Horizons at SCH Executive Director

About the Organization

Horizons at SCH (HSCH) is a community-centered education program supporting students predominantly drawn from Northwest Philadelphia. Horizons builds long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. The main component of Horizons is a six-week summer program located on the campus of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), where students from partner public schools participate in academic, cultural, and recreational enrichment activities, including teaching all students how to swim. A growing school-year program supplements the six-week program. Horizons at SCH operates a proven model and is part of an affiliated national network with over 70 Horizons sites.

Horizons at SCH was founded in 2021. As designed, the program adds a new class cohort of 15 students each summer, until the program reaches 135 students in grades K-8. HSCH will welcome 90 K-5 students in Summer 2026. HSCH runs as a program within SCH, overseen by school leadership and a volunteer Board of Directors, and is also supported by regional and national Horizons organizations.

Position Purpose

As the leader of the HSCH team, the Executive Director (ED) manages a multifaceted organization. Key responsibilities include fundraising, communications, marketing, program operations, board management, financial management, and strategic planning. The ED represents Horizons within the SCH community and in the broader Philadelphia community, building relationships to increase awareness of the program, expand partnerships, and position HSCH as a thought leader in the out-of-school time space. The ED will report to the SCH Head of School and the Horizons at SCH Board. This position will start January 5, 2026.

HSCH offers a strong community of support from committed families and a collaborative Board in partnership with host school members, local community stakeholders, and partner school representatives. As part of a national network, Horizons at SCH's Executive Director has access to professional development opportunities, peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, and programmatic and strategic guidance from Horizons National, the hub of the Horizons network.

Essential Functions

Organizational Leadership

• Serves as the primary connecting relationship between the Horizons at SCH constituencies including: SCH departments, the Board, Horizons national and regional leadership, Horizons students and their families, partner schools, teachers, volunteers, funders, and aligned community organizations.
• Partners with the Horizons at SCH Board, providing leadership and support to members and committees.
• Prepares and monitors the program's annual budget.
• Prepares annual and periodic reports regarding program operations and funding.

Fundraising and Marketing Leadership

HSCH is a tuition-free program, funded 100% through grants, sponsorships, and charitable donations. It is hosted and supported by SCH, but not funded through the SCH budget. The ED:

• Develops and implements a comprehensive annual fundraising plan through individual giving, grants, and event fundraising.
• Develops and stewards relationships with donors and prospective donors and participates in networking and speaking opportunities to raise awareness of HSCH.
• Collaborates with the Board on fundraising strategies, including cultivation of new funding sources, and provides support for fundraising events.
• Ensures effective gift recording and acknowledgment (donor database training available).
• Works in close coordination with the SCH Development and Communications offices.
• Develops and distributes a variety of Horizons at SCH communications to engage with donors, prospective donors, and sponsors, and implements public relations and donor engagement activities.
• Manages grant identification, proposal writing, management, and reporting.

Program Leadership

• Works in partnership with the HSCH Program Director (PD) to ensure the highest quality summer and weekend school-year programming.
• With support from PD, leads:
  • student recruitment and retention activities, interacting with school principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and families
  • school-year programming (periodic weekend programs)
  • coordination of field trips, enrichment offerings, and visitor engagement opportunities
  • program evaluation, best practice identification, and continuous improvement
  • student volunteer recruitment, training, and supervision

• Supports the PD in:
  • program design
  • program operations
  • program staff recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision
  • student assessment
  • student and family communications
  • program reporting

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in leadership roles in nonprofit settings, preferably in an organization with a focus on education, out-of-school time programming, or youth
• Experience leading fundraising activities, including donor cultivation and sponsor relations, grant applications, and events
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build and sustain positive and respectful relationships, with a sense of cultural competency and experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Experience with program administration, including operations, budgeting, and staff management
• Bachelor's Degree
• Demonstrated deep understanding of cultural competency skills and enthusiasm for issues of diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs
• Able to move around the classroom and other school environments
• Able to regularly use close and distance vision

Application Procedure

To be considered, candidates must upload a cover letter, resume, statement of experience, and information for three references through our online platform.

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The School is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application process and in employment as required by law.