Elysian Charter School of Hoboken, Executive Director

Edgility Search • Hoboken, NJ

1d • $160,000 - $190,000

About The Position

Elysian Charter School of Hoboken is seeking a values-driven, highly relational, and academically focused Executive Director (ED) to serve as the school’s chief instructional leader and steward its mission and academic vision with consistency and care. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director serves as the school’s chief executive and educational leader, with responsibility for academic program quality, organizational health, financial sustainability, and community trust. This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned K–8 school leader who is ready to steward a beloved progressive school, strengthen academic and operational systems, and bring clarity, consistency, and rigor without compromising Elysian’s joyful, child-centered ethos. The Executive Director will have a visible, hands-on presence in the school community and will be expected to balance strategic leadership with day-to-day problem solving in a small-school environment. The impact of this role is significant: the Executive Director will help Elysian sustain its identity, support middle school readiness, maintain staffing and systems, and foster trust through transparent leadership ensuring that Elysian continues to operate as a high-quality public charter school.

Requirements

• An accomplished school leader with 7+ years of experience in K–8 education, including senior site-based leadership (e.g., Executive Director, Head of School, Principal, or Assistant Principal).
• Deeply aligned with Elysian’s mission and values, with a demonstrated commitment to progressive, child-centered education that integrates academic rigor, joy, and whole-child development.
• A culturally competent, reflective leader who understands the impact of individual differences and can lead direct, respectful conversations about equity, fairness, and inclusion.
• A strong communicator and relationship builder, capable of engaging families, staff, board members, and community partners with clarity, empathy, and credibility – especially during moments of tension or change.
• Experienced in curriculum implementation, teacher development, charter operations, and financial stewardship, with the ability to manage complexity and wear multiple hats in a small-school environment.
• A holder of, or is eligible to obtain, appropriate New Jersey administrative certification required to serve as an Executive Director/Head of School in a public charter school setting.
• A holder of, or is eligible to obtain, a New Jersey Department of Education–issued Principal Certificate of Eligibility (CE), Principal Standard Certificate, or School Administrator Certificate (CE or Standard).

Responsibilities

• Lead with a clear students-first philosophy grounded in child development and progressive education.
• Protect and strengthen Elysian’s identity while clarifying what high-quality progressive education looks like across K–8.
• Ensure that joy, belonging, creativity, and rigor coexist in every classroom.
• Ensure coherent, vertically aligned K–8 curriculum.
• Strengthen middle school rigor and high school readiness, including executive functioning, study skills, time management, and independent learning habits.
• Benchmark student outcomes through partnerships and feedback from destination high schools.
• Expand advanced academic opportunities while maintaining developmentally appropriate practice.
• Partner with school leaders to strengthen Special Education programming by ensuring strong systems, adequate staffing, and consistent IEP implementation—supporting diverse learners while building sustainable team capacity.
• Attract, develop, and retain excellent educators through clear expectations, meaningful feedback cycles, and coaching systems.
• Honor and preserve teacher autonomy while strengthening accountability and instructional consistency in service of student learning.
• Oversee staffing stability, workload, and long-term retention.
• Lead the development and consistent implementation of developmentally appropriate, schoolwide behavioral expectations and transparent discipline processes.
• Oversee and continuously strengthen student support systems to ensure alignment among discipline, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning development.
• Ensure that extracurricular offerings and technology policies reflect and reinforce the school’s commitment to whole-child development.
• Lead and steward a clear, reliable communication approach for families and staff.
• Model and uphold norms for transparency, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through across the school community.
• Partner with the Board and Business Administrator to uphold governance boundaries and decision-making processes.
• Maintain and deepen relationships with local education partners and city leaders to advance long-term opportunities for the Elysian community and students across Hoboken.
• Serve as a calm, credible ambassador for the school, navigating high-engagement parent dynamics with professionalism, empathy, and confidence.
• Provide strategic oversight of budgeting, charter compliance, audits, and risk management to ensure the school’s financial health and regulatory integrity.
• Ensure organizational clarity across roles, systems, schedules, facilities, and technology to support effective and aligned school operations.
• Lead the cultivation of partnerships, fundraising efforts, grant opportunities, and resource development initiatives to advance the school’s mission and priorities.
• Serve as the school’s representative in partnership with local officials and community stakeholders to support safety, access, and coordinated school operations amid city developments.

Benefits

• This position offers a competitive salary range of $160,000 - $190,000 and robust benefits including a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, state pension plan, paid time off, and professional development.
• More details can be provided upon request.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed