Founding Executive Director

Ocean of Wisdom School; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 74,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Ocean of Wisdom School (OWS) in Minneapolis seeks a Founding Executive Director to shape the school’s culture and educational experience from the ground up, guiding the project from planning through Fall 2027 launch.

This role partners with the Board on strategy, governance, budget and enrollment, builds the founding team, establishes systems for curriculum, instruction and compliance, and champions SEE Learning plus Tibetan language and cultural learning across the school.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Business Administration, or related field.
• Valid Minnesota administrative license (or eligibility to meet state qualifications)
• Five years of responsible leadership experience managing people, programs, and daily operations.
• Deep understanding of curriculum design, instructional best practices, student development, and special education compliance.
• Strong organizational and financial management skills, including overseeing complex budgets.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to whole-child education and the mission of OWS.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and successful launch of OWS for Fall 2027.
• Translate the school's mission and vision into effective educational and organizational practices.
• Partner with the Board on strategy, governance, priorities, and organizational sustainability.
• Lead development and implementation of a rigorous, standards-aligned academic program.
• Integrate SEE Learning and Tibetan language and cultural learning into the school experience.
• Establish systems for curriculum, instruction, assessment, student support, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee special education services and related compliance requirements.
• Develop a staffing plan and recruit, hire, onboard, and develop the founding team.
• Establish supervision, professional development, and performance-management practices.
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-aligned school culture.
• Establish operational systems to launch and operate the school.
• Oversee contracts, vendors, risk management, and school-opening requirements.
• Develop and manage the annual budget and maintain strong financial controls.
• Support grants, fundraising, and other resource-development efforts.
• Develop student recruitment and enrollment strategies.
• Build relationships with families and the broader community.
• Develop partnerships with educational, cultural, nonprofit, and community organizations.
• Serve as a public representative and advocate for OWS.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff development

Communication

Community engagement

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree in Educational Leadership or related field

Minnesota administrative license or eligibility

Tools

Budgeting software

Grant management

Job description

Ocean of Wisdom School (OWS) is a new K–4 public charter school preparing to open in Minnesota in Fall 2027, with a planned expansion to K–8.

OWS will combine rigorous, standards-aligned academics with Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) Learning, fostering academic excellence, compassion, resilience, ethical decision-making, and a strong sense of belonging. The school will also incorporate Tibetan language and cultural learning as part of its globally grounded, culturally responsive educational model.

OWS is currently in its founding phase. We are seeking a Founding Executive Director to help turn this vision into a thriving school.

The Opportunity

As OWS's Founding Executive Director, you will have the extraordinary opportunity to shape a school's culture, community, and educational experience from the very beginning.

Working closely with the Board of Directors, the Founding Executive Director will lead OWS through the transition from planning to opening and establish the foundation for long-term success. The role combines educational leadership with organizational development, staffing, operations, financial management, enrollment, and community engagement.

The ideal candidate is energized by building something new, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and able to move between big-picture strategy and hands‑on execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and successful launch of OWS for Fall 2027.
• Translate the school's mission and vision into effective educational and organizational practices.
• Partner with the Board on strategy, governance, priorities, and organizational sustainability.

Educational Leadership

• Lead development and implementation of a rigorous, standards‑aligned academic program.
• Integrate SEE Learning and Tibetan language and cultural learning into the school experience.
• Establish systems for curriculum, instruction, assessment, student support, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee special education services and related compliance requirements.

Staffing & Culture

• Develop a staffing plan and recruit, hire, onboard, and develop the founding team.
• Establish effective supervision, professional development, and performance‑management practices.
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, and mission‑aligned school culture.

Operations & Finance

• Establish the operational systems necessary to launch and operate the school.
• Oversee compliance, contracts, vendors, risk management, and school-opening requirements.
• Develop and manage the annual budget and maintain strong financial controls.
• Support grants, fundraising, and other resource‑development efforts.
• Develop student recruitment and enrollment strategies.
• Build strong relationships with prospective and enrolled families.
• Develop partnerships with educational, cultural, nonprofit, and community organizations.
• Serve as a public representative and advocate for OWS.

Qualifications

We are looking for a mission‑driven, strategic, and entrepreneurial educational leader who can turn vision into action in a startup environment:

Required Qualifications

• Education & Credentials:

- Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Business Administration, or related field;

- Valid Minnesota administrative license (or eligibility to meet state qualifications)

• Experience: At least five (5) years of responsible leadership experience, with a proven track record of managing people, programs, and daily operations.
• Academic Oversight: Deep understanding of curriculum design, instructional best practices, student development, and special education compliance.
• Financial Acumen: Strong organizational and financial management skills, including overseeing complex budgets.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional communication and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to effectively partner with a governing board, staff, families, and the community.
• Mission Alignment: A demonstrated commitment to whole‑child education and the mission of OWS.

Preferred Qualifications

• Startup & Charter Experience: Previous leadership in the charter school sector, particularly experience founding, designing, or launching a new school or program.
• Talent & Resource Development: Proven success in recruiting and developing staff, as well as securing grants, fundraising, and building strategic community partnerships.
• Educational Frameworks: Familiarity with SEE Learning® (Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning) or similar frameworks.
• Cultural Responsiveness: Experience with or knowledge of Tibetan culture, language, and culturally responsive education.

Position: Executive Director (1.0 FTE)

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Start Date: Anticipated early 2027 (ahead of Fall 2027 launch)

Salary: $74,000 - $80,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications.

Benefits: OWS is finalizing a competitive benefits package for our launch, which will include employer-sponsored health insurance and paid time off. Full plan details will be provided prior to the start date.

Ocean of Wisdom School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or any other status protected by applicable federal or state law.