Commandant of Cadets

Massanutten Military Academy; Woodstock (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Massanutten Academy seeks an experienced, energetic leader to serve as Commandant of Cadets, overseeing cadet life, residential life, discipline, and dorm staff. This senior role sits on the leadership team and shapes character, leadership, and a safe campus environment.

The ideal candidate will be a retired military officer, with strong mentoring ability, collaboration with faculty, staff, parents, and cadets, and a commitment to core values of courage, character, and service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Retired military officer (major or lieutenant colonel) within 2 years of leaving service
• Strong leadership, communication, planning, and organizational skills
• Experience supervising staff, setting goals and metrics, and providing feedback to improve performance
• Experience managing training, administrative, and discipline programs
• Ability to mentor and develop student leaders
• Commitment to character development, accountability, and student success
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders (faculty, staff, parents, and cadets)
• Fitness level to participate in training events with cadets and military appearance in uniform

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of the Academy’s Cadet Corps – comprised of operations and development efforts of both JROTC and TAC supervised dorm life.
• Develop and implement programs that promote leadership, responsibility, and character development
• Promote a culture of accountability, respect, teamwork, and excellence
• Mentor cadet leaders and oversee the student chain of command
• Oversee cadet formations, inspections, ceremonies, special events and leadership activities
• Ensure compliance with Academy standards regarding appearance, conduct, and accountability
• Ensure Cadet Corps units (color guard, band, drill team, sword arch, cadet corps) support missions for the community (JROTC), regional (enrollment), and alumni events.
• Promulgate a recognition program that highlights above average-to-excellent performance, behavior and actions
• Monitor student conduct and ensure consistent enforcement of Academy policies
• Conduct and oversee disciplinary/conduct investigations, discipline boards, and corrective action processes
• Maintain accurate records related to student conduct and disciplinary matters
• Communicate disciplinary and student welfare matters with parents and Academy leadership
• Oversee all residential life operations and programs for cadet safety, security and welfare
• Supervise and evaluate Trainer Advisor Coach (TACs) to deliver a resident life program
• Develop and manage TAC schedules and duty assignments
• Oversee residential life programming that maximized quality of life
• Coordinate facilities improvements, repairs and upgrades with Maintenance department
• Oversee residential facilities and maintenance and plan evolution to support the mission
• Assist with student orientation, enrollment transitions, and residential assignments
• Support campus safety and security initiatives and emergency response procedures
• Manage on-campus activities and off-campus cadet trips as needed
• Work closely with academics, admissions, athletics, and administrative departments to support student success
• Serve as a positive role model for cadets and staff
• Maintain professionalism, integrity, and high ethical standards
• Attend Academy events and perform other duties as assigned by Head of School
• Seek opportunities for professional development of staff

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Planning

Organizational

Staff supervision

Mentoring

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Massanutten Academy is seeking an experienced, energetic, and student-focused leader to serve as Commandant of Cadets. Located in the Shenandoah Mountains in Woodstock, Virginia, Massanutten Academy is a college-preparatory boarding and day school dedicated to developing academic excellence character, self-discipline, and leadership.

The Commandant of Cadets is responsible for leading all aspects of cadet life, student leadership development, residential life, discipline program, and the supervision of dorm staff - Trainer, Advisor Coaches (TACs), medical, and cadet services. This position serves as a senior member of the Academy’s leadership team and plays a critical role in maintaining a structured, safe, and supportive environment for all cadets.

Ethos

Transform Lives. Build Character. Shape Future Leaders.

Massanutten Academy seeks extraordinary men and women who view education as more than a profession—and as a calling. We are looking for dynamic, energetic, and highly accomplished individuals who look forward to inspiring young people to achieve high standards they may not yet believe possible for themselves.

Our most successful faculty and staff members are often multitalented leaders: exceptional teachers, mentors, and role models who lead by example and can build meaningful, professional relationships with young people. They are outgoing, engaged, and committed to developing the whole person through consistent expectations, positive influence and example, and routinely engaged leadership.

Founded in 1899, Massanutten Academy combines a rigorous college-preparatory education with an Army JROTC program. We seek professionals who embrace our historic goals for developing Courage to Lead, Purity of Character, and Industry for Service and who are passionate about helping young people develop self-discipline, integrity, accountability, responsibility, respect, teamwork, leadership and a strong work ethic.

This role as essentially “Dean of Students” is an opportunity to shape the character and future of young men and women during the most formative years of their lives. Successful candidates will challenge cadets to take ownership of their choices, maximize the opportunities before them, and embrace the Academy's motto,Non-Nobis Solum—"Not for Ourselves Alone".

If you are a leader who inspires excellence, models high standards, and believes that character development is as important as academic achievement, we invite you to join a community dedicated to preparing students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Retired military officer (major or lieutenant colonel) within 2 years of leaving service
• Strong leadership, communication, planning, and organizational skills
• Experience supervising staff, setting goals and metrics, and providing feedback to improve performance
• Experience managing training, administrative, and discipline programs
• Ability to mentor and develop student leaders
• Commitment to character development, accountability, and student success
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders (faculty, staff, parents, and cadets)
• Fitness level to participate in training events with cadets and high level of military appearance in uniform.

Preferences

• Teaching/instructor experience (including ROTC, JROTC)
• Experience in operations management and command roles
• Leadership style suitable for earning respect of high school aged youth and thus the privilege in developing their character and leadership

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight of the Academy’s Cadet Corps – comprised of operations and development efforts of both JROTC and TAC supervised dorm life.
• Develop and implement programs that promote leadership, responsibility, and character development
• Promote a culture of accountability, respect, teamwork, and excellence
• Mentor cadet leaders and oversee the student chain of command
• Oversee cadet formations, inspections, ceremonies, special events and leadership activities
• Ensure compliance with Academy standards regarding appearance, conduct, and accountability
• Ensure Cadet Corps units (color guard, band, drill team, sword arch, cadet corps) support missions for the community (JROTC), regional (enrollment), and alumni events.
• Promulgate a recognition program that highlights above average-to-excellent performance, behavior and actions (not to repeat JROTC awards program).
• Monitor student conduct and ensure consistent enforcement of Academy policies
• Conduct and oversee disciplinary/conduct investigations, discipline boards, and corrective action processes
• Maintain accurate records related to student conduct and disciplinary matters
• Communicate disciplinary and student welfare matters with parents and Academy leadership

Residential Life

• Oversee all residential life operations and programs for cadet safety, security and welfare
• Supervise and evaluate Trainer Advisor Coach (TACs) to deliver a resident life program that develops healthy personal habits, life skills, organized living, and teamwork and team building in cadets.
• Develop and manage TAC schedules and duty assignments
• Oversee residential life programming that maximized quality of life for a safe, enriching and fun Academy experience
• Coordinate facilities improvements, repairs and upgrades with Maintenance department and cadet / student / Academy operations
• Oversee residential facilities and maintenance and plan the evolution and modernization to support the mission

Campus Operations

• Assist with student orientation, enrollment transitions, and residential assignments
• Support campus safety and security initiatives and emergency response procedures
• Manage/contribute to and support any on campus activity and (as necessary or desired) any off campus cadet trips or activities.
• Work closely with academics, admissions, athletics, and administrative departments to support student success

Additional Responsibilities

• Serve as a positive role model for cadets and staff
• Maintain professionalism, integrity, and high ethical standards
• Attend Academy events, including parades, ceremonies, awards programs, social functions, athletic events, and graduation
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School
• Seek opportunities for professional development of your staff

Employment Requirements

• Successful completion of a criminal background check prior to employment
• Ability to meet all employment eligibility requirements
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and special events as required
• Ability to respond to student and campus emergencies when necessary
• Proven success in developing youth through program administration including to administer the best Student life experience including character and leadership development.
• Proven success in partnering with stakeholders, peers and directors: Parents, JROTC, Athletics, Academics, Alumni, Board of Trustees, and Special Programs.
  • Parents, to partner with to ensure understanding where their student is at and idiosyncrasies of their student success in the MA Program
  • JROTC, to ensure that JROTC curriculum, activities, and standards support the Academy mission, values and goals in character and leadership development (as one half of the Military program) for our cadets and their futures.
  • Resident Life teams, to ensure that these teams’ curriculum, regimen, standards support the Academy mission, values and goals in character and leadership development (as one half of the Military program) for our cadets and their futures.
  • Athletic Director, to ensure conduct, behavior, and deportment comply with Academy standards on and off campus.
  • Academics in support of the Honor Code in all coursework, and conduct, behavior, deportment comply with Academy standards on and off campus
  • Special athletic programs, to appropriately incorporate them into select MA events or developmental activities without their full integration into the Corps of Cadets.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Massanutten Academy provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or other related conditions, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Massanutten Academy expressly prohibits any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment. Improper interference with the ability of Massanutten Academy employees to perform their expected job duties is not tolerated.

You know your child can do more but is not getting the attention needed in their current environment to reach their full potential. We know that choosing the right school for your child can be difficult because each child is so unique. We believe students should experience school as it should be, a place where children are educated in an environment that leads them to thrive and encourages their maximum potential.

Massanutten Academy is a co-educational, non-profit military boarding and day school in Virginia for students in 8th-12th grades with postgraduate studies. We welcome all faiths and live by our motto: Non Nobis Solum (Not For Ourselves Alone).

Massanutten Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.