PK-12 Belonging and Social Impact Department, which includes an Assistant Director and Belonging and Social Impact Leads across divisions.
- Collaborating with faculty, administrators, students, and parents to embed DEIBJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, Justice) principles into the school curriculum and daily activities.
- Leading initiatives and activities that support the social-emotional learning of students, including community time, retreats, and student enrichment programs.
- Collaborating with the Admissions, Human Resources, and Communications teams to attract and engage underrepresented and diverse families and ensure inclusive representation.
- Partnering with the Support and Wellness team to monitor and enhance support mechanisms for underrepresented student groups.
- Regularly attending and participating in school meetings, search committees, and parent multicultural events.
- Developing and leading professional development programs for faculty and staff that focus on restorative justice, anti-bias education, cross-cultural dialogue, and inclusion of diverse identities (race, ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
- Ensuring new hires and existing staff receive comprehensive training to foster a culturally competent and inclusive environment.
- Facilitating inter-group dialogue and conflict resolution initiatives to build bridges across differences and promote civil discourse on challenging issues.
- Serving as a mediator and problem-solver for sensitive DEIBJ issues involving faculty, students, and parents.
- Developing and monitoring metrics that measure the progress toward achieving DEIBJ goals, aligned with the School's strategic vision.
- Providing regular updates and reports to School leadership and the Board of Trustees on the execution of strategies and objectives.
- Ensuring all School communications reflect and support the diversity of the School community.
- Performing other related projects, initiatives, and duties as assigned.
Position Requirements:
The successful incumbent will possess the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred;
- At least five years of experience in program development and implementation, with a focus on DEIBJ;
- Prior experience teaching or developing curriculum in a PreK-12 educational setting is essential, with progressive education experience a plus;
- Previous experience working in an independent school and familiarity with admissions processes is a plus;
- Demonstrated ability to inspire and influence others to create positive change in a diverse community of faculty, administrators, students, and parents;
- High emotional intelligence, cultural competence, and strong interpersonal skills;
- Ability to identify issues quickly and problem solve accordingly including the ability to navigate stressful situations that may arise;
- Strong organizational and time-management skills and proficiency with technology (i.e. , the Google suite);
- Ability to handle confidential matters with discretion and a high degree of integrity;
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills with proven experience in facilitating discussions and presenting to diverse stakeholders;
- Expertise in bridge-building across differences, inter-group dialogue, and conflict resolution.
- Sensitivity to issues of antisemitism/anti-Jewish hate, anti-Arab hate, and other forms of bias and discrimination;
- Ability to work evenings and weekends to attend scheduled events and meetings;
- Strong appreciation for diversity in all forms and the ability to foster a culture of belonging;
- Capacity to listen effectively and be receptive to feedback from various stakeholders;
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize data and insights to inform strategic vision and initiatives; adept at presenting coherent and compelling plans supported by evidence to key stakeholders, fostering alignment and commitment to advancing the school’s mission of belonging and social impact.
To Apply
All candidates should visit our employment page at to apply. Please submit a one-page statement on your DEI philosophy, a resume, and contact information for three references.
EEO
ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. Our goal is to be a diverse community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. We aim to align our hiring process with our mission and institutional goals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. ECFS takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance all qualified candidates.