Executive Director of Pee Dee Education Center @ Darlington County School District

Description: Executive Director

(240-day position)

Location: Pee Dee Education Center

Available: 2026-2027

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Board of Directors

Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university required; earned doctorate preferred.
• Minimum of five years of successful district-level administrative experience, preferably as a superintendent, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible educational leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, budget development and management, personnel supervision, and program evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate collaboration among school districts, educational institutions, and community partners.
• Experience coordinating shared services, professional learning, or regional educational initiatives.
• Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate priorities into actionable plans and measurable results.

General Statement of Job

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the Pee Dee Education Center and is responsible for leading its personnel, programs, services, and operations under the direction of the Board of Directors.

The Executive Director works with member districts and institutions to identify shared needs, coordinate effective services, strengthen educational opportunities, and use regional resources efficiently. The position is accountable for implementing Board-approved priorities, maintaining sound fiscal and operational practices, and demonstrating the Center's value to its members.

The Executive Director carries out these responsibilities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, the Center's bylaws, Board policies, and governing agreements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Member Services

• Assess member districts' and institutions' needs annually and use the findings to recommend priorities for the Center.
• Develop and implement a Board-approved annual service plan identifying priorities, intended results, timelines, resource requirements, and responsible personnel.
• Align programs and services with member needs and the Center's strategic direction.
• Identify opportunities for shared services, joint purchasing, professional learning, and other collaborative efforts that improve quality, expand access, or reduce costs.
• Evaluate services using appropriate measures, including participation, service quality, member satisfaction, and cost savings or cost avoidance where measurable.
• Recommend programs and services to expand, redesign, or discontinue based on evidence and member needs.
• Establish clear staff responsibilities and delegate work to support implementation within available resources.

Fiscal and Operational Management

• Develop and recommend an annual budget aligned with Board-approved priorities.
• Administer the approved budget, monitor expenditures and revenues, report significant variances, and recommend corrective action when needed.
• Oversee financial reporting, internal controls, procurement, audit preparation, and required fiscal submissions.
• Exercise purchasing, expenditure, and contract authority only within limits established by Board policy or written delegation.
• Obtain required approval before making commitments outside delegated authority or the approved budget.
• Oversee facilities, records, technology, and other operational resources needed to support the Center's work.
• Provide oversight of Project SHARE responsibilities assigned to the Center under applicable agreements, including fiscal administration, staffing, service delivery, and reporting, as applicable.
• Keep the Board informed of material financial, operational, or service-delivery concerns.

Personnel and Consultant Management

• Supervise and evaluate Center employees and establish clear performance expectations.
• Make personnel decisions within authority delegated by the Board and recommend actions requiring Board or Executive Committee approval.
• Align staffing, assignments, and professional development with the annual service plan.
• Oversee consultant relationships, including scopes of work, deliverables, performance, and costs.
• Promote professional conduct, collaboration, accountability, and responsive service.

Service Coordination and Educational Programs

• Coordinate inter-district services and professional learning based on identified member needs.
• Establish service expectations, implementation timelines, and procedures for gathering member feedback.
• Oversee educational programs and events, including the FMU Math Tournament, Regional Spelling Bee, and Academic Challenge, delegating logistics and implementation responsibilities as appropriate.
• Monitor program quality, participation, accessibility, and resource requirements.
• Develop partnerships that strengthen services and educational opportunities for students and educators.

Advocacy and Representation

• Represent the Center with member districts, educational institutions, government agencies, and other partners.
• Monitor educational policy, funding, and regional developments and communicate relevant implications to the Board and members.
• Advocate for positions approved by the Board and coordinate responses to matters affecting member districts.
• Build relationships that support regional collaboration and the Center's priorities.

Board Relations and Communication

• Support the Board's governance responsibilities by preparing timely agendas, reports, recommendations, and action items.
• Attend Board meetings and major Center events unless excused by the Chairperson.
• Provide a concise report at each regular Board meeting addressing service-plan progress, finances, member needs, and matters requiring action.
• Maintain regular communication with the Chairperson and promptly elevate significant concerns.
• Provide information to member districts and institutions about available services, participation opportunities, and results.
• Coordinate requests from Board members and member districts through established procedures. Refer competing priorities or requests exceeding available resources to the Chairperson for resolution or Board consideration.
• Implement Board decisions and maintain records of assigned actions and follow-up.

Authority and Accountability

The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Directors. The Chairperson serves as the primary contact for routine coordination and direction within Board-approved priorities.

The Executive Director exercises authority delegated through the Center's bylaws, Board policies, governing agreements, and formal Board action. Matters reserved to the Board or Executive Committee require approval from the appropriate body. Individual Board member or member-district requests do not independently authorize changes to approved priorities, budgets, or contractual commitments.

Work Schedule and Availability

The employment agreement and an approved written work schedule will establish hours per workday, distribution of days throughout the year, recurring work periods, on-site and remote availability, and procedures for urgent matters.

The schedule must provide consistent access for staff and member districts and sufficient availability for Board meetings, major events, and assigned responsibilities. Material schedule changes require approval through the process established in the employment agreement.

The Executive Director will acknowledge routine requests within two business days and promptly communicate scheduling conflicts or extended absences that could affect services. The agreement will identify how work time, travel, and duties outside scheduled periods are addressed.

Additional Duties

Perform other related duties assigned by the Board of Directors consistent with the position's responsibilities, delegated authority, and employment terms.

Terms of Employment

Compensation, benefits, employment term, work schedule, leave, travel reimbursement, and other employment conditions will be established in a written agreement approved by the Board of Directors.

Evaluation

The Board of Directors will evaluate the Executive Director annually in January using Board-approved goals and performance expectations established at the beginning of the evaluation period.

The evaluation will consider

• Progress toward the annual service plan and strategic priorities.
• Quality, responsiveness, and value of services to member districts.
• Fiscal stewardship and operational effectiveness.
• Personnel leadership and organizational performance.
• Communication, collaboration, and implementation of Board decisions.

The Board and Executive Director will conduct a midyear progress review to assess results, address barriers, and adjust priorities as needed. Evaluation and goal-setting timelines will be coordinated with contract renewal and budget decisions.

A complete application packet must be submitted through the online application system prior to the closing date in order to be considered for this position. ALL of the following requirements must be submitted before the posted deadline:

• 1. Online Administrative Application

Note: Reference section requires contact information for three (3) references; reference forms will be emailed directly to the references listed.

• 2. Resume
• 3. Copy of Degree or Transcript

Note: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required application documents are submitted prior to the posted deadline. An incomplete application will render the applicant ineligible.

CLOSING DATE

Monday, November 30, 2026

The District reserves the right at any time to extend the deadline without notice and without final consideration of any pending application.