Head of School, Hebrew Academy of Montreal

(La version française suit)

Hebrew Academy of Montreal (HA) is a vibrant Orthodox Jewish Day School serving 500 students from K to grade 11. We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated, and dynamic leader to serve as HA’s next Head of School. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Head of School will provide strategic leadership to advance the School’s mission, ensure excellence across both Judaic and general studies, and foster a culture of warmth, professionalism, and shared purpose. This is a significant opportunity to lead an established and thriving independent Orthodox Jewish day school into its next chapter of strength, and continuity and to work with an exceptional school community.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall institutional leadership and vision for HA, advancing the School’s mission, strengthening alignment across divisions, and ensuring a cohesive, values-driven culture across both the Elementary and High School.
• Ensure excellence across Judaic and general studies by using measurable standards for accountability, and working with the elementary and high school Principals to support a strong curriculum, high-quality teaching, and meaningful student outcomes.
• Offer guidance and support to the Principals in responding to complex or sensitive student and family matters, to ensure consistency, discretion, and alignment with HA’s values.
• Supervise, support, and develop senior leadership, fostering collaboration, accountability, and clear communication.
• Attract, retain, and inspire outstanding faculty and staff, promoting professional growth, strong performance, and a school culture grounded in Torah values, respect, kindness, ethical conduct, and shared purpose.
• Promote student wellbeing and community life, ensuring that HA is a nurturing environment where students thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
• Oversee financial and operational sustainability, in collaboration with the finance department and the Board, with the ability to understand budgets, and planning for long-term institutional needs.
• Provide oversight of government relations, accreditation and compliance, ensuring HA remains responsive to evolving legislation and Ministry requirements within the Quebec educational landscape.
• Serve as the School’s chief ambassador and community builder, strengthening its overall reputation as well as relationships with parents, alumni, donors, and Montreal’s broader Jewish community.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with HA’s key community and institutional partners, including Federation CJA and HA-CPE.
• Partner with the Board and advancement leadership to support philanthropy, playing an active role in major gift cultivation, donor engagement and other fundraising initiatives to support the long-term sustainability of the School.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will have:

• A deep commitment to Orthodox Jewish life, learning, and values, and the ability to lead a mission-driven school community with authenticity and purpose.
• Ability to protect and strengthen a clearly defined Orthodox educational mission within the evolving community landscape.
• Proven success in senior educational or institutional leadership, ideally within a school environment.
• Experience leading strong teams, with the capacity to set goals, supervise, align, and empower multiple senior leaders across academic and administrative functions.
• Strong strategic, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to connect effectively with students, faculty, parents, alumni, and community partners.
• A warm, visible, and values-driven presence, with the ability to unify a diverse community and foster a strong culture, pride, ruach and shared identity throughout the HA community.
• Sound judgment and the ability to navigate complex governance, compliance, and external accountability demands, particularly within the Quebec educational context.
• Demonstrates financial literacy, with familiarity reviewing budgets.
• Comfort serving as the outward-facing leader and chief ambassador of HA.
• Willingness to partner in advancement efforts and community-building initiatives.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in a related field