Middle And Upper School Science Department: Director Of Science Research

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
We seek an enthusiastic and collegial educator to join our team as the Director of Science Research. In addition to directing the yearlong Science Research Program, this educator will teach three courses, including an elective called Science Research and Informatics, an interdisciplinary course co-taught between the Science and Computer Science departments. The preferred start date of this position is Spring 2024. The position carries a contractual stipend of $20,000 for running the Summer Science Research Program.
Riverdale is an inclusive community dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; our hiring practices reflect this commitment, and we seek collegial candidates eager to expand this work in the classroom, in our curricular work, and the pedagogical principles of the department.
The Director of Science Research is responsible for setting the vision for and ensuring the execution of the Science Research program. This includes:

• Managing the Summer Science Research Program by maintaining an active research program (3-5 weeks during the summer), overseeing the student application process, overseeing faculty and staffing needs, training students in research methods, and encouraging publications and presentations internally and externally. Our program currently has three active lines of research: bioinformatic investigation of neuroscience, molecular adaptation to climate change, and astrophysics. The school is open to supporting research across other disciplinary fields.
• Mentoring students to create grant proposal applications for external funding.
• Developing and maintaining collaborations with outside institutions, including universities and field stations like Black Rock Forest in upstate New York.
• Planning the annual science symposium, which includes working with faculty to mentor students to prepare professional presentations and posters, working with the Science Department Chair to secure venue and logistics, and working with the department to delegate responsibilities to prepare and run a professional symposium.
• Facilitating student internship placements in labs throughout the greater NYC area.
• Working with colleagues across disciplines to nominate students for competitive research internships. Teaching a section of Science Research and Informatics - an interdisciplinary course with the Computer Science department - to students in tenth through twelfth grade.

$57,850 - $138,414 a year
The salary range for this position is based on our faculty salary scale. Faculty are placed on "steps" on the scale based on years of experience and education.
Sample steps for the academic year 2023-2024 are shown below in five-year increments:
Step 1: $57,850
Step 5: $65,073
Step 10: $75,393
Step 15: $84,299
Step 20: $94,455
Post Step 25: $138,414
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.