Executive Director

New Jersey School Boards Association; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA). This full-time role provides strategic, operational, financial, and statewide leadership for the Association.

The Executive Director serves as a highly visible advocate, strategist, relationship builder, and voice for New Jersey public education, advancing NJASA’s mission, strengthening member engagement and professional support, and positioning the Association to influence

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Educational Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in education, nonprofit, public-sector, or related.
• Proven success leading complex initiatives through strategic planning, change, and measurable execution.
• Experience in legislative advocacy, public policy, governmental relations, or policy influence.
• Strong knowledge of New Jersey education policy, governance, legislation, regulation, and current issues affecting public schools.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction, daily operations, staff, financial sustainability.
• Serve as statewide voice for public education and school leaders; address issues and policies with diplomacy.
• Cultivate bipartisan relationships with legislators, Governor’s Office, NJDOE, and other stakeholders.
• Strengthen member engagement through communication, regional outreach, and professional learning.
• Build coalitions with NJEA, NJSBA, educational associations, higher education, and other partners.
• Anticipate emerging issues and position NJASA as a thought leader on funding, health care, staffing, AI, etc.
• Articulate NJASA positions and tell the story of New Jersey public education.
• Advance innovation and practical leadership while staying grounded in the realities of school leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Policy advocacy

Strategic planning

Public speaking

Relationship building

Nonprofit governance

Legislative affairs

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Master’s degree in Educational Administration or related field

Job description

Position Overview

The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA). This full-time role provides strategic, operational, financial, and statewide leadership for the Association. The Executive Director serves as a highly visible advocate, strategist, relationship builder, and voice for New Jersey public education, advancing NJASA’s mission, strengthening member engagement and professional support, and positioning the Association to influence policy and anticipate emerging challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead NJASA’s strategic direction, daily operations, staff, financial sustainability, governance support, and organizational effectiveness.
• Serve as a strong, credible statewide voice for public education and school leaders; address difficult issues and challenge policies when necessary with confidence, persistence, and diplomacy.
• Cultivate bipartisan relationships with legislators, the Governor’s Office, NJDOE, and other key stakeholders, and position NJASA to influence policy before decisions are finalized.
• Strengthen member engagement through regular communication, regional outreach, district visits, professional learning, leadership development, mentoring, and responsive member support.
• Build and sustain productive coalitions with NJEA, NJSBA, educational associations, higher education, business and community organizations, and other partners across differing perspectives.
• Anticipate emerging issues and position NJASA as a thought leader on school funding, health care, special education, staffing, artificial intelligence, mandates, governance, and public trust.
• Clearly articulate NJASA’s positions, strengthen members’ collective voice, and tell the story of New Jersey public education.
• Advance innovation and continuous improvement while ensuring NJASA remains grounded in the practical realities of school and district leadership.

Core Competencies

• Fearless advocacy and policy influence
• Political acumen and nonpartisan strategy
• Strategic, organizational, and financial leadership
• Credibility in New Jersey public education and understanding of district leadership
• Relationship and coalition building across differing perspectives
• Visible, accessible, and member-centered leadership
• Exceptional communication, public presence, and storytelling
• Collaborative leadership, diplomacy, consensus building, and sound judgment
• Future-focused thinking grounded in educational practice and the realities of school leadership

Leadership Balance:

Fierce yet diplomatic; fearless yet collaborative; politically astute yet nonpartisan; innovative yet grounded in educational practice; member-centered yet willing to make difficult decisions; and a powerful advocate who can also build consensus.

Requirements

The Executive Director role requires regular statewide travel, visible regional engagement, district visits, and ongoing availability to engage policymakers and partners in Trenton and throughout New Jersey, serving as a highly visible advocate, strategist, relationship builder, and voice for New Jersey public education – advancing NJASA’s mission, strengthening member engagement and professional support, and positioning the Association to influence policy and anticipate emerging challenges.

Compensation, Benefits, Timeline & Application Process

Retain the current compensation, benefits, timeline, application requirements, submission instructions, and deadline unless the Search Committee separately approves a change. NJASA is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Educational Administration, Business Administration, Public Administration, education, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible educational administration, association, nonprofit, public-sector, or organizational leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading organizations, teams, or complex initiatives through strategic planning, change, and measurable execution.
• Demonstrated experience in legislative advocacy, public policy, governmental relations, or policy influence.
• Strong knowledge of New Jersey education policy, governance, legislation, regulation, and current issues affecting public schools.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with boards, members, policymakers, government agencies, education organizations, and external stakeholders across differing perspectives.
• Demonstrated budget, financial management, organizational sustainability, and operational leadership experience.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, interpersonal, and public communication skills.
• Substantial experience in New Jersey public education or closely related statewide educational leadership, with the credibility to represent school leaders across New Jersey.

Preferred Requirements:

• Successful superintendent experience in New Jersey strongly preferred.
• Substantial leadership experience in New Jersey public schools and demonstrated understanding of the realities of district leadership.
• Experience leading or managing a nonprofit, professional association, education organization, or similarly complex mission-driven organization.
• Established experience working with state legislators, the Governor’s Office, NJDOE, governmental agencies, or regulatory bodies.
• Demonstrated record of building bipartisan relationships, coalitions, and strategic partnerships across education, government, higher education, business, and community organizations.
• Experience representing an organization publicly and communicating complex policy positions clearly and persuasively.
• Experience engaging diverse school communities and leaders across small, large, urban, suburban, regional, and county vocational districts.
• Experience with fundraising, sponsorship, business development, or other revenue-generating initiatives.