Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs/Dean of Faculty

Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH), a coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 to 12, plus a postgraduate year, in western Massachusetts near the borders of New Hampshire and Vermont, seeks a visionary, strategic, and deeply human academic leader to serve as its next Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs/Dean of Faculty (AHoS/DoF). 

NMH is a rigorous college-preparatory school, with a profound commitment to centering students while holding them to the highest expectations as citizens and scholars. It is refreshingly unpretentious in how it goes about that work while meeting its 620 students exactly where they are. Guided by its mission to educate the head, heart, and hand, the NMH community is defined by close relationships, a genuine sense of community, and a plurality of backgrounds, beliefs, and religious and spiritual traditions, where students and the adults who teach them live, learn, and grow together.

NMH enters this search in a position of significant strength. The long-serving Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs/Dean of Faculty is stepping down after years of service, leaving the academic program and the faculty who drive it in a position of great strength. The school's leadership team has evolved meaningfully in recent years, bringing new energy and perspective to senior academic and administrative roles. And under the vibrant leadership of Head of School Brian Hargrove, NMH completed the $294 million This Place, This Moment: The Campaign for Northfield Mount Hermon, one of the most ambitious fundraising campaigns ever undertaken by an independent school. Far surpassing its initial $225 million goal, the campaign included a landmark $50 million bequest and secured new investments in campus facilities, financial aid, and, notably for this role, faculty recruitment and retention that reflect a school building deliberately for its future. NMH’s momentum is palpable as it honors its rich history by charting an even more ambitious future. Building on this momentum is a high priority and, to that end, NMH is looking for a thought leader and innovator, someone who can help sharpen the school's already strong academic profile and chart what's next, all while staying true to the culture and values that define an NMH education.

Reporting to the Head of School, the Assistant Head for Academic Programs/Dean of Faculty serves as NMH's most senior academic leader, translating the school's mission and priorities into the daily realities of curriculum, faculty, and academic life. The role is both strategic and deeply hands-on: The AHoS/DoF sets long-term direction for NMH's academic program while remaining closely involved in the daily work of leading the faculty and shaping curricula. Success depends on strong partnership with the academic team, department chairs, and colleagues across campus life, human resources, and the broader senior leadership team, ensuring that academic leadership is connected to every part of the school's experience, including residential life and athletics. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced academic leader to take on senior leadership at one of the country's most distinctive boarding schools.

The AHoS/DoF's portfolio spans the full arc of academic life at NMH: shaping curricula and academic policy; leading faculty recruitment, development, and evaluation; overseeing scheduling and academic operations; and serving as a senior voice on faculty personnel matters. The role also carries deep visibility across the community: close, regular contact with faculty and administrators; a meaningful connection to students; and a standing presence with the NMH Board of Trustees. For the right leader, this is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on an academic program, a school, and a community already well-positioned for something remarkable.

To read the full opportunity statement and learn how to apply, please visit:

https://www.strategenius.org/opportunity-nmh-ahos