Executive Director

OUR ORGANIZATION

GALS is an all-girls (inclusive), public charter school serving 350 students in 6th-12th grades. GALS empowers students to succeed academically, lead confidently, live boldly, and thrive physically. GALS provides an innovative and necessary educational option that incorporates health and wellness education to optimize academic achievement, focusing on identity development and social emotional development. The school follows standards-based practices and classes incorporate an inquiry-based approach to learning, and integration of movement in academic programming.

OUR MISSION

GALS Denver empowers students to succeed academically, lead confidently, live boldly and thrive physically.

OUR VISION

The Girls Athletic Leadership Schools of Denver (GALS) envision a world where all young women (+), regardless of their background, are given access to a personalized and holistic education that provides them the opportunity to access the skills, knowledge and self-determination to succeed in college and to develop as leaders in their communities and the world.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Executive Director is the key visionary and management leader of GALS Denver. The Executive Director bears primary responsibility for setting and driving the strategy of the organization, ensuring staff structure and resources allow for the quality implementation of the school model and program, ensuring the organization meets annual revenue goals, develops annual budget, and generates an appropriate surplus, securing the school s long-term sustainability, ensuring the school is compliant with all federal and state law and district and organizational policies. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall operations of the school, collaborating with the Heads of School, who are the instructional and cultural leaders of the school.

CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ED

Strategic Planning and Compliance

• Represent GALS Denver as a leader in the Colorado and Denver charter school communities and with students and families through advocacy efforts including legislative efforts to sustain charter school funding, etc.
  

• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to plan and publicize all Board meetings (following Sunshine law), prepare agendas and materials, arrange logistics, and attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings
  

• Facilitate strategic planning with the Board of Directors, create quality annual and long term goals for all areas of operation including but not limited to Academics, School Culture, Human Capital, Enrollment, Finances, and Governance
  

• Oversee school compliance with all applicable laws, regulatory reporting, contractual obligations, and donor restrictions
  

• Drive and support all renewal processes with schools through our district authorizer, and manage all needed applications and waivers at the state and district level
  

People Management

• Manage and support leadership team and other members of the staff to meet organizational and positional goals and oversee annual employee evaluations
  

• Drive the recruitment and hiring, onboarding, training, and evaluating of leadership team members, and support hiring of teachers and support staff, as needed.
  

• Serve as key human resources director and drive compliance with legal and policy regulations, write and update employee handbook
  

• Drive and manage all equity, inclusion and diversity efforts and programs
  

• Align human capital needs with annual budget and strategic plan
  

Program, Communications, and Operations:

• Promote the school mission and philosophy throughout the school community
  

• Diagnose the gaps between where the school is versus where it aspires to be and drive implementation of strategies and practices implemented to close these gaps with staff and community stakeholders
  

• Maintain appropriate facilities for school use through district lease or private facility
  

• Oversee all school-wide marketing efforts, family communications and involvement, recruitment, enrollment, and reputation management strategies
  

• Nurture open lines of communication between stakeholders and work to resolve conflicts and disputes that may arise
  

Fundraising and Financial Oversight:

• Annually, design and adopt an organizational budget (with responsible use of reserves) that supports long term sustainability of the organization in alignment with Denver Public Schools Financial Framework
  

• Oversee school operations to adhere to the Board Approved Budget, including managing payroll, contracts and all other financial and accounting operations and producing a clean audit annually
  

• Annually set and meet or exceed the fundraising goal in alignment with development and enrollment goals
  

• Establish and maintain partnerships with individuals, donors, businesses and organizations to support the schools with a variety of needs
  

• Drive fundraising efforts with the assistance of the team through individual and philanthropic campaigns and grant writing and ensure strong oversight and management of public and private funds in service of the mission
  

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At GALS, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. If you are excited about our mission and vision, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Required Qualifications

• Commitment to educational philosophy of GALS including gender specific learning, movement-based learning, individual student care, integrated mental health, and academics
  

• Demonstrated success in running and leading educational programs, preferably with experience in charter schools using restorative justice practices and culturally responsive pedagogy
  

• 5+ years of experience in managing and leading high performing teams, schools, school districts, private schools or non-education organizations, including strategic development, fundraising and finance, and operations
  

• Demonstrated success in raising funds and managing large budgets, including grant implementation and reporting
  

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Significant experience in strategic planning, data and financial analysis, fundraising, marketing and community outreach, and board management
  

• Ability to show resourcefulness, flexibility, and sense of humor
  

• Keen problem solver and initiative taker
  

• Experience in working with diverse populations
  

• Excellent communication skills; Ability to interact effectively across lines of difference in a variety of settings
  

Preferred Experience

• Master s degree in related field
  

• Leadership at the high school level
  

• Conversational Spanish
  

CORE COMPETENCIES

MISSION AND VISION FOCUS. Optimize systems, processes, and development to maximize broad organizational success centered on student and alumni impact.

ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTATION. Optimize systems, processes, and development to maximize broad organizational success centered on students and organizational impact.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT. Leverages strategic partnerships to advance our mission.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP. Builds the cultural direction and systems to influence and inspire.

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. Optimizes systems and processes to maximize broad organizational success.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Develops policies and procedures for delegation of finances and holds org responsible for use.

Benefits