Career Center

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. Crystal 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.  

CRYSTAL’S MISSION STATEMENT

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

CRYSTAL’S 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.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in dynamic settings serving multiple constituents. A successful candidate in this position will:

• Share a commitment to upholding Crystal’s core values and working in an inclusive school environment
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and engage effectively with all constituents
• Bring robust organizational, technological, and communication skills 

JOB SUMMARY

Crystal seeks a full-time (1.0 FTE, 10-month) Robotics Coordinator and Shop Steward (RCSS). The Robotics Coordinator and Shop Steward (RCSS) is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the US engineering/robotics/makerspace shop under the supervision of the Shop Supervisor. The RCSS is also responsible for supervising and mentoring our US Robotics Team in the design and construction of robots that will compete in FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Finally, the RCSS will assist with the supervision of two STEM courses: Physics, Engineering and Technology (PET) and Advanced Topics in Physics, Engineering, and Technology (ATPET).

Key Job Competencies

• 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.
• Project Management: Ability to lead and execute complex projects to achieve goal attainment by prioritizing activities, assigning responsibilities in accordance with capabilities, monitoring progress, and evaluating impact.
• Quality Results: Ensures high quality results on projects/tasks, meets deadlines, and attends to details. Takes responsibility for the quality of work and achieves results with little oversight.
• Developing Others: Ability to effectively support the growth and development of students.
• 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. 
• Relationship Management: Positively collaborates and builds/maintains authentic and trusting relationships. Demonstrates high levels of discretion and confidentiality.           
• Personal Growth: Demonstrates commitment and curiosity to ongoing learning and development.
• 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.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Supervise US engineering/robotics/makerspace shop
  • Supervise students using the shop during the school day outside PET/ATPET class time, including:
    • Students completing their PET/ATPET projects in partnership with the Shop Supervisor
    • Cross-curricular collaborations and students working on projects for other classes
    • Projects for extracurriculars (e.g. Boy Scouts, Science Olympiad, etc.)
    • Gryphon Robotics
    • Personal projects
  • Ensure safe practices at all time; teach and help students unfamiliar with the shop accomplish their projects
• Maintain the cleanliness and safety of the 4,000 sq ft shop space
  • At the end of every day:
    • Return all tools and materials left out to their proper locations
    • Clean off tabletops
    • Sweep floors for any dropped tools or parts
  • Vacuum/clean shop tools
  • Constantly monitor tool levels, correcting any missorted tools
• Procure supplies for shop
  • Constantly monitor inventory levels of all consumables and order materials as needed for shop operation or as directed by Shop Supervisor
  • Drive and pick up supplies that cannot be ordered online, such as flammables, lumber and metal stock, and welding gas
  • Work with Shop Supervisor to maintain shop budget
• Oversee tool maintenance, repair, and upkeep
  • Maintain, repair, and upkeep the tools in the shop, including:
    • 20+ bench-top/floor-top tools, including highly specialized tools such as the welder, laser cutter, 3D printers, and CNC router
    • 40+ handheld power tools
    • Hundreds of hand (non-powered) tools
  • Constantly monitor and check-in on tools to ensure continued safe operation of tools in 4a
  • Perform regular/normal maintenance and upkeep on tools in 4a
  • Fix or replace broken tools listed in 4a for continued safe operation
• Serve as mentor and coordinator to US Robotics Team
  • Supervise and mentor US students in the design and construction of robots that will compete in FRC competitions
  • Devise and communicate annual schedule and workflow with team captains
  • Procure tools, parts, and supplies for robot build on behalf of the team
  • Responsible for all competition logistics (including registration, transportation, lodging, food, team apparel, communication to parents and students, etc.)
  • Supervise and attend two or three competitions per year, each 4-days long across a weekend, possibly including overnight stays
  • Drive vans with students and/or tools to competition venues
  • Enforce robotics bylaws and safety protocols; settle disputes between students/parents/etc.
  • Oversee Robotics budget
• Assist with supervision of PET and ATPET classes
  • Instruct students to interact safely with all shop equipment and tools
  • Work with PET/ATPET teacher to prepare the  shop for class periods
  • Proactively provide guidance and design input on student-led projects
• Drive shop growth
  • Research, order, and set up new tools in coordination with Shop Supervisor
  • Research, order, and try out new materials and processes
  • Help with the logistics of relocating the shop in anticipation of upcoming building renovation (SY24-26)
  • Work with Shop Supervisor to identify and execute new ways to increase student access to the shop, through collaboration with other classes or extracurricular activities

Effects on End Result

The effectiveness of this position will be measured by:

• High level of safety maintained at all times
• High level of maintenance and cleanliness of shop space and equipment
• High level of student engagement in US Robotics Team
• Smooth logistics, coordination, and communication for Robotics competitions
• Effective collaboration with colleagues (both administrative staff and faculty)
• High levels of relational trust maintained, and timely, effective communication delivered, with parents/guardians, colleagues, and students
• Effective de-escalation of conflicts/issues/interactions
• Increased sense of student inclusion and belonging

Travel required

• Light travel between the MS and US campuses
• Travel to and from FRC competitions in San Francisco, San Jose, and/or Sacramento, possibly overnight

Other 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, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required education and experience

• Associate’s degree or equivalent work experience
• 1-2 years of hands-on construction experience using wood and metals
• Expertise with tools (such as power hand tools, table/band saws, a mill, drill press, sanders, grinders, etc.)

Preferred education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree with engineering background and/or knowledge of CAD software
• Experience with fabrication techniques and rapid prototyping, welding, 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining a plus
• Familiarity with First Robotics Competition (FRC)
• Experience working with students

Physical demands and work environment

• Able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Able to climb stairs
• Able to operate power tools and all relevant shop equipment
• Must drive students and equipment to robotics events/competitions; may need to travel out-of-state if robotics team qualifies for Nationals
• Hours vary but roughly are weekdays from 10 am-6 pm and some Saturdays for five hours (to be mutually determined with team)

About Crystal Springs Uplands 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.

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