The Organization

About The Brunswick School

Founded in 2015 by Jillian Hernandez, The Brunswick School (TBS) is a two‑campus early learning and elementary institution serving infants through second grade in downtown Jersey City. Guided by the belief that every child learns uniquely, TBS provides a developmentally aligned curriculum that supports the whole child—socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively, and linguistically—within a nurturing, inclusive, and community‑oriented environment.

Mission

At The Brunswick School, we provide a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment that promotes each student’s holistic growth—encompassing physical, cognitive, social‑emotional, and language development. Our dynamic, developmentally aligned curriculum is tailored to individual learning styles and emphasizes inquiry, creativity, hands‑on learning, and real‑world application across subject areas. Grounded in the values of diversity and community, we celebrate Jersey City’s rich cultural landscape and foster strong partnerships with families to prepare confident, capable learners for future academic success and lifelong learning.

Grade Levels

Infants (4-18 months) - Our Infant and Older Infant classrooms create a warm, engaging, developmentally rich environment designed to support early cognitive, physical, and social‑emotional milestones. Children thrive in a nurturing setting that encourages exploration, early communication, and foundational learning experiences.

Toddlers (19-29 months) - Our Toddler Program bridges the transition from infancy to early preschool. The curriculum introduces emerging academic routines, promotes independence, and builds early language, motor, and social skills within a supportive, play‑based environment.

Rising PreK (approximately 2.5 years old) - The Rising Pre‑K program supports children’s increasing independence while guiding them into a more structured learning environment. Students enter this program as they turn 2.5 years old. Teachers partner with families to support toileting readiness and continued skill development.

Pre-K3 (Age 3 by December of the school year) - The Pre‑K3 program builds foundational skills in communication, early literacy, number sense, and social‑emotional development. While students are encouraged to be potty trained upon entry, teachers support children who are still completing this milestone.

Pre-K4 (Age 4 by December of the school year) - Designed to prepare students for kindergarten, the Pre‑K4 curriculum emphasizes communication, pre‑reading and writing skills, number sense, critical thinking, and an understanding of fiction versus nonfiction. Children engage in hands‑on, inquiry‑based learning rooted in TBS’ whole‑child philosophy.

Early Elementary: Kindergarten-2nd Grade - Students who have progressed through TBS’ developmental preschool programs enter Kindergarten ready to thrive academically and socially (must be age 5 by December of the school year). The early elementary program extends the school’s play‑based, inquiry‑driven approach while deepening foundational skills, fostering independence, and strengthening readiness for upper elementary years.

The Opportunity

Position- Chief Executive Officer

Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

Reporting Relationship: Board of Directors

Website: https://www.thebrunswickschool.com/

Purpose of the Position

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Brunswick School (TBS) reports to and partners closely with the Board of Directors to lead the organization through its next era of growth and evolution. The CEO assumes executive ownership of the core functions historically led by the founder—including enrollment strategy, finance, human resources, admissions, marketing and communications, team leadership, strategic planning, culture, and family experience. This leader will oversee a high‑performing leadership team and will be responsible for strengthening and scaling TBS across its multiple campuses which currently comprise of four distinct operations located in two different neighborhoods of Jersey City, while preserving the school’s values, community‑centered culture, and commitment to educational excellence.

The CEO is a strategic, execution‑oriented, and people‑centered leader with the vision and operational skill required to guide TBS through continued innovation and multi‑campus growth. This is a hands‑on, high‑visibility role that requires equal parts strategic thinking, operational rigor, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial grit. The CEO will be an inclusive and thoughtful leader who honors TBS’ history, advances its mission, and brings forward‑looking ideas that support the school’s long‑term success. TBS’ culture is fast‑paced, collaborative, entrepreneurial, and mission‑driven—where excellence, accountability, and a deep commitment to children and families define the work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy, Growth and Organizational Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi‑year strategic plan that advances campus optimization and potential expansion, program evolution (Infants–2nd grade), and long‑term enrollment growth.

• Build and strengthen the organizational infrastructure—systems, leadership capacity, processes, data/CRM, and technology—to support sustainable multi‑site operations.

• Partner closely with the Board on major decisions including real estate, financing, risk, and long‑term value creation.

• Advance the TBS brand and reputation across Jersey City; serve as a visible, credible community leader and ambassador to families, partners, and city stakeholders.

• Lead, coach, and support the Executive Leadership Team; foster a unified and accountable leadership culture grounded in transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Oversee organizational design, recruitment, performance management, compensation strategy, and succession planning across all levels of the organization.

Academic Excellence, Family Experience and Program Quality

• Ensure all educational programs—from Infants through 2nd Grade—align with TBS’ developmental framework and meet or exceed New Jersey licensing and regulatory requirements.

• Partner with academic leadership to maintain curriculum fidelity, strengthen instructional practice, and drive continuous improvement in child outcomes, assessments, and enrichment programs.

• Ensure high‑quality staff training, coaching, professional development, and onboarding that reflect TBS’ whole‑child philosophy and standards of excellence.

• Maintain a gold‑standard family experience characterized by warm, responsive communication; safety; hospitality; and a welcoming school community across both campuses.

• Serve as a visible ambassador to current and prospective families, strengthening parent relationships and upholding trust in the TBS experience.

Operations, Campus Management, Compliance and Risk

• Ensure that all campuses operate safely, consistently, compliantly, and at the highest standard of quality every day.

• Oversee all operational systems, including licensing, health and safety protocols, facilities management, crisis readiness, and SOP adoption.

• Guide the resolution of complex operational, family, staff, or facility issues with clarity, empathy, and sound judgment.

• Ensure alignment of operating practices across campuses, including daily schedules, service levels, nutrition/organic meals program oversight, and enrichment vendors.

• Anticipate and mitigate operational, regulatory, financial, and reputational risks.

Finance, Enrollment, Marketing and Board Partnership

• Own the organizational P&L; deliver responsible budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance.

• Oversee tuition strategy, cost efficiency, cash flow discipline, capital allocation decisions, and long‑term financial planning.

• Ensure accurate financial reporting, dashboards, KPIs, and real‑time analytics to guide organizational decision‑making.

• Own top‑line revenue through enrollment strategy—setting targets, optimizing capacity utilization, and ensuring healthy admissions pipelines.

• Oversee integrated marketing and communications to strengthen TBS’ brand presence, lead generation, conversion, and retention.

• Report regularly to the Board on financial health, operational performance, enrollment trends, organizational risks, and strategic progress.

• Implement Board decisions with clarity, transparency, and operational precision.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications

The successful candidate will be a seasoned, people‑centered executive with the ability to scale a high‑quality, regulated, multi‑site organization in a competitive early‑education market. They will bring a balance of strategic vision and disciplined execution, along with a collaborative leadership style aligned with TBS’ mission, values, and whole‑child philosophy.

Candidates should have the following qualifications and characteristics:

• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience, including meaningful time leading multi‑site or multi‑unit operations in education, early childhood, healthcare, hospitality, or other people‑intensive service sectors.

• Demonstrated success scaling organizations with operational complexity—building systems, talent, processes, and infrastructure to support growth.

• Proven P&L leadership, with a track record of driving financial performance, operational efficiency, and long‑term sustainability.

• Proven experience managing multiple sites simultaneously and scaling systems without compromising quality or culture.

• Strategic, visionary thinker who pairs big‑picture planning with strong operational and financial discipline.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship‑building skills, capable of inspiring confidence and trust among families, staff, board members, and community partners.

• Data‑driven decision maker with strong analytical acumen and experience using dashboards, KPIs, and forecasting to manage budgets and multi‑site performance.

• Skilled in crisis management, conflict resolution, and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics in a family‑facing environment.

• Comfort moving fluidly between high‑level strategy and hands‑on execution, appropriate for a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial school culture.

• Experience working with a Board of Directors or investor group, including preparation of materials and supporting governance best practices.

• Experience partnering with instructional/academic leaders or familiarity with whole‑child early‑education models strongly preferred.

• Prior experience in early childhood, early elementary, or a mission‑driven, parent‑facing service organization is a strong plus.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement, consistent with the values of the TBS and the broader Jersey City community.

Personal Attributes and Characteristics

• High integrity, emotionally mature, and grounded, with sound judgment and a strong ethical compass.

• Deeply passionate about children, early education, family partnership, and community impact, reflecting TBS’ whole‑child philosophy.

• Warm, approachable, and relational, able to build trust quickly with families, staff, and community partners.

• Energetic, optimistic, and solutions‑oriented, modeling a can‑do attitude in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment.

• A “roll‑up‑your‑sleeves” leader who is hands‑on when necessary and unafraid to dive into operational challenges alongside the team.

• Entrepreneurial and growth‑minded, with a strong appetite for innovation, continuous improvement, and scaling systems in a multi‑site organization.

• A calm, steady, and reassuring presence during periods of transition, rapid growth, or unexpected challenges.

• Highly collaborative, fostering psychological safety, shared accountability, and cross‑campus alignment.

• Culturally competent and values‑driven, with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and celebrating the richness of the Jersey City community.

• Exceptional communicator, able to engage with families, staff, Board members, and external stakeholders with clarity, transparency, and empathy.

• Strategically minded but operationally grounded, able to balance big‑picture thinking with practical execution.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree is required.

• MBA or advanced degree in a related field is strongly preferred.

Compensation

• The estimated base compensation range for this position is $225,000–$250,000, supplemented by an annual bonus and equity on future growth. The Brunswick School offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.