Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. Riverdale seeks to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in its students, faculty, and staff. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is the foundational core of community-building that supports the school’s mission and empowers all community members to be their whole selves and thrive-- especially those who historically have been and continue to be marginalized because of their cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, gender, sexual, spiritual, or socioeconomic identities and their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. Riverdale enrolls about 1,200 students who collectively reside in 117 different zip codes. Approximately 44% of our student body identify as students of color. 

We seek to employ people who engage in all aspects of work with a student-centered approach, an open mind, passion, and a willingness to support the greater community. At Riverdale we recognize that the work of DEIB is iterative and requires a consistent commitment. Ideal candidates display that commitment in their work and/or in their approach to teaching and learning. 

Position Overview

Riverdale’s Music Department seeks an experienced and enthusiastic department chair. The Music Department comprises choral ensembles, orchestras, rock bands, concert bands, jazz ensembles, chamber music, music production and technology, music theory, and semester-long elective classes. All candidates for Riverdale teaching positions should demonstrate an interest in engaging students in a supportive and rigorous environment and will participate in community activities, including advising groups, service opportunities, and other co-curricular activities. 

Riverdale is an inclusive community dedicated to the principles of DEI; our hiring practices reflect this commitment, and we seek collegial candidates eager to expand this work in the classroom, in our curricular work, and in the pedagogical principles of the department. 

Department Chair Questions for Application:

Please provide some quick answers to the following questions as part of your application materials.

* What do you believe exemplary music and music education practitioners do, and why?

* What encompasses a departmental vision? Offer two or three elements you believe illustrate how a vision becomes visible to others.

* Describe how you have brought a curricular or pedagogical vision from thought to execution and achieved buy-in from colleagues.

*Describe a moment where you coached others through a growth process. 

* Which cultural competencies are essential to a music teacher’s and departmental pedagogy and why?

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Attends and assists in the coordination of all Middle and Upper School Music curricular and co-curricular student events;
• Coordinates regularly with the Dean of Faculty and Middle and Upper School Division Heads;
• Works collaboratively with the 6th-12th grade Music Department team;
• Is a member of the MS/US Department Chairs Group and the Middle and Upper School Curriculum Committees;
• Teaches three classes;
• Serves an essential part of recruiting, successfully hiring, onboarding, and evaluating new faculty in the Music department; 
• Oversees Middle and Upper School Music curriculum and instruction;
• Promotes a vision for the Music Department as a leader in the discipline and coordinates with the department to create its vision, including program development and professional development plan consistent with the School's priorities and values;
• Leads the department in planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based curriculum and instructional practices;
• Promotes professional development and personal growth of all department members;
• Ensures timely and accurate reporting and feedback on student growth through regular reporting practices (narrative grade reports, comments, etc.);
• Participates in department chair, curriculum committee meetings, and Middle and Upper School faculty meetings, as well as attends occasional ad hoc committees, as needed.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance or Music Education;
• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in a classroom setting;
• Prior music programmatic development and leadership experience are strongly preferred;
• Well-developed interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school environment, including current students, faculty, parents, alums, prospective families, and administrators; 
• Advanced understanding and ability to use computers and music technology, including notation applications, e.g., Flato.io, Sibelius, Finale, etc., or DAWs;
• A positive team mentality with excellent problem-solving, multi-tasking, and organization skills;
• Professional and efficient in their ability to work independently while also able to collaborate with internal teams and external partners and vendors effectively;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously with differing deadlines;
• Periodically participate in professional development to stay up to date with current teaching methods, practices, and any new knowledge in the music field. 

To apply for this position, please click on the red “Apply for this Job” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter. If there are pronouns we should use in potential future communications, we invite you to share that information with us. For information about this position and all open positions, please visit the Careers page of Riverdale’s website.

Benefits of Full Time Work at Riverdale Country School

Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:

Transportation: Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.

Professional Development: A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Grants and Stipends: All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of-school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).

Sabbatical: Full time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.

Health Benefits: Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.

Retirement: Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA. The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.

Vacation:  Riverdale Country School has a generous time-off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.