Career Center

FLSA Classification
Exempt 1.0 FTE
Salary Band: $160,000-$225,000
Reports to: Head of School
Job Term: 12-month employee
Date: December 2022

MISSION STATEMENT
Through transformative teaching and meaningful connections, we empower kind, curious learners to thrive together.

CORE VALUES

We Celebrate Scholarship
The foundation of Crystal is academic excellence.
We Seek Growth Challenges
Our culture says try it.
We Foster Kindness & Inclusion
Crystal is a caring and diverse community.

We Strive for Balance
A holistic approach to well-being is integral to our mission.
We Engage with Enthusiasm
With unbounded spirit, we give our best effort every day and pay it forward to our
community.
We Lead with Humility
Being grateful and open-minded, we pursue lifelong learning.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Summary

The role requires an experienced, strong empathic leader to provide an environment where Upper School employees and students can thrive and be successful. The Head of Upper School is responsible for creating a dynamic Upper School experience and ensures high quality teaching standards and curricular development. This role connects with families to build and maintain relational trust and to support community development. This position partners with peers in support of the advancement of the strategic plan and Crystal's diversity, equity and inclusion objectives.

Key Job Competencies
-Change Management: Prepares, supports, and guides people effectively through
organizational changes across all levels of the school to align organizational behavior,
actions, and ideologies and achieve the school’s strategic goals.
- Developing Others: Ability to effectively support the growth and development of
students/adults across all levels of the organization.
- Innovation: Imagines or realizes something new that helps to advance the strategic
objectives of the organization. Introduces new ways of looking at problems. Can take
a creative idea and put into practice. Embraces diverse perspectives to promote or
nurture innovation. Fosters interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary work.
- Collaboration: The interpersonal and intrapersonal qualities one will leverage to
collectively solve a problem or make progress toward a common goal. The ability to
work with others to complete a project or task or develop ideas or processes.
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Analyzes and integrates trends and patterns
based on diverse information and perspectives to determine the root causes of
problems, identify the best course of action, and prioritize efforts. Develops new
insights and formulates creative solutions, considering the impact and implications
of recommendations in the context of overall vision, goals, and objectives.
- Leadership: Leads others in a way that masterfully leverages their strengths and
manages liabilities, skillfully promotes collaboration, effectively navigates conflict,

and inspires and motivates. Knows how to engage and retain employees, conduct
difficult conversations, and manage operations. Models ethical behavior and the
mission and core values of the institution.
- Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas
effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as
deep listening skills to gain understanding.
- Cultural Competence: Possesses and applies the skills, values, and principles that
acknowledge, respect, contribute, and work effectively across cultural differences.
Recognizes the unique value, perspectives, strengths, and challenges of every
person who comes to the Crystal community.
- Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates high levels of self/social awareness,
self-management, empathy, and curiosity.

Essential Functions
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Serve as a member of the DEI Leadership Team in support of advancement of DEI
strategies and initiatives
- Participates in and encourages ongoing DEI professional development

School Operations
- Collaborates closely with the Head of Middle School to ensure program alignment
and community development/relational trust between campuses to advance “One
Crystal”
- Partners with Human Resources and Department Heads on hiring, evaluations and
growth plans for Upper School teachers
- Delivers all aspects of the Upper School academic program, including course
staffing, daily schedule determination, attendance oversight, and emergency
operations management
- Determines and makes assignments for annual faculty committees/task forces
- Supports and advances the strategic plan, incorporated into all aspects of
programming and operations
Programming
- Monitors student workload and experience, making needed changes throughout the
year
- Liaises with the US Student Support Team (US Director of Student Equity and
Engagement, US Director of Student Counseling and US Director of Academic
Support) for students with academic, emotional and/or social issues

- Makes final decisions on student discipline issues via the Judiciary Committee
- Coordinates surveys, awards, and evaluations of programming
- Oversees key programming and policies related to the Upper School, including
course selection, expectations assembly, final exams, handbooks, faculty and
students orientation, and Professional Adult Community (PAC) professional
development days
- Works with Director of College Counseling and US Director of Teaching and Learning
on Mastery Transcript Consortium
- Works with the US Director of Student Equity and Engagement on advisor and
advisee placements
- Point person for newly admitted Upper School students
- Plans the Opening Day (first day of school) and Upper School Moving Up Ceremony
(last day of school). Participates in 12th grade Commencement.
- Envisions and implements curricular change in collaboration with the US Director of
Teaching and Learning
Relationships
- Designs formal platforms/opportunities to listen deeply to feedback from students,
employees, and families
- Regularly communicates relevant information to parents via a weekly communique
- Communicates relevant information to US faculty and staff via a weekly
communique (entitled the PAC Up) and regular campus meetings
- Facilitates communication between parents, students, teachers and advisors
- Works with the Crystal Family Association to coordinate and deliver parent education
efforts
- Speaks at a variety of events including Back-to-School Night and Admission Open
Houses
Board
- Provides bi-monthly reports to the Board of Trustees on progress in the Upper
School
- Serves on Board Committees and provides input and data, as needed
Supervision
- Directly supervise US Director of Student Equity and Engagement, US Program
Manager, Director of College Counseling, Director of Athletics, US Director of
Academic Support, US Director of Student Counseling, and US Director of Teaching
and Learning
- Runs Upper School Leadership Team meetings to support team building,
advancement of strategic priorities, and professional development

- Provides resources and strategy for professional development opportunities for all
Upper School employees
- Observes teachers in the classroom and provides feedback through evaluation tools
in collaboration with the US Director of Teaching and Learning and Department Heads

-Meetings/Committees
Attends and participates in meetings/committees as needed/assigned. Regular meetings
include:
- 1:1 Meetings with the Head of School, Head of Middle School, and direct reports
- Senior Leadership Team
- Professional Growth Committee
- DEI Leadership Team
Education, Certifications, and Work-Related Experience
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
- 5+ years of experience working in education or similar field
- 5+ years of supervisory experience/leading teams
- Experience working in dynamic settings serving multiple constituents
- Commitment to fostering equitable and inclusive environments
- Demonstrated ability and experience in:
- helping to shape a positive culture
- leading teams and accomplishing work through others
- initiating and leading change, including motivating others, managing the key
drivers of change, and overcoming obstacles

- Strong coaching and facilitation skills
- Strong technology skills with Google Workspace, Microsoft Suite, and Zoom
Preferences
- Master’s degree or equivalent work experience
- 3+ years in an independent school environment
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
- Load and unload materials
- Lift, carry and hold up to 10 lbs
- Bend and twist at waist, stoop, crouch, squat
- Crouch, kneel, and work with knees bent
- Stretch and lift above the head
- Stand for up to 2 hours
Travel Required
Light travel between the Middle School and Upper School campuses, as needed

Affirmative Action/EEO statement
Crystal Springs Uplands School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Other Professional Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties as assigned to the Essential Functions, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Effects on End Result
The effectiveness of this position will be measured by:
- Advancement of strategic initiatives
- Improved systems to be more equitable, increasing access and removing barriers
- Increased sense of inclusion and belonging among US students and employees
- Effective de-escalation of conflicts/issues/interactions
- High levels of relational trust maintained with families, Board, employees, and
students
 -Increased levels of student engagement
-Increased satisfaction and engagement of employees
- Aligned and effective curriculum

Head of Upper School
Reports to: Head of School
Classification: Exempt - 12 month position

Want to lead an exciting, supportive, and collaborative Upper School in a vibrant school
community? Crystal Springs Uplands School is full of kind, curious learners (adults and
students alike) who are passionate about the school’s mission of transformative
teaching and meaningful connections. We are committed to the work required to create
more equitable systems and foster inclusive environments so that all members of our
community can thrive together. If you love growing as a leader yourself while supporting
individuals and organizations through dynamic growth, read on!

The Head of Upper School advances and enhances the organization by...

- Providing compelling leadership, supervision, strategy and mission-alignment for
all aspects of the Upper School experience. This role is responsible for the operation
and programming for the Upper School.
- working closely with direct reports to identify and implement innovative approaches
to support a dynamic Upper School experience and ensure student and employee
well-being are a high priority.
- partnering with peers, the Chief People, Culture, and Inclusion Officer, and the Head
of School to advance the development of an increasingly equitable and inclusive
environment.
- connecting with families to build and maintain relational trust and to support
community development.
- ensuring high quality teaching and advising, as well as curricular and co-curricular
development.

Click here for the detailed job description.
This is the job for you if you...
-excel at relationship building: you thrive within a diverse community and understand
the importance of deep listening, catalyzing growth in individuals and teams, and
meeting communities where they are, particularly given the challenges of the past
few years.
- know how to advance an inspiring vision: you draw clear lines for others to see how
their work connects to the mission of the organization and advances the vision in a
way that is motivating and meaningful.
- love to catalyze change and foster innovation: you understand the challenges and
opportunities that come with change management and have the patience and
perseverance to masterfully execute innovative initiatives while helping people along
with change. And for you, when it comes to innovation, there’s nothing like a good
brainstorm!
- do all your work through a lens of equity and inclusion: you are committed to
designing sustainable systems, structures, and processes to ensure all members of
the Crystal community can thrive together through a lens of diversity, equity, and
inclusion.
- shift with ease between the micro and the macro: your wheelhouse is to zoom in
and zoom out, maintaining the day-to-day operations and detail-oriented project
management while ensuring space and institutional capacity for creative big-picture
thinking.
The annual salary for this position is within the range of $160,000 to $225,000 and will be based on work experience and education. This position is a 12-month exempt role.
Job benefits include...
- Working in a fun, diverse, and dynamic environment of caring and committed
colleagues
- Competitive salary and comprehensive, generous benefits package (including
service awards, paid sabbaticals, and free access to a certified financial advisor)
- Ample budget to support professional and personal development (we invest in
learning/growth!)
- Significant paid time off to embrace our core value of “strive for balance”
- Breathtaking facilities (including an on-site fitness center and adjacent hiking trail)
- Delicious daily snacks and lunches provided by our on-campus caterers (trust us on
this!)
- Dog-friendly campuses (although you can easily avoid our pups if they are not your
thing)

Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
- 5+ years of experience working in education or similar field
- 5+ years of supervisory experience/leading teams
- Experience working in dynamic settings serving multiple constituents
- Commitment to fostering equitable and inclusive environments
- Demonstrated ability and experience in:
- helping to shape a positive culture
- leading teams and accomplishing work through others, including project management
- initiating and leading change, including motivating others, managing the key
drivers of change, and overcoming obstacles

- Strong coaching and facilitation skills
- Strong technology skills with Google Workspace, Microsoft Suite, and Zoom
Preferred experience
- Master’s degree or equivalent work experience
- 3+ years in an independent school environment

A little more about us...
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Crystal Springs Uplands School is a 6-12
co-educational, independent day school located on two distinct campuses in Hillsborough and Belmont, CA with 125 employees. Our deeply connected culture and community celebrates scholarship, strives for balance, and fosters inclusion. The Professional Adult Community (PAC) is an experienced, collaborative group of employees who are committed to the mission and core values of the school.

Interested candidates should apply immediately by submitting 1) a cover letter
describing your interest in the position as well as your anticipated contribution to the
Crystal community given the job description, 2) your resume, and 3) a list of three
references to Kelly Sortino, Head of School, by email: HoUS@csus.org or by mail: Crystal
Springs Uplands School, 400 Uplands Drive, Hillsborough, CA 94010. Qualifications of
top candidates will be presented to the hiring committee during the week of January 23,
2023 (or sooner). The recruitment period will remain open until sufficient resumes have
been received and may close at any time a sufficient pool of highly qualified candidates
has been established. The start date for this position is July 1, 2023.

Crystal Springs Uplands School is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Crystal are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, age, disability, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, religion, and genetic information. Candidates of color, bilingual candidates, and candidates from other groups traditionally underrepresented in independent schools are encouraged to apply. All Crystal employees must be fully vaccinated unless they qualify for an accommodation due to a disability or sincerely-held religious beliefs.

About Crystal Springs Uplands School - Upper School

Crystal Springs Uplands School is a coeducational independent day school with an Upper School campus in Hillsborough, California and a Middle School campus in Belmont, California. Located on the Bay Area Peninsula and serving 566 students in grades 6-12 CSUS is an institution committed to diversity that encourages minority candidates to apply.

Connections working at Crystal Springs Uplands School - Upper School