Job Description
Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School New York, NY
Grammar School Director Opportunity Statement
About the School
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is located at 5 West 93rd Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The oldest nonsectarian independent school in the city, it serves students from pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade and offers a college preparatory curriculum. CGPS nurtures each student's unique passions and talents inside and outside the classroom, unifying and inspiring members of its community in a rigorous but relaxed learning environment, preparing them for the finest colleges and instilling in them the confidence, ethical values and sense of purpose to embrace challenges, to achieve their dreams and to improve the world.
Position Summary
The Grammar School Director serves as the primary educational and administrative leader for Grades PK-5 at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, reporting directly to the Head of School. In this pivotal role, the Director fosters an inspiring, academically rigorous, and inclusive learning environment while overseeing daily divisional operations, scheduling, annual budgets, and signature programs. Grounded in CGPS's mission to cultivate student passions in a rigorous yet relaxed setting, the Director drives PK-5 curriculum alignment in collaboration with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, supports the Learning Resource Center, and manages faculty recruitment, assignments, evaluations, and professional growth alongside the Assistant Director and Early Childhood Lead.
Qualifications
- Extensive Lower School Leadership: Brings 10+ years of successful administrative and divisional leadership experience within an independent or private elementary/grammar school environment, with a proven track record of managing daily operations, faculty growth, building strong relationships with families, and designing PK-5 scheduling.
- Mastery of Elementary Pedagogy & Curriculum: Demonstrates deep expertise in PK-5 curriculum alignment, evidence-based instructional coaching, and child development, along with experience supporting learning resource programs and differentiated instruction.
- Empathetic & Mission-Driven Community Builder: Possesses an approachable, warm, and collaborative leadership style that fosters a joyful, inclusive, and academically rigorous divisional culture aligned with the school's core mission and values.
- Strategic Communicator: Possesses exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated ability to partner effectively with parents and Parent Associations, collaborate across school divisions, and support admissions and family onboarding.
How to Apply
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School has engaged DovetailED to lead this search. Interested candidates should email a cover letter (addressed to Director of Human Resources, Jada Jones), a resume, and a list of at least three professional references consolidated as a single PDF document to Zack Lehman at and Jen Powers, Recruiter, at .
Please do not contact the school directly.