Jobs

The Mountain School seeks a Director of Finance & Operations beginning January 2027.

The Mountain School is a semester-long, residential academic program for high school juniors set on four hundred acres in central Vermont. Each fall and spring semester, 45 students from across the country join our campus where they take academic classes, participate in our farm and outdoor programs, and build a diverse and interdependent community of scholars. The Mountain School employs 25 full-time faculty members and 3-6 part-time faculty members.

The Director of Finance & Operations provides leadership and helps shape the direction of the school by serving as a strategic partner to the Director of The Mountain School and working closely with the school’s Board of Managers and administrative leadership team. The Director of Finance & Operations manages the school’s finances as well as provides administrative oversight of facilities, kitchen, and farm operations; human resources; and other non-academic operations.

Core Financial Responsibilities

• Work with the Director to build an annual operating budget. Track and update throughout the year as needed.
• Plan present and future financial operations with the Director and report on these plans to the Board of Managers.
• Oversee the day-to-day financial operations of the school including accounts receivable, accounts payable, credit card reconciliation, payroll, and financial controls.
• Work with Milton Academy on cash flow management, tuition billing, and audits.
• Provide the Director with monthly financial results against budget. Alert the Director of any financial concerns immediately as they become evident.
• Partner with the Director to financially plan for and oversee capital investments.
• Work with Milton Academy to oversee management of school assets and endowment.
• Responsible for financial and regulatory policies and compliance across the organization.
• Work with the Director and with guidance from the Board of Managers to ensure funding for strategic initiatives.

Operations and Facilities Administrative Oversight

• Direct the Facilities Manager to set priorities and plans for campus maintenance and capital improvement projects, ensuring that this work is effectively implemented and within fiscal constraints.
• Oversee risk management and insurance claims (property, liability, workers’ comp).
• Manage school vendor relationships, including, but not limited to, tuition/financial aid management systems, copier contract/maintenance, telecommunication vendors, supply vendors, etc.
• Develop the school insurance portfolio, including, but not limited to, property insurance, liability insurance, student insurance, worker’s comp insurance. Make recommendations for changes as appropriate, in coordination with Milton Academy.
• Coordinate with the Director in maintaining an accurate and updated manual of school policies and procedures.

Human Resources and Administration

• With the Director, determine annual salaries and benefits for employees in the context of budget preparation.
• Administer, in coordination with Milton Academy, employee benefits, retirement plans, and HR compliance.
• In coordination with Milton Academy, oversee benefits plans, including managing employee benefits brokers and ensuring all employee issues are resolved promptly.
• Ensure payroll and benefit processes, including payment and record keeping, are accurate and efficient.
• Coordinate recruitment activities, including job postings, candidate communications, travel arrangements, and offer letters.
• Oversee leave administration, workers’ compensation and unemployment activities, ensuring timely administration, accurate documentation, and compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.

Qualifications:

• 3 or more years of senior-level experience in finance and operations leadership
• Experience in independent schools or nonprofit organizations preferred
• Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and strategic planning
• Knowledge of human resources, risk management, and operational systems
• Strong organizational leadership, excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with tuition management systems and financial aid administration as well as familiarity with Blackbaud, Workday, Finalsite, and similar systems is a plus
• Background in admissions/registrar administration or enrollment management a plus
• Enthusiasm for collaborating with colleagues and connecting with teenagers;
• Demonstrated leadership ability, with experience managing staff, volunteers, and/or boards in a mission-driven environment.

Compensation:

Salary starts at $100,000 and increases for exceptional candidates with independent school experience. Full-time positions include medical and dental insurance as well as an employer-matched retirement plan. Other benefits include meals on campus from our “farm to table” kitchen, easy access to outdoor spaces and trails, and opportunities to pursue professional development.

At this time, on-campus housing is not available, but a candidate could be offered on-campus housing in the future. This position requires campus presence at times, but could be done remotely at other times. Preference is for a candidate who can be on campus 3 or more days a week, but candidates who could come to campus 1 or 2 days a week will be considered.

Candidates will be required to complete criminal, sexual offender, and driving record checks as well as fingerprinting checks. The Mountain School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To apply for this position, please send a resume, a concise statement of interest specific to the Mountain School, and a list of three references to alex.myers@mountainschool.org

Preference given to applications received by October 10, 2026. We will begin review of applications as we receive them, and we will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled.