Middle States Association is hiring a Governance Mastery Consultant|Salary up to $50k annually

The Governance Mastery Consultant role with Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools represents a specialized consulting opportunity focused on improving governance practices in independent schools. The position is remote and contract-based, with a strong emphasis on relationship-building, facilitation, and strategic outreach to school boards. It is designed for experienced education leaders who can help schools strengthen decision-making structures and leadership effectiveness.

Understanding the Purpose of the Role

The primary mission of the Governance Mastery Consultant is to support Middle States’ vision of inspiring meaningful and sustainable change in schools. This is achieved by guiding school boards through a structured governance endorsement process that improves leadership clarity, accountability, and effectiveness.

Key elements of the role include:

• Enrolling independent school boards into the Governance Mastery Endorsement program
• Facilitating governance-focused workshops in both in-person and hybrid formats
• Evaluating school board progress toward completion of governance standards
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with school leaders and referral networks

The role is not purely administrative; it is highly relational and strategic, requiring consultants to act as trusted advisors to school leadership teams.

Core Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Expectations

The Governance Mastery Consultant is expected to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, combining outreach, facilitation, and reporting. The work is structured but requires a high degree of independence and initiative.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Developing and managing a pipeline of prospective school boards
• Conducting outreach through emails, calls, and direct meetings
• Guiding interested schools through enrollment steps in the program
• Facilitating governance workshops designed to improve board effectiveness
• Tracking engagement activities and maintaining accurate pipeline records
• Providing monthly summaries of outcomes, challenges, and insights

The role requires consistent communication with the Middle States leadership team, particularly the President, to ensure alignment on goals and progress.

Skills and Qualities Required for Success

This position is best suited for individuals with deep experience in education leadership, particularly those with governance or head-of-school backgrounds. Beyond technical expertise, success depends heavily on interpersonal and organizational strengths.

Key skills and attributes include:

• Strong writing and communication abilities for professional outreach and reporting
• High emotional intelligence for engaging with diverse school boards
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to changing circumstances
• Strategic thinking to identify and pursue high-value relationships
• Comfort with facilitation in group settings, including workshops and board sessions
• Self-motivation and discipline to manage an independent workload
• Problem-solving mindset with a willingness to challenge traditional governance models

Consultants are also expected to demonstrate cultural awareness and value diversity within leadership teams, viewing it as a strength that enhances decision-making.

Work Structure and Compensation Model

The Governance Mastery Consultant role is structured as a contract/freelance position rather than a traditional salaried role. Compensation is performance-based, with expected earnings starting at approximately $50,000 annually or more depending on results.

Important aspects of the compensation structure include:

• Income is tied to enrollments and delivery milestones
• Contractors receive a 1099-NEC form for tax purposes (U.S.-based consultants)
• The contract runs through June 30, 2026, with possible extension
• Work is fully remote but may require occasional in-person workshop facilitation

This structure rewards productivity and successful engagement rather than fixed hours worked.

Strategic Importance Within Middle States

Governance Mastery is positioned as a key growth initiative within Middle States’ broader mission. It is supported by external funding, including a grant from the EE Ford Foundation, which aims to expand its reach to more school boards.

The consultant role is critical because it directly impacts how effectively schools govern themselves. Strong governance is linked to improved decision-making, clearer institutional direction, and better student outcomes.

The role contributes to:

• Expanding governance training across independent schools
• Strengthening leadership capacity at the board level
• Enhancing organizational accountability and effectiveness
• Supporting long-term institutional improvement in education

Application Requirements and Selection Process

Candidates interested in the Governance Mastery Consultant role are expected to demonstrate both professional expertise and personal reflection. The application process includes a résumé submission and a reflective narrative.

Required application materials:

• A detailed résumé highlighting governance or education leadership experience
• A one-page personal narrative describing a significant failure and its impact
• An explanation of any use of generative tools in preparing the narrative (if applicable)

Applications are submitted via email to the Middle States Governance Team.

Final Perspective on the Role

The Governance Mastery Consultant position is a highly specialized opportunity for experienced education professionals who want to influence school leadership at a systemic level. It blends consulting, coaching, and facilitation into a single role focused on improving governance practices.

Key takeaways about the role include:

• It is remote, flexible, and performance-driven
• It requires strong governance or school leadership experience
• It emphasizes relationship-building and strategic outreach
• It plays a direct role in improving independent school governance systems
• It offers meaningful impact in the education sector rather than traditional corporate consulting work

For the right candidate, this role provides an opportunity to shape how school boards operate and, ultimately, how educational institutions are led and improved over time.

APPLY HERE

Join Our WhatsApp Community

Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.