President

About the Role

Magnificat High School is a girls’ Catholic college-preparatory high school, founded and sponsored by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. The President, as the chief executive officer, is the institutional leader of the school community, responsible for implementing, modeling, and advancing the Mission and Values of the school. The President provides visionary and collaborative leadership and oversight of all dimensions of the school, including Catholic identity and Mission formation, academics, student life and formation, advancement, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, enrollment and marketing, alumnae and family relations, and finance and facilities. The President actively represents the school and ensures visibility of Magnificat High School in the community. In partnership with the Board, the President is responsible for strategic planning and securing financial support for the advancement of the Mission of the school.

Reports To

The Board of Directors and the Corporate Member, the Sisters of the Humility of Mary.

Supervises

The President supports and supervises the collaborative work of the Leadership Team.

Responsibilities

• Oversees, with the leadership of the Senior Vice President of Mission & Strategic Initiatives, the implementation and integration of Magnificat’s Mission and Values and Catholic identity across all dimensions of school life, including the Mission and heritage of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Gospel Values, and Catholic Social Teaching.
• Facilitates the Board’s governance; supports and collaborates with all Board standing committees and task forces; plans Board meetings and communicates with Directors and committee members to ensure informed and engaged involvement.
• Leads the development, implementation, and oversight of the school’s long-term and strategic plans in collaboration with the Board.
• Ensures the implementation of a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum and excellent academic instruction to support the holistic education needs and aspirations of students, aligned with the Mission, HM heritage, and Catholic identity, in partnership with the Dean of Faculty and Academics.
• Provides direction and approval on all major academic initiatives.
• Ensures that financial goals are fulfilled through robust fundraising and advancement efforts, working with the Vice President of Advancement. Fosters community relations and donor involvement by serving as a visible advocate and champion of the school.
• Promotes the ongoing creation of a loving, equitable, and inclusive community that respects diversity, and demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as essential expressions of the school’s Catholic identity, Mission, and Values.
• Serves as the primary spokesperson of the school. Ensures that communications and marketing strategies advance the Mission and strategic goals, and that school enrollment remains vibrant and reflective of the school’s Mission, Values, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Manages and oversees the school’s finances and investments; ensures the fiscal integrity of the school in alignment with the Mission and strategic plan priorities; and supports the responsible and sustainable upkeep and evolution of the school facilities and campus, in collaboration with the Vice President of Operations.
• Provides oversight in advancing the holistic formation, growth, and development of students through all aspects of student life, including school programs, events, policy decisions, and discipline matters, working with the Dean of Student Life and Formation.
• Builds and maintains relationships through the active engagement of the FAM Network, the Alumnae Board, and the alumnae network. Fosters community relations through visible presence and networking with partners, schools, and organizations in the greater Cleveland community and the Catholic community.
• Appoints, leads, and supervises the Leadership Team in its responsibility for all dimensions of school life. Provides final approval on school hiring and personnel matters, and personnel policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church who witnesses the Catholic faith, models Catholic values, and can serve as a faith leader in the school community.
• Demonstrates a deep commitment to the Mission and Values of Magnificat High School and to the school’s religious sponsor, the Sisters of the Humility of Mary.
• Proven educational or executive leadership for a minimum of five to seven years; experience within a Catholic school and/or all-girls school strongly preferred.
• Able to demonstrate a record of achievement and experience in leading and managing organizations with specific evidence of achievement in the areas of Mission implementation, positive personnel relations, financial management, strategic planning, and/or advancement.
• Experience working with Boards and knowledge of board governance, thus able to fully support the Board of Directors.
• Exceptional organizational, management, and project leadership experience.
• Significant accomplishments and demonstrated efforts in successful fundraising and networking.
• Experience in the non-profit sector and capable of establishing and managing external partnerships.
• Experience in strategic and long-term planning and plan implementation.
• Experience in change management; able to be an agent of change.

Skills

• Demonstrates strong relational skills to build trust, foster collaboration, promote an inclusive culture, and lead effectively across the school community.
• Cultivates a Mission-centered environment rooted in the Mission and Values of the school, the Humility of Mary Mission and Heritage, and Gospel values and Catholic teaching, including Catholic Social Teaching.
• Demonstrates commitment to girls’ education and the empowerment of young women of faith and leadership.
• Able to effectively and positively represent Magnificat High School to all stakeholders. Ensures continuation of the school’s current strengths while inspiring excellence, and leading measurable forward movement and growth.
• Effective communicator in both oral and written format; able to engage faculty, staff, students, parents, and the community.
• Proven ability to build relationships and work successfully to build consensus with students, families, and colleagues of diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage and direct multiple projects and priorities.
• Strong analytical and data-informed decision-making skills.
• Inclusive and collaborative leadership skills, and excellent interpersonal and management skills.
• Understands and values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as an organizational operating principle rooted in the Mission and committed to continued learning and growth on related issues.
• Strong financial acumen with knowledge of school operations.
• Commitment to professional reflection, growth, and development, and a willingness to stay current with best practices in education and leadership.
• Visible and consistent presence at school and community events.
• Commitment to confidentiality and good judgment on sensitive matters; ability to manage interpersonal conflict and crises judiciously and empathetically.
• Flexible schedule, embraces occasional travel requirements to meet with alumnae and major gift prospects.

Qualities

• Models the Mission and Values of Magnificat and the Sisters of the Humility of Mary with courage, compassion, and humility.
• Understands, values, and promotes the ministry of Catholic education in an all-girls environment.
• Collaborative style of leadership.
• Able to fully engage stakeholders at all levels in the school’s functioning.
• Understands that overall school excellence requires a commitment to both educational quality and financial integrity.
• Desires to make a positive difference in the lives of students, faculty, staff, and families.
• Dedicated and leads by example; enthusiastically embraces the demands of the work schedule and often consistently long work hours.
• Committed to the highest ethical standards and requires the same of all staff and students.

Education

Preferred graduate degree or higher in education, non-profit administration, or other related field.