Candidates will only be considered who follow the application instructions at the end of this description.

Athletics Director

Tandem Friends School, an all-gender, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, is now accepting applications for the role of Athletics Director. Position to begin on or before July 1, 2024 or possibly earlier dependent upon candidate availability.

The Opportunity:

A unique school with a unique history, Tandem Friends School of Charlottesville, VA is guided by the Quaker principles that define Friends Schools and has three school mottos: kindness and wisdom, creativity and integrity, and freedom with responsibility. Founded in 1970 as an inclusive alternative to the segregation academies that had proliferated in Virginia at that time, Tandem was the first school in the area founded as both coeducational and racially integrated. Over time, Tandem found Quaker schools to be kindred spirits and joined the Friends Council of Education, becoming a Friends School in 1996.

With approximately 250 students and spanning only grades 5-12, Tandem Friends aims to cultivate a school culture in which adolescents feel invested in their school community, feel seen and appreciated, and feel comfortable being their full selves at school. By encouraging the exploration of new activities and experiences and supporting students’ sense of community responsibility and belonging, the school strives to create challenging and engaging academic and extracurricular experiences that feel purposeful to our students.

Tandem Friends School culture strongly values student participation and students taking risks by trying new things. Tandem’s unique, no-cut athletics program is one of the most profound embodiments of that cultural value.

In 2024-25, the school will offer varsity VISAA GPAC (Greater Piedmont Athletic Conference) teams in volleyball, cross-country, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and track as well as an Ultimate Frisbee club team and a conditioning offering. Given the relatively small size of the school and the other extracurriculars that students are involved in, such as drama productions, Model UN, Science Olympiad and so forth, team sizes vary widely. The school works hard to make team participation possible for as many of our students as it can. The school also has middle school teams in soccer, basketball, cross country, volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee and usually fields JV teams in volleyball and boys basketball. Recent accomplishments include a statement tournament appearance by Girls Varsity Soccer and a Boys Cross-Country State Tournament win.

The Athletics Director will develop deep connections with colleagues, students and families within our small school community; Tandem has a collaborative culture in which faculty and staff have a vested responsibility in creating an overall student experience at TFS that embodies our Friends School mission and vision. We seek a professional who takes great joy in working with adolescents.

Position Summary:

The TFS Athletics Director is responsible for all operations of the middle and upper school athletic programs with the following core responsibilities:

● Collaborate with members of the school leadership team and human resources to recruit, evaluate, hire, onboard, support, evaluate, and develop quality faculty and coaches who will perform their duties professionally and informed by the school’s mission.

● Motivate student athletic participation and leadership. Build relationships with students. Be part of the community life of the school.

● Manage game-day operations; oversee scheduling of all athletic events, coordinate transportation, hire all game officials, and attend or enlist a school representative to attend all home games. Travel to away games as needed.

● Ensure clear and frequent communications with coaches, families, students, and school staff.

● Prepare and implement an annual departmental budget.

● Be the primary administrator responsible for the functioning and appearance of the schools athletic facilities, including the field house, gym, and athletic fields.

● Supervise athletic facilities after school hours, support practices as needed.

● Oversee the distribution, collection, storage, cleaning, and repair of all school athletic equipment and uniforms.

● Attend to VISAA league/GPAC conference business; foster positive relationships with competitor schools.

● Support the Middle School physical education program as needed.

● AT TFS, all members of school administration are active community members who share in the general support and care of the school community and participate in schoolwide programming and activities, including overnight trips.

Tandem Friends seeks staff members who bring a wide range of skills and knowledge, a willingness to learn new things, and an appreciation for collaboration with students and colleagues. Ideal candidates will possess:

● The drive and skills to strengthen and enrich TFS’s inclusive, no-cut athletic program in alignment with the mission of the school

● Excellent organizational strategies, advanced planning, and attention to detail; the ability to manage, innovate, and problem-solve complicated logistics efficiently and effectively

● A strong understanding of the developmental needs of both middle and high school students

● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a wide range of constituencies, both in person and digitally

● Prior success in managing adults and a good understanding of organizational leadership

● Prior success in attracting, hiring, and supporting the professional growth of coaches

● A high level of cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to DEIJB principles and practices

● Prior experience effectively developing and managing an annual budget

● Facility with a wide range of sports and physical education instructional strategies

● 3-5 years experience as an athletic director or assistant athletic director

● 3-5 years of supervisory experience

● 10 years coaching experience in multiple youth sports

● K-12 teaching experience

● A clean driving record and comfort with driving an activity bus for long distances

● A Bachelor’s degree is required

Physical Requirements:

● While performing duties of the job, employee must be able to sit at a desk for hours while using computer equipment and software

● The employee must be able to work the standard week of Monday through Friday during regular business hours on campus, with additional hours required outside those hours to attend athletic events and other meetings. Work hours skew into the later afternoon in fall and spring and into the early evening during winter.

● Must be willing and able to travel locally and regionally for work.

● Must be physically able to perform light athletic duties, including lifting, throwing, catching, running, jumping, bending, etc.

Wages/Benefits:

This is a full-time, 12-month salaried and exempt administrative position that reports to senior leadership. Full benefits include a dental plan, a retirement plan, tuition remission, and a robust health insurance plan, including a school contribution that covers the employee cost. The start date for this position is on or prior to July 1st, 2024, depending on candidate availability.

How to Apply:

Send a current resume, cover letter specific to the position and school, and a list of 5 professional references to:

Tim Viands

President, IndySchool Consultancy

tim@indyschoolconsultancy.com

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 403(b)
• Employee discount
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• In-person
• Private school

Ability to Relocate:

• Charlottesville, VA 22902: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person