Job Details

Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Classification: Classified

Job Status: Exempt/Full Time

School Year Employee

Start Date: June/July 2025

Location: Seattle, WA

ABOUT RAINIER VALLEY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY:

Rainier Valley Leadership Academy is a public, tuition-free, charter school that provides an anti-racist collaborative community and rigorous education, while also providing access to civic leadership and college success for all scholars in Seattle. RVLA will serve kindergarten and 6th-12th grade in the Seattle community. We respect and celebrate the wealth and vitality of the ethnic and cultural traditions that thrive in our neighborhood. Our mission is to put every child on the path to success in college and career, leadership, and life.

We integrate college and career-ready and hands-on instruction to expose all scholars to a variety of authentic experiences. Our teachers use a data-driven collection to meet scholar needs and differentiation. We use common planning time and collaborative team time to analyze data to inform instruction. We provide a teacher mentor for every scholar and focus on personalized learning.

RVLA boasts a highly qualified and diverse faculty and staff that not only have excellent educational credentials but also bring to the school community many years of dedication to scholar success and passion for our mission. Our small school community allows adults to know each other and every scholar by name, strength, and need. We pride ourselves on building and maintaining close relationships with each other, our community, scholars, and families.

OPPORTUNITY:

We are seeking a mission-aligned Executive Director to join the growing team at Rainier Valley Leadership Academy to serve scholars in grades K-12. Our ideal candidate is scholar-focused and utilizes innovative, data-driven, anti-racist instructional practices to engage, connect, and build relationships with scholars and their families to foster educational success. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about having a long-term commitment to joining the RVLA community and wants to help build a community-centered school driven to dismantle systemic oppression through the unit of the school.

To learn more about what it's like to work at RVLA, please visit: myrvla.org

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overview

As an Executive Director, your main responsibilities would include overseeing RVLA's organization's operations, including strategic planning, program management, finances, fundraising, and staff leadership. While also fostering positive stakeholder relationships. You will set the overall direction and ensure the organization meets its goals.

Role Responsibilities

Fundraising:

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies for RVLA, including grants, sponsorships, capital campaigns, and donor cultivation.
• Collaborate with the development team to set annual fundraising goals, assess progress, and design initiatives to meet success metrics.
• Build relationships with donors, alumni, and community partners, hosting events and recognition programs to sustain long-term giving.
• Research and apply for local, state, and federal funding opportunities to support RVLA's growth and program development.
• Create compelling fundraising materials and presentations that highlight RVLA's impact, student success stories, and community contributions.
• Oversee fundraising events, coordinating logistics, volunteer management, and post-event donor stewardship.

Strategic Leadership:

• Create and implement a school vision aligned with RVLA's mission, with clear goals and success measures, adjusting as needed throughout the year.
• Lead all stakeholders — faculty, staff, students, and families — in executing the vision, and fostering a culture of academic excellence, equity, and inclusion.
• Stay informed on educational trends and policy changes to adapt strategies and maintain high standards for student success.

Financial Oversight:

• Develop, manage, and forecast the annual budget in collaboration with the CFO, ensuring financial sustainability and resource optimization.
• Oversee financial audits, compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, and ensure accurate record-keeping and reporting.
• Authorize spending, review expense reports, and ensure staff understand financial policies and state allocation budget requirements.

Operational Management:

• Oversee daily operations at RVLA, including facilities, safety, technology, and administrative functions, ensuring smooth and effective systems.
• Lead the development and implementation of school policies, ensuring alignment with educational standards and legal requirements.
• Coordinate scheduling, academic calendars, and resource management to support staff and student success.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Meet regularly with students, parents, and faculty to inspire and align them with RVLA's mission and vision.
• Foster relationships with community partners, school district authorizers, and advisory boards to support RVLA initiatives and student outcomes.
• Communicate transparently through newsletters, meetings, and events, addressing concerns and gathering feedback to strengthen relationships.

Board Collaboration or Governance:

• Act as the primary liaison between RVLA and the board of directors, presenting reports and advising on strategic and operational matters.
• Attend board meetings, collaborating on policy decisions, fundraising efforts, and long-term planning to ensure alignment with RVLA's goals.
• Ensure compliance with charter petition requirements, updating governing bodies on RVLA's progress and performance.

Instructional Leadership & Academic Programs:

• Provide instructional leadership by facilitating faculty meetings, supporting curriculum development, and leading professional development sessions.
• Implement a data-driven approach to academics, training teachers to use classroom data to refine teaching practices and improve student outcomes.
• Ensure all courses meet UC approval standards, overseeing the course submission process and staying updated on approval requirements.

Recruitment and Retention:

• Lead student recruitment and enrollment efforts, collaborating with internal teams and community partners to ensure full enrollment at RVLA.

• Design and implement a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy to attract high-quality educators and staff who support RVLA's mission and commitment to student success.

• Create and implement retention strategies for both students and staff, promoting long-term engagement and satisfaction.

School Culture & Student Experience:

• Cultivate an inclusive, anti-bias, anti-racist school culture that celebrates diversity and promotes student well-being.
• Develop extracurricular programs, including clubs, volunteer opportunities, and school events, to enrich student life and foster community.
• Implement restorative practices and discipline strategies, promoting positive behavior and a culture of respect and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in education, special education, psychology, or related field (required)
• Master's degree
• Valid teaching certification or licensure (required).
• Valid Administrative Credential for WA state (required)
• Ability to Experience working with scholars with diverse learning needs and abilities.
• Prior experience in a leadership role, preferably in a school setting
• You take initiative and ownership in driving your work to meet personal and team goals.
• Demonstrates integrity, fairness, and a commitment to ethical leadership in decision-making and interactions with students, staff, and the community.
• The ideal candidate is a seasoned school leader and educator with a proven track record of guiding successful school communities, developing faculty and staff, and achieving strong student outcomes.
• You're committed to continuous improvement, see feedback as a positive, and have a growth mindset.
• You excel in people management and relationship-building, with the ability to inspire, support, and effectively communicate with a diverse group of teachers, leaders, staff, and community members.
• You provide honest, constructive, and timely feedback that drives growth and enhances performance.

• Growth mindset and love of learning

• Relentless commitment to high standards for high-quality execution

• Passionate with a strong sense of personal responsibility toward achieving ambitious goals

• Humility, sense of humor, and rock-solid commitment to RVLA's mission and the Southeast Seattle community

• Commitment to building programs from beginning to end
• Clear fingerprint & background check with Puget Sound Educational Service District

This employer strives for a balanced, productive workforce, which is diverse in age, gender, and cultural identity. We do not base hiring or promotional decisions on factors other than performance and professional growth potential.