Sidwell Friends School, a Quaker K-12 independent school in Washington, DC, seeks a Director of Parent Relations to serve as the School's primary point of contact with the Parents Association (PA) and a trusted point of connection for parents and guardians across all three divisions and both campuses.
The Sidwell Friends Parent Association is one of the most active parent organizations in the region. It has all-school and divisional committees, affinity groups, grade-level and classroom networks—all drawing on more than 200 volunteer leaders each year. Together, these all-school and divisional committees and groups hold roughly 150 meetings and events annually. The Director of Parent Relations advises PA leadership, helps volunteers turn good ideas into well-run events and programs, and keeps the School and its parent community in close, candid conversation.
Because volunteer leaders change every year or two, the Director's central task is to provide essential continuity and to build the structures that let the PA thrive across those transitions: clear processes, documented precedents, well-prepared volunteers, and thoughtful judgment about what the School can and cannot take on.
Key responsibilities
Partner with the Parents Association
- Serve as the School's staff liaison to all-school and divisional PA leadership. Attend PA Steering Committee and other key meetings, and advise clerks and vice clerks on School policy, precedent, and priorities. Help ensure consistency of PA practice with PA bylaws.
- Orient and support incoming clerks and committee and affinity group leadership each year. Maintain a PA handbook, event playbooks, and records of past events so knowledge passes from one volunteer team to the next.
- Advise PA leadership on the annual nominating process for 200+ volunteer positions, helping match parents to roles and plan succession.
- Help PA leadership set a sustainable scope for its programming, so its calendar reflects School priorities and realistic volunteer and staff capacity.
- Partner with the PA Treasurer and the Business Office on PA finances: approve reimbursement and payment requests, confirm that proceeds from raising of funds are deposited and credited correctly, and establish regular monthly financial reporting.
- Review and approve PA speaker requests in line with School policy.
- Encourage volunteer ownership of operational tasks such as purchasing, decorations, and storage, through clear guidelines and dedicated volunteer roles.
Parent relations
- Be a welcoming, knowledgeable point of contact for parents and guardians seeking to understand School policies, practices, and resources. Connect them with the right office, administrator, or fellow parent.
- Bring parent concerns and emerging trends to the appropriate administrators promptly. Meet regularly with division principals on PA matters and build a relationship of trust with each.
- Support community-building efforts, including new-family welcome (with Admissions), affinity groups, and PA service drives.
- Help encourage volunteer engagement and develop positive and enduring relationships with volunteers.
- Partner with Advancement colleagues by sharing insight into parent volunteer engagement and encouraging parents to participate in both PA and Advancement efforts.
Parent events
- Guide PA event organizers through the School's event-planning process: space requests, Campus Safety, Facilities, Dining Services, and technology support.
- Determine which PA events need staff presence, and arrange event staff coverage when they do. Attend selected signature events in person.
- Oversee planning and vendor contracting for PA-supported signature events, including the Junior/Senior Prom, in partnership with Upper School administration and on-site event staff.
- Participate in the School's cross-departmental event-planning meetings, representing PA plans and needs.
- Play an active role in creating the School's annual academic and events calendar to ensure that events do not conflict and that all events
Communications
- Supply accurate weekly PA announcements and calendar items for the School’s weekly newsletter and help ensure parent-facing calendars reflect PA activity.
- Advise PA leaders on communications to parents, in coordination with the Communications Office.
- Alert Communications colleagues to stories, events, and volunteers worth featuring in news, magazine, or social media coverage.
Qualifications
While we are open to candidates with a range of experiences, we believe that the ideal candidate will either (A) have led a parent relations function at another independent school or educational institution, or (B) managed constituent, member, or volunteer relations at an organization with an active, engaged base of members or volunteers. The essential quality of a successful candidate will be a facility for engaging with and focusing the work of constituents and volunteers into activities that advance the mission of the school and further develop a supportive community.
- At least five years of experience working with volunteer leaders, ideally including advising elected or appointed volunteer officers.
- Demonstrated ability to set expectations with volunteers, prioritize among competing requests, and say no graciously while preserving goodwill.
- Strong organizational and project-management skills, and an instinct for turning recurring work into documented, repeatable processes.
- Comfort with calendar, database, and reservation systems.
- Experience managing budgets, reimbursements, or financial reporting for a program or organization.
- Sound interpersonal judgment, discretion, and respect for confidentiality when working with families.
- Clear, warm writing and speaking.
- Appreciation for the School’s Quaker values and a commitment to an inclusive community that welcomes families of every background.
- Bachelor's degree required.
Success in the first year
By the end of the first full school year, the Director will have:
- Built working relationships with all-school and divisional PA leaders and with each division principal.
- Guided the spring nominating process to a full slate of volunteer leaders.
- Created or updated a PA handbook and event playbooks that document key processes and precedents.
- Established monthly PA financial reporting with the Business Office and PA Treasurer.
- Defined, with PA leadership, which events require staff support and which events volunteers can run on their own.
- Partnered to develop sustainable processes to support on-campus PA meetings without having to attend each one. In other words, to help the PA become more self-sustaining.
Working conditions and how to apply
The role is based on campus, primarily during the school day. It includes some evening and occasional weekends for major School events, planned well in advance with flexible scheduling to offset the time.
Salary & Benefits
Sidwell Friends School offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees’ health, well-being, and long-term financial security. Benefits include multiple medical, dental, and vision plan options; school-paid life and long-term disability insurance; wellness programs; and flexible spending accounts.
Sidwell contributes 7% of gross salary to a 403(b) retirement plan, with a 3% employee contribution, along with generous paid time off including school breaks, federal holidays, personal days, and paid family leave. Additional benefits include free lunch and parking, public transportation support, access to campus facilities, childcare and summer program discounts, and other community-focused resources.
Salary: $110,000-$125,000 per year. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications
To Apply
To be considered, qualified candidates must upload a cover letter and resume, through our applicant tracking system (ClearCo).
Diversity Statement
Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, “How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world?"