Lead Administrator (2026-2027)

Bright Water Waldorf School; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Leave

Health and Dental Insurance

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

Bright Water Waldorf School in Seattle is seeking a Lead Administrator to oversee operations and ensure accountability within a diverse and collaborative community. This role emphasizes effective communication, safety protocols, and strategic planning in alignment with Waldorf principles.

Ideal candidates will have a degree, experience in administrative roles, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Compensation ranges from $60,000 to $85,000 with benefits including paid leave and health insurance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of Waldorf or independent school administrative experience.
• Open to diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Understanding of Waldorf pedagogy is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations to ensure smooth school functions.
• Ensure incident response and accountability processes are transparent.
• Facilitate communication between staff, teachers, and parents.
• Support budgeting and resource allocation with Board and Finance Circle.

Skills

Operational Leadership

Conflict Resolution

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree

Job description

The Lead Administrator

serves as a steward of operations, accountability, and leadership coordination, ensuring that Bright Water Waldorf School functions smoothly while upholding the principles of sociocracy and shared decision‑making. This role is a facilitator of systems, communication, and accountability, ensuring that policies, safety protocols, and community agreements are followed. The Lead Administrator collaborates with various school circles to ensure alignment between pedagogy, administration, governance, and the broader school mission.

Join us if you seek a community of dedicated teachers, supportive families, active Board members, and a collaborative governance structure.

Bright Water Waldorf School aims to...

deliver Waldorf education and nurture a community of belonging in a way that meets each child, family, and faculty member where they are. We foster self‑determination, interdependence, and holistic growth in order to cultivate vibrant, caring, and informed individuals. Bright Water empowers graduates to address the challenges of an ever‑changing world with creativity, compassion, and resilience, and to contribute as whole, self‑aware members to the greater whole. Our home is within the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District neighborhood.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & School Systems Stewardship

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations, ensuring school‑wide systems run efficiently
• Support a process role in the Admin Circle, managing logistics, facilities, and administrative processes
• Ensure that student safety, incident response, and licensing processes are clear
• Collaborate with the Board, Advancement, and Finance Circle on budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation

2. Accountability & Incident Response

• Serve as the point person for urgent operational matters, including student behavior incidents and emergencies
• Ensure that all incidents (e.g., safety concerns, student discipline issues, staff concerns) follow a transparent and accountable resolution process
• Provide accountability and resolution leadership for incidents involving students or staff, ensuring that discipline is handled ethically—with fairness, transparency, and respect
• Act as a liaison for legal and regulatory compliance, ensuring the school meets all necessary standards

3. Ensure Accountability with Teachers & Staff

• Work closely with the College Circle to ensure teachers are supported and accountable for their responsibilities
• Help resolve teacher‑related concerns, including conflict resolution, professional expectations, and accountability
• Ensure that classroom‑related incidents are handled effectively and do not fall through administrative gaps
• Facilitate communication between teachers, admin, and parents when necessary
• Support professional development and oversee professional development funds

4. Communication & Coordination Across Circles

• Bring operational concerns to the Board
• Ensure that important school‑wide decisions are shared transparently with the community
• Strategic Planning & School Advancement
• Work with the Board and Advancement Circles to align the school’s operational needs with long‑term growth strategies
• Manage and oversee the Admin Circle
• Support outreach, community engagement, and partnerships that benefit the school

Lead Administrator’s Membership in Organizational Circles

Formal Membership:

1. Admin Circle (Operations, Logistics, Student & Staff Accountability – Primary Home of the Role)

• Oversee school’s facilities and administrative procedures
• Ensure student discipline and safety protocols are implemented
• Coordinate teacher accountability and support with the College Circle

1. College Circle (Academic Leadership & Classroom Accountability)

• Ensure operational and behavioral concerns involving teachers or students are addressed
• Support accountability in faculty‑related issues (e.g., classroom management, some teacher training issue, and some Human Resource issues)

Collaborates with (but not a Member of):

1. General Circle (Schoolwide Coordination & Accountability)

• Ensure alignment across all sub‑circles
• Bring operational and accountability concerns to the larger governance structure

1. Finance Circle (Budget & Resource Management)

• Work closely on financial planning for school operations

1. Board Circle (Legal & Financial Oversight)

• Report to and provide operational updates

1. Advancement Circle (Outreach, Enrollment, Fundraising)

• Collaborate to ensure operational impacts of enrollment growth and fundraising efforts

1. Governance Circle (Sociocracy Oversight)

• Work with this circle as needed to ensure that sociocratic processes function effectively in operations

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree/Associate’s Degree + Life Experience
• Waldorf Pedagogy (open to or interested in)
• Open to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work
• Conscientious, Organized, Focused
• Minimum of three years of Waldorf or independent school administrative role experience
• Experience with Non‑Violent Communication and conflict resolution

Location: On campus at Bright Water Waldorf School, 1414 S Weller Street, Seattle, WA 98144

Hours: This is a 1.0 FTE position

Compensation: Approximately $60,000-$85,000, based on level of education, experience (salary schedule for transparency), plus benefits. At Bright Water Waldorf School, we invest in health, welfare, and professional lives for faculty and staff by providing a generous paid leave policy, employer‑paid health and dental insurance, and professional development opportunities.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: Bright Water Waldorf School welcomes, values, and supports ethnic, religious, economic and cultural diversity. Our school seeks a diverse faculty and student body and is committed to having our community reflect the abundant and changing diversity of the United States. We welcome, value, and support single, dual, or multiple parent households and LGBTQ+ parents, faculty, and students. The successful candidate must be able to lift 25 pounds. We are an equal opportunity employer.