Administrative Assistant to the Head of Upper School
Bronx, NY
Staff – Administrative Staff /
Full Time /
On-site
Riverdale Country School, a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent all-gender school in New York City, is dedicated to inspiring students to live meaningful and purpose-driven lives. The school achieves this by fostering a culture of academic excellence, critical thinking, and curiosity, supported by a diverse and inclusive community. Riverdale emphasizes both high challenge and high support in its approach to education, encouraging students to engage deeply in interdisciplinary learning, research, and experiential education, both inside and outside the classroom and beyond our campuses. This holistic approach aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on the world.
At Riverdale, we strive to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in our students, faculty, and staff. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community enriches the educational experience and is integral to our mission. With a student body of approximately 1,300 students from 117 different zip codes, Riverdale is a vibrant community where 48% of our students identify as students of color.
We seek to employ educators and leaders who bring a student-centered approach, passion for their work, a commitment to DEIB, and a desire to contribute to the growth and development of our entire school community.
Job Summary
Riverdale Country School seeks a detail-oriented and proactive Administrative Assistant to support the Head of the Upper School. This role is essential to the smooth operation of the Upper School Office, serving as a key liaison to faculty, students, families, and visitors, providing day-to-day administrative support, managing communications and scheduling, and coordinating major school events. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational skills, excellent interpersonal abilities, and a commitment to fostering a welcoming and efficient office environment.
Administrative Excellence
- Provide high-level administrative support to the Head of Upper School by managing day-to-day divisional operations and anticipating needs
- Create and maintain a joyful space in the Upper School office, welcoming to students, families, faculty, and the broader Riverdale community
- Maintain and update office procedures, ensuring smooth and efficient workflows
Organizational & Time Management Skills
- Manage complex scheduling and calendar coordination for the Head of Upper School, the Assistant Head of the Upper School, and, as needed, the Upper School Grade Deans
- Coordinate logistics for Upper School events such as Experience Riverdale Day and Graduation, including space booking, communication, and day-of support
- Track and reconcile budgets, credit card payments, and receipts with accuracy and timeliness
Communication & Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Serve as a welcoming first point of contact for the Upper School Office, providing support to students, families, faculty, and visitors
- Answer, screen, and direct phone calls and emails with professionalism and clarity
- Maintain accurate and current contact lists and communication databases
Technical & Digital Literacy
- Develop and manage digital systems for electronic record-keeping and document storage
- Utilize relational databases to generate reports (e.g., attendance, grades)
- Use Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Gmail) to support daily operations and collaboration
Problem Solving & Adaptability
- Respond to challenges and changes with resourcefulness and flexibility
- Liaise with vendors to procure supplies and resolve service needs efficiently
- Book travel and accommodations for faculty, staff, and visitors with attention to detail and cost-effectiveness
- Support all testing programs, including the secure distribution and collection of exam materials, proctoring, and coordination with faculty and staff as needed
Required Competencies & Experience
- At least 2 years of administrative, office support, or operations experience
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and follow through on tasks independently
- High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
- Comfort working with school data systems and relational databases
- Proficiency in Google Workspace and word processing applications
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with a respectful and supportive approach to working with students, families, and colleagues
- Eagerness to learn and adapt to new technologies and systems
- A positive, collaborative attitude and a sense of joy in supporting a school community
- Fluency in Spanish or another language is a plus
- Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Business Management or Administration
$70,000 - $80,000 a year
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.
