Administrative Assistant (TEMPORARY)

Reports to: Head of School Status: TEMPORARY 40 hours/week

Department: Administration

Work Location: In-Person

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt, Hourly ($ 25 - $30 dependent on experience)

Anticipated Start Date: August 3, 2026 Anticipated End Date: October 30, 2026

Friends Community School (FCS), founded in 1986, is a progressive, co-ed Quaker K-8 day school serving a diverse student body from the greater Washington, D.C. area. FCS’s LEED-certified building is situated on 17 acres surrounded by Greenbelt National Park, nine minutes from the University of Maryland, College Park, and thirty minutes from Washington, D.C.

Educators at FCS nurture lifelong learners, courageous risk takers, and joyous peacemakers through the expression of our commitments to Quakerism, Progressive Education, equity, and inclusion. Our progressive pedagogical approach emphasizes depth over breadth, creativity and innovation over memorization, and hands-on collaborative projects over rote schoolwork. Our curriculum engages students in the exploration of values rooted in our Quaker Heritage – simplicity, peaceful conflict resolution, integrity, community, equality/equity, and stewardship – from a range of perspectives.

Job Summary

The administrative assistant provides administrative support to the Head of School and Assistant Head of School/Head of Lower School, facilitating the smooth functioning of the School, with particular focus on the Lower School. The administrative assistant organizes, coordinates, and performs administrative duties requiring independent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality. Strong organizational and communication skills and a professional demeanor are essential to this position. The administrative assistant will communicate with faculty, administrators, parents, and students so that discretion, diplomacy, and courtesy are of the utmost importance. This position requires an individual who can assess, prioritize, and synthesize various tasks. It will be important that this person be able to manage both the details of the inner workings of the School and how the details inform the larger picture.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Manage the Head of School’s calendar and schedule as needed, being sure their schedule is set to reflect their highest priorities and that they have all materials prepared for each appointment; field inquiries from and arrange for meetings with staff, faculty, and parents; reserve meeting spaces; track all meeting attendance, and arrange for refreshments as needed.
• Support Leadership Team meetings, including setup and notetaking, as needed.
• Provide support in responding to incoming telephone calls for the Head of School and/or Assistant Head of School/Head of Lower School, collecting reliable information to assist them in returning calls, or referring calls to more appropriate staff members.
• Take the utmost care to maintain and protect the confidentiality of the Head of School’s Office, Assistant Head of School/Head of Lower School’s Office and student and employee files.
• Perform routine office work including filing and other duties and special projects, as assigned by the Head of School and/or Assistant Head of School/Head of Lower School/Lower School Head.
• Ensure that event forms are submitted for all events and that any administrative support is arranged, particularly for all-school events, including but not limited to:
• Leadership Retreats
• Faculty Opening Days
• Lower School Community Day
• Grandfriends’ Day
• Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Coffees for families
• Picture Days
• Field Trips
• Hours are generally 7:45am-3:45pm. There may be a need to support occasional after-hours events (e.g., back-to-school night). Hours will be adjusted accordingly when evening events require support.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications Desired And/or Required

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with 2-3 years of experience in a school or nonprofit setting
• The ability to effectively present information in writing and orally
• Discretion and the ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters appropriately
• Facility with Google applications including Google Docs, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Slides, Google Spreadsheet; familiarity working with databases such as Blackbaud
• Ability to effectively multi-task while working in a highly organized fashion – detail-oriented, flexible, unflappable and energetic
• An affinity for children and Quaker values
• An open and collaborative work style
• A positive outlook and a sense of humor
• A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic
  
  

Commitment to Diversity FCS is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational community and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and other school-administered programs.

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, we actively seek faculty and staff of varied backgrounds and encourage them to share their unique gifts to cultivate a rich educational experience. We strive to create a learning environment that exposes students to the value and breadth of differences, informs their perspective, and prepares them to shape the world.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter, résumé, and the names and contact information of three professional references to jobs@friendscommunityschool.org.