AP - Community Life

Job Description

Job Description

Associate Principal of Community Life (2025 - 2026 School Year)

Salary : $150,000 to $180,000 DOE

Contract term : 11 months

Join the O’Dowd Community!

We are a celebrated “Best of the Bay” Catholic college preparatory high school that empowers students to discover their best selves and make a difference in the world. As a professional community, we are guided by our Charism – spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit – to find God in all things. We embrace our diverse community. We honor the strength of character. We rise to academic excellence. We cherish the earth and all living things. We stand for social justice. We seek and hold onto joy. View our open positions below, and join us!

Mission : Bishop O’Dowd High School is a Catholic college-preparatory community, guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ, that educates its diverse student body to build a more just, joyful, and sustainable world.

Charism :

Finding God In All Things Calls Us to :

Community in Diversity

Strength of Character

Academic Excellence

Kinship With Creation

Social Justice

Associate Principal of Community Life Job Summary

Bishop O’Dowd High School is seeking an Associate Principal of Community Life with exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to Catholic education and academic excellence. The next Associate Principal of Academics will be a proven leader with a minimum of three years of Catholic High School administrative experience and a skillful communicator who can foster the core values expressed in the school’s Charism. The successful candidate will thrive in a school community that reflects the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of Oakland. He or she will be a relationship-builder who is dedicated to furthering the school’s educational mission through partnership of students, faculty, staff, parents and guardians, the community, and the Diocese of Oakland.

Associate Principal of Community Life Job Description

The Associate Principal of Community Life (AP of CL) reports to the Principal. The AP of CL oversees the programmatic vision and creation of a community of faith rooted in the teachings, traditions, and sacraments of the Catholic Church. The AP of CL supports programs that bring about a spirit of joy and build the strength of character within the student body while promoting the core values of social justice and kinship with creation rooted in Catholic Social teaching. The AP of CL works with the Associate Principal of Academics, the Associate Principal of Athletics and Student Services and Principal to ensure that curricular and co-curricular programs are directed by the Charism leading students and staff to find God in all things.

Major Areas of Responsibility & Management Oversight

Direct Reports :

Director of Campus Ministry

Director of Kinship and Justice

Director of Student Activities

Drama Program Manager

Department Chair, Fine Arts

Department Chair, Religious Studies

Forensic Programs (Mock Trial and Debate Coaches)

Inclusive and Transformative Campus Ministry Programs

Supports & Manages the Director of Campus Ministry in the creation of a faith community grounded in the sacraments, teachings, and traditions of the Catholic Church, to include :

Support of campus Chaplain & Retreat Coordinator

Charitable drives and events (Mission Drive, Toy Drive, Dollar Days)

Adult Spirituality

Collaborates with Campus Ministry staff to develop robust liturgical and prayer life, retreats with an emphasis on developmentally and spiritually appropriate programs

Guides creation, planning, and evaluation

Including thought partnership on updating & enhancing programs

Sustainability and Living Lab programs cultivating “Kinship with Creation”

Supports & Manages Director of Justice and Kinship in the implementation of sustainability programs throughout campus, community, and culture. This includes engaging with the Creation Care Team in caring for Living Lab and administering Living Lab programs.

Supports Sustainability and Living Lab Coordinator in mentorship of Eco-Leaders and various programs including the Season of Creation and Harvest Festival.

Oversees the school's renewed commitment to sustainability in light of “kinship with creation.”

Social Justice and Service-Learning programs : connecting students to the broader community

Supports & manages Director of Justice and Kinship and Solidarity in Action student leaders

Student Activities and Co-Curricular Offerings Rooted in Joy

Supports & manages the Director of Student Activities for the effective running of Student Government and related events which includes :

Partner with Student Activities Directors, Deans, Security, and Faculty Dance Team for the running of safe and developmentally appropriate student dances, proms, etc.

Oversees the planning and execution of rallies and assemblies (i.e. Black Student Union, Multicultural, Founders, etc.)

Guides Directors of Student Activities in supporting student clubs

Religious Studies Department

Supports Religious Studies Department Chair to successfully manage their department

Teacher Observation and evaluation

Supports the Department Chair for Religious Studies in planning and evaluation of service learning programs (i.e. Bay Area Social Justice) and the service learning team in the implementation of developmentally appropriate and community-based service-learning placements (Common Home, Friends, and Anawim projects)

Fine Arts Department

Supports the Fine Arts Department Chair to successfully manage their department.

Teacher Observation and evaluation

Other Areas of Oversight Responsibility

Member of School administration leadership team

Student orientation

Graduation Event Planning & Execution

Directors council – Plans and chairs in consultation with the principal

Charism integration into all school programs

Student leadership - Adult support for Eco, SALT, CMT, SIA & Retreat Teams

Mock Trial

Debate

Assist in the coordination of sound and facilities management for major school events

Manage Purchasing & Campus Ministry support

Hiring lead & onboarding of direct reports

Member of the Faculty well-being committee

Evaluation

The Principal will evaluate the Associate Principal for Community Life each year. The evaluation will be based on the school Charism and duties and responsibilities listed above. Information for the evaluation will be gathered from the administration, faculty and staff of Bishop O’Dowd High School.

Associate Principal of Community Life Job Qualifications

Required

Must be a practicing Roman Catholic with deep understanding of and commitment to Catholic faith.

Masters Degree in Theology or similar from an accredited Catholic University

Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated successful Catholic High School administrative experience

Active leader who is mobile with a visible presence across the school community

Team player with exceptional interpersonal communication skills, and problem solving abilities

Ability and willingness to work successfully with a variety constituents and settings

Demonstrated strong commitment to Catholic education, Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic identity and values.

Preferred

Masters or Doctorate in Catholic Educational Leadership

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time 11-month position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include : Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance, plus annual contribution into 403b account.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Additionally, all personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Please note : Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please provide your cover letter, resume, and list of professional & personal references with your application. Pre-employment background screening is required for all positions. This is not a remote position. The position is located on site in Oakland, CA.

Bishop O’Dowd High School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment policies and procedures. It follows the Diocese of Oakland's policies prohibiting illegal harassment, retaliation or discrimination. However, as a Roman Catholic high school with a stated mission, goals and objectives that clearly reflect the teachings and educational philosophy of the Diocese of Oakland, Bishop O’Dowd High School reserves the right to require all current and prospective employees to commit to carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner that clearly and unconditionally demonstrates support of and respect for the school’s mission and Catholic identity. Persons who in good conscience are unable to agree to this commitment should not seek or accept employment at Bishop O’Dowd High School. As a faith-based institution, we reserve the right to use religion as a criterion in hiring decisions, as permitted by law, as it relates to performing essential job duties.

We Invest in Your Success.

We Value Your Well-Being.

We Fuel Your Spirit.

Salary : $150,000 - $180,000