Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is a Catholic school for over 650 young women in grades 6-12 offering a college preparatory academic program. The school is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and a member of the Mercy Education System of America. As such, the school is committed to educating young women of all faiths and backgrounds.
Since 1928, Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women has been a life-changing experience for more than 13,500 alumnae. Here, young women develop the tools they need to experience academic excellence, spirituality, and lifelong success. Mercy's academic curriculum is college preparatory. Over 70% of the student population participates in the athletics program as members of over 30 sports teams. The school community provides over $2M in annual tuition assistance. The Class of 2022 earned over $31M in merit-based college scholarships.
The Mercy administration consists of a President, Principal, two Vice Presidents, two High School Deans, and a Middle School Dean. The faculty is comprised of 60 teachers and four full-time Counselors, virtually all of whom have earned Doctorate or Master's degrees in their disciplines.
Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising 19 members plus two honorary members.
Academics. Sisterhood. Support. These are just a few of the many reasons why Mercy was voted Rochester's Best Private School by the Rochester Business Journal Reader Rankings Poll three years in a row. Earning this top spot year-after-year confirms what the region has known for nearly 100 years — Mercy's collaborative, all-girl, compassionate environment transforms young women into confident leaders who are fully capable to play an active role in the world around them.
To learn more about this distinguished independent Catholic school in the Sisters of Mercy tradition, visit the school's website here.
The President is the school's Chief Executive Officer and holds full responsibility for implementing the school's mission, charism and all aspects of the school's business and advancement operations. The President is directly responsible for the school's external affairs, ensuring sufficient resources, sound fiscal management, and financial stability through oversight of the business operations, advancement, alumnae, community relations, and enrollment management activities. The President reports to and works with the Board of Trustees to promote the good reputation and values of the school to the external community.
The ideal candidate will be able to articulate a direction and priorities for the school through implementing its strategic plan and have experience in overseeing and utilizing opportunities with, and among, other educational institutions and community organizations. As a visible presence within and outside the school community, the President will be Mercy's most ardent promoter of community and culture while marketing the school's brand and image for enrollment and resources.
The successful candidate will have significant executive leadership experience, expertise in financial and business management, and be able to articulate Our Lady of Mercy's value proposition while serving as its chief advancement and strategic officer. Candidates should possess exemplary communication and relationship-building skills that inspire confidence and collaboration.
Finally, the new President should have a passion for advancing the mission of Catholic education, particularly the single-gender education of young women in the Sisters of Mercy tradition, possess an understanding of the President/Principal model of administration, and be comfortable working with a committed Board of Trustees, the Sisters of Mercy, and Mercy Education System of the Americas.
While the President must have a demonstrated capacity for broad institutional leadership, candidates could have attained this experience through various career paths, including primary, secondary, or higher education, non-profit management, or work in the corporate or public sector. Regardless of the career path, the prospective President must have expert knowledge of and a proven record of building upon a strong community culture and identifying, cultivating, and developing strategic partnerships to ensure continued accessibility, success, and sustainability. An advanced degree in educational administration or a business-related field is expected.
Additional information and application procedures regarding this exciting executive leadership opportunity can be found in our detailed search prospectus here:
The search team is on a fast-track to identify and secure Our Lady of Mercy’s next President. Interested candidates can begin exploring this exciting executive leadership opportunity by contacting our team immediately. All inquiries and applications will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality and the greatest respect.
Candidates are expected to be available to assume the responsibilities of the position in July 2023. Connect with us today!
CONTACT
Michael Furey, Partner
mikefurey@partnersinmission.com
Partners in Mission School Leadership Search Solutions, LLC
(570) 730-2655
www.partnersinmissionslss.com