Position Description for Delaware County Intermediate Unit, Morton, Pennsylvania
The Delaware County Intermediate Unit, Board of Directors, invites visionary, collaborative, and innovative leaders to apply for the position of Executive Director. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead one of Pennsylvania's premier intermediate units - an organization recognized for its entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to innovation, and unwavering focus on improving educational opportunities for children, families, educators, and school communities throughout Delaware County.
McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development, is engaged as the consultant in the search for outstanding candidates and will assist the Delaware County Intermediate Unit Board of Directors in identifying and screening applicants.
Apply online at www.macnjake.com
Location: Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Approximately 10 miles southwest of Philadelphia
Serving approximately 15,000 students through direct services within a county educating approximately 69,000 students, DCIU is far more than a service agency. It is a trusted regional partner that develops innovative solutions, delivers exceptional educational and operational services, and helps school systems meet increasingly complex challenges through collaboration, fiscal stewardship, and forward-thinking leadership.
The Leadership Opportunity
The next Executive Director will inherit a highly respected organization and will have the opportunity to shape its future by expanding services, strengthening partnerships, cultivating an exceptional organizational culture, and advancing outcomes for students and member school districts. The Board is particularly interested in a leader who combines educational understanding with strong business acumen, transparent governance, and the capacity to lead successfully through change.
The Qualifications: The Board seeks a proven, transformational leader who can honor DCIU's strengths while bringing an expansive perspective to its next chapter. The successful candidate will build trust, strengthen relationships, understand the unique mission of an intermediate unit, and recognize the diversity of Delaware County as one of the region's greatest strengths.
The Board welcomes candidates with successful executive-level leadership experience in public education or a comparable service-oriented organization. Service as a public school superintendent is a plus; relevant preparation may also include an executive director or senior leader of an intermediate unit, educational service agency, or regional education organization; or comparable leadership experience in Pennsylvania or another state. Candidates from other senior leadership backgrounds will also be considered when their experience demonstrates a strong understanding of public education, service to school districts, governance, complex operations, fiscal stewardship, and collaborative regional leadership.
The Board is seeking a leader who:
- Demonstrates excellent knowledge of special education and understands the increasingly complex needs of students, families, and school systems, particularly in the post-COVID educational environment.
- Brings an entrepreneurial mindset and can identify, develop, and expand innovative programs, partnerships, services, and revenue opportunities.
- Understands the diversity of Delaware County and views that diversity as a significant organizational and community strength.
- Is an exceptional relationship builder with interpersonal skills to connect authentically with superintendents, board members, employees, families, students, elected leaders, community partners, and other stakeholders.
- Has meaningful experience working with governing boards and demonstrates transparency, accountability, sound judgment, and clear communication.
- Is a proven leader who has successfully navigated complex challenges, built consensus, rallied teams around a shared purpose, and delivered results.
- Has experience overseeing large and complex budgets and demonstrates strong fiscal stewardship and command of the business and operational functions of a multifaceted organization.
- Is innovative, visionary, trustworthy, charismatic, and an attentive listener who inspires confidence while remaining accessible and grounded.
- Demonstrates transformational leadership and a record of building healthy, high-performing organizational cultures.
- Can serve as a thoughtful change agent when necessary - preserving what works while having the courage and skill to lead meaningful improvement.
- Understands public education and the unique mission and regional role of an intermediate unit.
- Values career and technical education and understands the importance of CTC/trade-school, workforce-development, and postsecondary partnerships.
- Has experience developing external partnerships, including relationships with foundations and other public, private, nonprofit, higher education, government, and community organizations.
Background and Qualifications
The Board welcomes candidates with a demonstrated record of executive-level leadership in complex, public-serving organizations. Relevant experience may come from public education, special education, higher education, nonprofit leadership, government, business, workforce development, human services, or another setting that has required sophisticated organizational leadership, stakeholder engagement, fiscal oversight, and public accountability.
Educational leadership credentials: Candidates should possess the education, experience, and credentials necessary to successfully lead DCIU and to meet applicable Pennsylvania requirements for the position. A doctoral degree is valued but is not required.
Compensation: Regionally competitive compensation commensurate with the successful candidate's experience, qualifications, and the terms approved by the Board of Directors. Recommended range is $250,000 - $320,000.
Delware County Intermediate Unit Website: https://www.dciu.org/
Anticipated Search Timeline
- Closing date for applications: October 6, 2026
- Board selects finalists to interview: Week of November 2, 2026
- Selection of new Executive Director: Week of November 2, 2026
- Start date: Contract dependent / TBD
Consultants:
Dr. Kathleen Sottile K_Sottile@macnjake.com
Robert Copeland R_Copeland@macnjake.com
Contact Information:
McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C.
11725 Arbor St., Suite 220
Omaha, NE 68144
888-375-4814
Email: apps@macnjake.com
Delaware County Intermediate Unit is an Equal Opportunity Employer. DCIU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability and, when needed, will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees. Anyone requesting reasonable accommodation in the application or recruitment process please contact McPherson & Jacobson at the address/phone/email above.