What are the responsibilities and job description for the Experiential Programs Coordinator position at The Pingry School?
The Pingry School, a prestigious K-12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student-written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,100 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on Facebook, X, and Instagram to discover why we love school.
About Pingry
At The Pingry School, experiential learning initiatives directly foster Pingry's mission, encouraging intellectual, physical, and emotional learning and the cultivation of responsible and thoughtful citizens. Our experiential classrooms and programs, farm and sustainability programs, and global education and engagement programs provide living laboratories for Pingry students to explore questions, make discoveries, and challenge mind, body, and spirit within an inspired learning community.
The Pottersville Campus
In August 2021, The Pingry School acquired the 82-acre campus of the former Purnell School, a boarding school for girls in grades 9-12 founded in 1963. Located in the hills of Somerset County, New Jersey, this campus presented Pingry with a unique opportunity to expand its mission and educational offerings.
The Pottersville campus uniquely supports Pingry's mission by fostering curiosity, intellectual and personal growth, and community connection. Rooted in experiential learning, the campus offers intermittent, differentiated programs outside the traditional school day, including student initiatives, strategic partnerships, and professional opportunities that inspire lifelong learning, within day and overnight programs for K-12 students, alumni, visiting experts, etc., "from teenagers to trustees."
Set amidst rolling hills, Pottersville's grounds include a pond, hiking trails, a ropes course, gardens, classrooms, athletic facilities, arts studios, dormitories, and community spaces. Hacklebarney State Park, with its scenic trails, borders the property. Located 20 minutes from the Basking Ridge Campus and 40 minutes from Short Hills, Pottersville serves as Pingry's third campus and a hub for immersive learning experiences.
Position Overview
The Pingry School seeks a full-time, 12-month dynamic Experiential Programs Coordinator to support the Experiential Education team, collaborate with K-12 faculty to foster a learn-by-doing approach and an immersive educational experience throughout curriculum and at the Pottersville Campus, work closely with the new Dean of Residential Life on Pottersville programs and initiatives, including k-12 Immersive and Boarding Experiences, hosting Global Exchanges and Lifelong Learning programs, partnering with the Auxiliary team for Strategic Partnerships, Rentals, and Summer Programs at the Pottersville Campus, and support school-wide professional development related to experiential and immersive education.
This position requires a blend of organizational and project management skills, interdisciplinary teaching, partnership-building, program execution, and a passion for adventure to create transformative learning experiences. Working as part of the Experiential Education Team and reporting to the Director of the Pottersville Campus, the Experiential Educator will coordinate, design, and implement programs aligned with Pingry's mission, focusing on innovation, inclusion, and connection.
Compensation & Schedule
The Experiential Programs Coordinator role requires a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and extended overnight trips, and involves physically demanding outdoor work. This position does not include teaching within Pingry's core curriculum.
Program Coordination & Implementation
The ideal candidate is a highly organized educator with an innovative mindset who thrives on collaboration, creativity, and community-building. They are resourceful, resilient, and passionate about inspiring students to connect with the world through experiential education—whether in the classroom, outdoors, on the ropes course, or through global programs.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking educational initiative that shapes the future of experiential learning at The Pingry School.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply online at https://www.pingry.org/careers. The resume review process will begin immediately, followed by the first round of interviews in late March.
The Pingry School aspires to be an anti-racist community and is committed to the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Pingry is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Pingry School's employment policy is that individuals will receive equal opportunity in all matters pertaining to recruitment, employment, salary, promotion, and assignment, regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy status, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran, or other basis proscribed by federal, state, and local law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
About Pingry
At The Pingry School, experiential learning initiatives directly foster Pingry's mission, encouraging intellectual, physical, and emotional learning and the cultivation of responsible and thoughtful citizens. Our experiential classrooms and programs, farm and sustainability programs, and global education and engagement programs provide living laboratories for Pingry students to explore questions, make discoveries, and challenge mind, body, and spirit within an inspired learning community.
The Pottersville Campus
In August 2021, The Pingry School acquired the 82-acre campus of the former Purnell School, a boarding school for girls in grades 9-12 founded in 1963. Located in the hills of Somerset County, New Jersey, this campus presented Pingry with a unique opportunity to expand its mission and educational offerings.
The Pottersville campus uniquely supports Pingry's mission by fostering curiosity, intellectual and personal growth, and community connection. Rooted in experiential learning, the campus offers intermittent, differentiated programs outside the traditional school day, including student initiatives, strategic partnerships, and professional opportunities that inspire lifelong learning, within day and overnight programs for K-12 students, alumni, visiting experts, etc., "from teenagers to trustees."
Set amidst rolling hills, Pottersville's grounds include a pond, hiking trails, a ropes course, gardens, classrooms, athletic facilities, arts studios, dormitories, and community spaces. Hacklebarney State Park, with its scenic trails, borders the property. Located 20 minutes from the Basking Ridge Campus and 40 minutes from Short Hills, Pottersville serves as Pingry's third campus and a hub for immersive learning experiences.
Position Overview
The Pingry School seeks a full-time, 12-month dynamic Experiential Programs Coordinator to support the Experiential Education team, collaborate with K-12 faculty to foster a learn-by-doing approach and an immersive educational experience throughout curriculum and at the Pottersville Campus, work closely with the new Dean of Residential Life on Pottersville programs and initiatives, including k-12 Immersive and Boarding Experiences, hosting Global Exchanges and Lifelong Learning programs, partnering with the Auxiliary team for Strategic Partnerships, Rentals, and Summer Programs at the Pottersville Campus, and support school-wide professional development related to experiential and immersive education.
This position requires a blend of organizational and project management skills, interdisciplinary teaching, partnership-building, program execution, and a passion for adventure to create transformative learning experiences. Working as part of the Experiential Education Team and reporting to the Director of the Pottersville Campus, the Experiential Educator will coordinate, design, and implement programs aligned with Pingry's mission, focusing on innovation, inclusion, and connection.
Compensation & Schedule
The Experiential Programs Coordinator role requires a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and extended overnight trips, and involves physically demanding outdoor work. This position does not include teaching within Pingry's core curriculum.
- The Experiential Programs Coordinator role offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
- On-campus residency at Pottersville is required and included in the compensation.
- While the Pingry School observes many holidays and seasonal breaks, this role requires flexible vacation scheduling to align with Pottersville programming.
- The position follows a variable schedule, including nights, weekends, and overnight trips, with peak spring, summer, and fall workload periods.
Program Coordination & Implementation
- Provide administrative and logistical support for the Pottersville Campus and Experiential Education Team (which includes leaders from Global Engagement, Sustainability, Divisional Experiential Education, and Pottersville Campus Leadership).
- Collaborate with K-12 faculty to coordinate logistics, co-teach, and integrate experiential and interdisciplinary programs at Pottersville.
- Support day and overnight student programs such as grade-level and athletic team retreats, ensuring seamless planning, logistics, and facilitation.
- Work with the Dean of Residential Life to integrate residential life programming into experiential education efforts.
- Co-lead one Global Program per year and provide logistical support for global programs, including hosting international student exchanges.
- Serve as a ropes course lead and manager, supporting outdoor learning initiatives.
- Assist in Pottersville's farm, garden, and greenhouse programs, aligning with Sustainability initiatives.
- Design and teach immersive experiences such as Upper School Spring Intensive and Middle School Project Week.
- Partner with Auxiliary Programs to develop and lead two or more summer experiential programs at Pottersville.
- Support faculty professional development by offering training in best practices for experiential and immersive learning.
- Assist K-12 faculty in integrating experiential learning into their curriculum.
- Manage resources, technology, and AV needs for Pottersville programs and events.
- Develop partnerships with researchers, visiting experts, and external organizations to enhance experiential opportunities.
- Build a welcoming, inclusive residential community, fostering strong connections with students, faculty, parents, and visitors.
- Education: A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
- Experience: 3-5 years in education, with a focus on experiential learning.
- Passion & Commitment: Dedicated to integrating experiential learning into K-12 education and collaborating with faculty to create engaging hands-on experiences.
- Ability to self-manage tasks by prioritizing, planning, and organizing workflows effectively across daily, weekly, and semester timelines.
- Strong project management and administrative skills.
- Willingness to travel, work outdoors, and participate in day and overnight programs.
- Ability to navigate physically demanding environments and problem-solve with flexibility and creativity.
- Strong ability to work with faculty, students, and external partners.
- Comfort and competency in supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives.
- Proficiency in Google Suite applications.
- Level 1 tech and AV skills with a willingness to receive additional training.
- First Aid, CPR, AED, and ropes course certifications (or willingness to obtain).
- Alignment with Pingry's culture, values, and educational philosophy.
The ideal candidate is a highly organized educator with an innovative mindset who thrives on collaboration, creativity, and community-building. They are resourceful, resilient, and passionate about inspiring students to connect with the world through experiential education—whether in the classroom, outdoors, on the ropes course, or through global programs.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking educational initiative that shapes the future of experiential learning at The Pingry School.
Qualified candidates are invited to apply online at https://www.pingry.org/careers. The resume review process will begin immediately, followed by the first round of interviews in late March.
The Pingry School aspires to be an anti-racist community and is committed to the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Pingry is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Pingry School's employment policy is that individuals will receive equal opportunity in all matters pertaining to recruitment, employment, salary, promotion, and assignment, regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy status, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran, or other basis proscribed by federal, state, and local law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
