Built on decades of experience working with superintendents, principals, and teacher leadership teams, Vital Network helps school systems listen deeply to educators and act on what they learn to improve the school as a workplace. Vital is in an exciting era of expansion, partnering with more districts to build healthier school workplaces where educators feel supported, valued, and inspired to stay.

This Statement of Work defines the role of a Vital Advisor, a contract position that supports Vital’s work with schools and districts to strengthen educator retention and well-being. 

Vital Advisors are central to how Vital partners with school systems, guiding leaders as they make sense of educator experience data and translate it into meaningful, lasting change. Because this role involves coaching and advising school and district leaders through complex change, Vital seeks someone with direct school leadership experience who can bring credibility, empathy, humor, and practical wisdom to the work.

This is a contract position estimated at 25–40 hours per week, depending on season, partner needs, and agreed-upon priorities. The preferred start date is in June  2026.

The purpose of the Vital Advisor role is to help school and district leaders strengthen workplace conditions so educators can thrive. Vital Advisors help leaders make sense of educator experiences, focus on what matters most, and move toward healthier, more sustainable systems. The role is designed to both advance immediate partner goals and contribute to broader, long-term change by:

• guiding leaders through Vital’s approach and tools in practical and empowering ways;

• helping partners make meaning of educator experience data and translate it into strategic action;

• supporting the design and implementation of improvements to workplace conditions;

• strengthening the capacity of leaders and teams to carry this work forward; and,

• contributing insight that helps Vital continue refining and expanding its impact.

3. Scope of Services

The Vital Advisor will provide strategic advising, facilitation, and implementation support to assigned partner schools, districts, and/or regional partners. Services may include, but are not limited to:

A. Partner Support & Advising

• Support school and district leaders in engaging with the Vital process and related tools.

• Facilitate meetings, planning sessions, and reflection conversations with leaders and/or educator teams.

• Help partners interpret survey and other experience data to identify priority problems of practice.

• Guide leaders in developing actionable, context-responsive strategies to improve workplace conditions.

• Support implementation follow-through by helping leaders monitor progress, reflect on learning, and adjust strategies over time.

• Provide coaching and thought partnership to administrators and leadership teams as they navigate change.

B. Facilitation & Capacity Building

• Facilitate leader and staff sessions that promote shared understanding and practical next steps.

• Build partner capacity to lead this work internally over time

• Model inquiry-based, strengths-oriented practices that reinforce educator voice, leadership development, and sustainable systems change.

C. Internal Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in regular planning, coordination, and learning meetings with the Vital team.

• Share implementation insights, partner feedback, promising practices, and emerging needs with Vital staff.

• Contribute to refinement of tools, resources, training supports, and delivery practices as needed.

• Maintain communication with designated Vital team members regarding partner progress, support needs, and risks.

D. Travel & Relationship Support

• Travel to partner sites, meetings, and events as needed to support delivery and relationship-building.

• Travel is expected to comprise approximately 10% of total time, though actual travel may vary based on geography, season, and partner needs.

The Vital Advisor will provide the following deliverables, as applicable to the engagement:

• Facilitation and support for assigned school/district meetings, planning sessions, and implementation conversations;

• Ongoing advisory support to school and district leaders;

• Brief written updates, notes, or summaries documenting progress, needs, decisions, and next steps;

• Informal written and verbal feedback to Vital on implementation trends, partner needs, opportunities, and challenges;

• Participation in internal team meetings and continuous improvement efforts;

• Other mutually agreed-upon advisory, facilitation, or implementation support aligned with the role.

Deliverables are intended to be practical and fit-for-purpose rather than overly burdensome, and may vary based on partner context and season of work.

This is a contract role with an anticipated workload of 25–40 hours per week. Preferred start date in June or July 2026. Workload may fluctuate throughout the year depending on:

• partner onboarding and planning cycles,

• survey administration and data review periods,

• facilitation schedules,

• school calendars, and

• internal Vital priorities.

Some weeks may require more intensive partner-facing support, while others may focus more on planning, documentation, coaching, and internal collaboration.

The Vital Advisor should bring significant school-based leadership experience, including:

• Prior experience serving as a school principal required

• Experience as a secondary school leader (middle school and/or high school) strongly preferred

• Demonstrated success leading school improvement and change efforts

• Experience working with educator leadership teams, using data to inform action, and supporting adult learning

• Strong facilitation, relationship-building, and coaching skills

• Deep understanding of the realities of school leadership, educator retention, and workplace conditions in schools

• A strong sense of humor, grounded joy, and pragmatic optimism

• The ability to navigate complexity with humility, clarity, and steadiness

• Alignment with Vital’s values of joy, courage, connection, possibility, and integrity

• A deep belief in the power of educator voice and the possibility of meaningful school change

• The ability to listen deeply, build trust, and help partners move from insight to action 

June 2026 - June 2027, renewable

The Vital Advisor will be compensated at a rate of $8,000 - 10,000 per month for services performed under this Statement of Work.

The Vital Advisor will serve as an independent contractor and not as an employee of Vital Network. The contractor will:

• manage their own schedule in coordination with agreed-upon meetings, deliverables, and partner needs;

• provide services in a professional manner consistent with Vital’s expectations and values; and

• comply with applicable confidentiality, data privacy, and contractor agreement requirements.

Success in this role will be reflected through indicators such as:

• strong partner relationships and trust;

• timely and effective facilitation and follow-through;

• evidence of partner engagement with Vital tools and processes;

• increased leader clarity and capacity to act on educator experience data;

• practical progress toward workplace improvement goals; and

• meaningful feedback and learning contributed to Vital’s internal improvement efforts.