President

Position Summary

The President serves as the chief executive officer of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and is entrusted by the Board of Trustees with the overall leadership, mission, and flourishing of the institution. The President provides strategic, spiritual, and organizational leadership, ensuring that the School remains faithful to its mission while cultivating the relationships, resources, and institutional capacities necessary for long-term sustainability and impact. As the primary steward of the institution's vision, the President works collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, Executive Council, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and external partners to strengthen the School's educational mission, deepen its public witness, and advance its service to the Church and the wider world. The President serves as the principal representative and spokesperson for the institution, fostering a culture of formation, collaboration, innovation, and faithful stewardship consistent with the School's mission and values. The President of The Seattle School provides overall direction and leadership to maintain a focus on mission, coordinate and guide efforts necessary to accomplish the mission and secure and manage resources that the mission requires. The president gives essential attention to institutional ethos, creating a shared vision, development of systems for planning, research, and policy formation, developing relationships with appropriate judicatories, regulatory agencies, and other public constituencies important to the school, and leads the way for the school to become a learning community. The President provides spiritual direction for employees and students and is responsible to the Board of Trustees to create and maintain the spiritual and educational climate complementary to the school’s core values and stated goals. The President serves as a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees and as a member of the Executive Committee and provides a key link between the Board and the institution. Finally, the President serves on the faculty and provides leadership in the overall curriculum.

Nature of the Position

The President regularly represents the School in local, national, and international settings. The position requires travel and engagement with a wide range of constituencies in support of the institution's mission.

Primary Responsibilities

Mission and Institutional Stewardship

Provide visionary leadership that advances the mission, values, and long-term strategic direction of the School. Foster an institutional culture that reflects the School's commitments to formation, integration, and sustainability. Ensure the overall health, integrity, and effectiveness of the institution.

Governance

Serve as the chief executive officer accountable to the Board of Directors. Partner with the Board in strategic planning, governance, institutional assessment, and policy development. Provide timely information and counsel to support effective governance.

Executive Leadership

Lead, develop, and support the executive leadership team. Ensure effective organizational alignment, collaboration, and accountability across all divisions of the School. Oversee strategic planning and institutional performance while delegating operational leadership appropriately.

Financial Stewardship and Advancement

Ensure responsible stewardship of institutional resources. Cultivate philanthropic support, strategic partnerships, and other resources necessary to sustain and advance the mission. Promote financial resilience through sound planning and responsible leadership.

External Leadership

Represent the School with churches, academic institutions, accrediting bodies, foundations, donors, and the broader public. Strengthen the School's reputation, influence, and strategic partnerships. Serve as a public advocate for the mission and work of The Seattle School.

Educational and Spiritual Leadership

Champion the educational vision and theological identity of the School. Support excellence in teaching, scholarship, formation, and student experience. Foster the spiritual life of the institutional community through presence, discernment, and leadership.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will demonstrate: A mature Christian faith and commitment to the mission of The Seattle School. Minimum of five years of executive leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit, ministry, or a similarly complex organization. Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, strategic planning, and institutional growth. Proven capacity to cultivate relationships with boards, donors, partners, and diverse constituencies. Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor engagement, advancement, and resource development to support institutional priorities and long-term sustainability. Exceptional communication, organizational, and relational leadership skills. Doctorate strongly preferred. Master’s required, which preferably includes integration of theology, psychology and/or business.

Leadership Relationships

The President is accountable to the Board of Directors and provides leadership to the Executive Council and the institution as a whole. The President delegates operational authority to executive leaders while maintaining responsibility for the overall mission, strategic direction, institutional effectiveness, and public leadership of the School. This job description should be read in conjunction with The Seattle School’s President Profile, which further defines the qualifications, leadership expectations, and institutional priorities associated with the President role.

Found at theseattleschool.edu/presidential-search/