Community Engagement and Belonging Program Associate

Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000. Placement in the range is commensurate with experience. Exemption Status: Exempt

About the role

The Dalton School, a progressive K–12 gender-inclusive school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is consistently recognized as one of the preeminent independent day schools in the nation. Guided by the Dalton Plan, the school meets each student’s evolving needs, interests, and abilities, fostering intellectual independence, creativity, curiosity, and responsibility. Dalton enrolls over 1,300 students with approximately 350 faculty and staff.

The school seeks a Community Engagement & Belonging (CEB) Program Associate who combines project management expertise with strong interpersonal skills to provide administrative support for CEB Office programs. This role suits someone who enjoys multitasking, community event planning, and coordinating logistics. Working across the school community, the Program Associate will help shape and sustain CEB events with professionalism, enthusiasm, flexibility, and initiative. This position reports to the Chief of Community Engagement & Belonging.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an administrative assistant for the Chief of Community Engagement & Belonging, handling the CEB office schedule, event calendar, departmental meetings, professional travel, telephone calls, and correspondence.
• Manage Community Engagement & Belonging expenses across departments: order and maintain supplies, process invoices and receipts, book travel and registration, and coordinate with external vendors as needed.
• Act as the first point of contact between the CEB Office and the wider community; organize, prepare, and proof select CEB internal communications, including the CEB office email account, quarterly newsletter, correspondence with community members, and updates to portals and calendars.
• Coordinate, attend, and take minutes of various office and committee meetings and events; liaise with faculty, guests, and vendors to assist with office-related needs and requests.
• Support hiring processes by coordinating interviews and visits for candidates; assist with special projects and other tasks as assigned.
• Assist with planning and coordination of CEB special events for employees, alumni, and parents/families; collaborate with internal departments including Facilities, Dining Services, Security, Communications, Parents Association, Admissions, and the New Lab for Teaching and Learning.
• Oversee logistics for the annual Dalton Conference, including Facilities, Technology, Catering, Printing, Supplies, and Invoice Processing.
• Assist with planning, coordination, and presentation of K–12 CEB student programming, including assemblies, student identity groups/clubs, and community cultural celebrations.
• Attend bi-weekly meetings with divisional coordinators to provide logistical support and thought partnership for student-focused CEB initiatives; assist with cross-divisional CEB student collaborations to foster connections across the K–12 program scope.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; minimum of three years of experience in administrative support work.
• Experience in a K–12 educational setting is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to progressive education, anti-racist practices, social-emotional learning competencies, and student-centered pedagogy.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to design, coordinate, and execute multiple initiatives simultaneously while managing timelines, logistics, and diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency using spreadsheets, Google Suite, Canva, and other PC and Mac-based applications.
• High level of oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills across a variety of contexts and modalities.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies, while also operating independently with minimal oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, judgment, and care.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings, early mornings, and weekends for school events, committee meetings, and conferences.

Schedule

This is a 12-month, full-time position with the expectation of availability throughout June and August.