Who We Are

Excellence Community Schools (ECS) is a Charter Management Organization (CMO) supporting schools in the Bronx, NY and Stamford, CT. Our programs are based on a proven, nationally recognized model, which originated in our flagship school, the Bronx Charter School for Excellence, a National Blue Ribbon School.

Our Mission and Vision

Our schools prepare young scholars to compete for admission to and succeed in top public, private, and parochial high schools by cultivating their intellectual, artistic, social, emotional, and ethical development. We accomplish this by offering a challenging and rigorous academic curriculum, which at the earliest of grades has an eye towards college preparation. To achieve this, our schools create a supportive and caring environment that at all times has high expectations of all students. We offer a differentiated, project-based learning environment that seeks to develop high-level analytic and critical thinking skills in all of our students. Our engaging and rigorous approach to educating our scholars is implemented by a collaborative team of teachers.

Who We Need

We are seeking individuals who are dedicated, ambitious, and committed to student success and education reform. Qualified candidates must demonstrate records of achievement, high degrees of personal responsibility, and the drive to do whatever it takes to ensure that every child achieves academic success. This individual must be committed to excellence, lead by example, and see collaboration as a key component of success.

The Managing Director of School Social Work will provide clinical, instructional, and strategic leadership across the Excellence Community Schools (ECS) network. This leader will directly supervise all school-based counseling personnel (MSWs, LMHCs, school counselors), oversee clinical supervision for licensure and professional growth, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based counseling and behavioral support aligned with ECS’s commitment to student well-being, inclusive practices, and a culture of excellence.

This role ensures that the social-emotional, mental health, and behavioral support systems across ECS schools are proactive, equitable, data-driven, and deeply rooted in the RISE UP values of Responsibility, Integrity, Success, Etiquette, Unity, and Pride.

Key Responsibilities

Coaching & Supervision

• Provide clinical supervision for MSWs pursuing LCSW licensure, in compliance with NYSED regulations.
• Conduct regular observations and feedback for school-based counseling personnel.
• Coach staff in developing high-impact counseling plans, group interventions, and progress monitoring aligned with student needs and IEP/504 mandates.
• Maintain documentation of clinical supervision and ensure ethical, legal, and professional standards are upheld.
  
  

Social-Emotional & Behavioral Support Practices

• Support the development and implementation of high-quality 504 Plans, FBAs, and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) in collaboration with student services specialists, teachers, school leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Guide teams in creating multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS/RTI) that emphasize early intervention, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive practices.
• Participate in student support team (SST) meetings and crisis response planning across schools, ensuring appropriate interventions are in place.
  
  

Program Development & Professional Learning

• Design and deliver professional development for school social workers, counselors, and other staff on topics such as:
• Trauma-informed care
• SEL integration into classrooms
• Conflict resolution/restorative practices
• Crisis management
• Legal and ethical practices in school mental health
• Curate and share resources and toolkits to support consistent implementation of best practices across schools.
  

Crisis Management

• Oversee the network-wide crisis response protocol and ensure timely support for schools in the event of student/ staff crises
• Coordinate with legal and compliance teams on matters involving suicide risk, abuse/ neglect reporting or hospitalization
• Develop preventative strategies, training, and wellness initiatives to support a proactive approach to student and staff safety
  
  

Data-Driven Support & Network Collaboration

• Model best practices in how to collect and analyze student support data (counseling logs, referrals, behavior incidents, intervention plans, etc.) to inform continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the Student Support Services Team, school leaders, the FACE team and other staff to ensure students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic needs are met.
• Serve as a key partner in ECS network initiatives to strengthen school culture, staff wellness, and family engagement.
  
  

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive program aligned with the CMO’s mission and DEO framework
• Serve as the senior leader responsible for emotional and behavioral wellness, mental health, crisis response systems, and multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS)
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure that school counseling and SEL priorities are embedded into instructional and operational planning
• Cultivate strong relationships with school leaders and staff, external mental health providers, and organizations, and family support organizations
• Represent the network in meetings regarding child welfare with state and city agencies as needed
• Guide selection and implementation of SEL curricula, behavioral screeners, and therapeutic tools used across the network
  
  

Core Competencies

• Commitment to ECS’s Mission- Dedicated to the holistic development and academic success of all students
• Emotional Intelligence & Interpersonal Acumen- Builds strong relationships, communicates effectively, and demonstrates empathy and self-awareness
• Cultural Humility & Growth Mindset- Embraces diversity, reflects on personal biases, and seeks continuous improvement
• Accountability & Results-Driven Orientation- Holds self and others to high standards and uses data to inform decisions
• Strategic Problem-Solving & Adaptability- Approaches challenges with creativity and flexibility in dynamic environments
• Mission-Driven Resilience- Thrives in fast-paced settings and remains focused in diverse, equity-centered learning communities
  
  

Preferred Attributes

• Experience working in charter or public-school systems, particularly with high-need student populations
• Familiarity with Department of Education (DOE) systems, including IEP/504 processes and Medicaid service billing
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred
  
  

Qualifications

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York State (required)
• NY State School Social Work Certification (required)
• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited institution
• School-based experience, with at least 8-10 years in a clinical supervisory role, and at least 3 years in a leadership capacity
• Deep understanding of New York State education laws, counseling guidelines, and special education compliance
• Demonstrated experience supervising clinical hours and fostering professional growth for social workers and mental health professionals in an educational setting
• Experience building systems or protocols across multiple campuses
• Strong belief in the power of equitable, inclusive, and culturally relevant social-emotional practices
• Excellent communication, coaching, and organizational skills
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

• The salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary range ($150,000 - $173,000)
• Health Insurance, dental, vision & 403b Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off/Paid Sick Leave/Parental Leave/FMLA
• Short-term, Long-term Disability benefits and Life Insurance