Details

Posted: 22-Oct-25

Location: DC Metro

Type: Full Time

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Categories:

Executive Director/CEO

Required Education:

4 Year Degree

Certifications:

CAE

NAESP (National Association of Elementary School Principals) is a national membership organization of more than 17,000 public and private elementary and middle school principals and other educational leaders from all 50 states, Canada and overseas.   Based in Alexandria, VA, the association is led by a 14-member Board of Directors which also includes the Executive Director serving in an ex-officio capacity.  NAESP has a professional staff of approximately 21 and operates with an annual budget of $7.5M.  By working through state level representatives and geographic zones (regions), NAESP serves as the leading voice and advocate for its members. 

• NAESP advocates for principals and provides high-quality professional learning and resources aligned to leadership standards.
• NAESP supports school leaders in providing students a well-rounded and complete education, which includes access to high-quality early learning, arts integration, and after-school and summer learning.
• NAESP strengthens the principal pipeline through mentor training and support for early career principals, assistant principals, and aspiring principals.

NAESP operates through a network of affiliated associations in every state, the District of Columbia, Canada, and overseas.  As the representative of principals who serve 33 million children from pre-kindergarten through 8^th grade, the Association seeks to:

• Serve as an advocate for children and youth by ensuring them access to an excellent education;
• Sustain and promote high professional standards and leadership among principals;
• Heighten public awareness of elementary and middle school education as the foundation for all future academic achievement;
• Serve as a national representative for elementary and middle-school education to Congress, the Executive Branch, state and federal agencies, the news media, researchers, educators, and other education and child advocacy groups;
• Serve as an advocate for the professional tenets and priorities of elementary and middle-school principals;
• Ensure that education continues to be recognized as a matter of national priority.

We seek an Executive Director responsible for leading all aspects of NAESP - including day-to-day operations, staff leadership, membership engagement, advocacy, financial administration, strategic initiatives, and critical partnerships.  The successful candidate must be a supremely capable leader in virtually all key areas related to the Association.  The next ED should be a skilled communicator, convenor, champion and “movement builder” in support of the membership and its needs.

The next Executive Director of NAESP must be a leader of the highest order, recognizing the successes of the past and charting a course for greater evolution and impact in the future.  The successful candidate should possess the following key qualifications:

• Minimum of five years of executive leadership experience, with significant nonprofit experience as either staff or board member; Association leadership experience is strongly preferred, but not required; “Beltway” networks are a plus;
• Bachelor’s Degree required, with a preference for candidates with an advanced degree and/or continuing education; CAE certification and/or ASAE membership is a plus;
• Possessing a genuine and identifiable calling, passion, sense of duty, and an appreciation of the role that NAESP plays in the national education community, specifically as it pertains to supporting the work of principals in pre-K through 8^th grade who are committed to the success of all children;
• Demonstrated experience and success in leadership roles that have required significant strategic planning, execution, visionary/transformational leadership;
• Highest levels of integrity, professional maturity and sound judgment, values and ethical standards;
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff and Board, partners, elected officials, as well as state, regional and national affiliations, corporations, foundations and individual members;
• Authenticity with the proven ability to work as a team player with diverse groups of people as well as excellence in managing and developing diverse teams;
• Highly entrepreneurial, with the ability to identify and grow services and resources with strong fiscal responsibility; ideally someone who is technology savvy and technologically advanced;
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills;
• Superior communication skills (written and verbal), including public speaking talent and experience;
• Highly motivated, action-oriented self-starter with strong organizational skills, especially planning and coordination;
• Excellent time and task management skills as evidenced by a proven ability to efficiently and effectively handle multiple tasks at the same time with appropriate delegation and decision making;
• Sound decision-making skills in an ever-changing environment; ability to adapt, plan for and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced setting;
• Availability to work outside of traditional business hours, to travel locally, regionally and nationally; must be visible across the breadth of the Association.

Ideal Personal Attributes & Competencies

• Ability to manage and grow a complex organization while executing effectively across a broad spectrum of responsibilities;
• Possessing keen strategic agility and institutional vision;
• Diplomatic influence, with high interpersonal and political savvy; keen external awareness;
• Collaborative and opportunity-oriented, sees the possibilities rather than the problems; seeks ways in which NAESP can bring together individuals, organizations, partners and institutions for productive and important work, collaborations, events, etc.;
• Creativity marked by courage;
• Stamina and tenacity required for success in a challenging, dynamic environment;
• Possessing the balance of humility and will;
• Ability to deal well with ambiguity; a Change Agent;
• Cultural Proficiency;
• Maestro with staff - hires the best, brings out the best in staff;
• Knows how and when to use the Board and volunteers;
• Gracious, puts others out in front; Servant leadership qualities;
• Poised, mature, confident and humble;
• Resilient, cheerleader and coach;
• The ability to help create a sense of community;
• Highly motivated to succeed for the good of the organization, not themselves.