Posted: 10-Nov-25
Location: Palos Verdes Peninsula, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: $185,000 to $240,000
Categories:
Salary Details:
Required Education:
Please apply online at chadwickschool.org
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Director of Middle School – Job Description
Chadwick School
Palos Verdes Peninsula, California
Chadwick School is an independent, K-12, coeducational day school dedicated to academic excellence, the development of exemplary character, and self-discovery through experience. A highly educated faculty and staff bring out the best in the talented student body through active learning, challenging academics, one-on-one mentoring, unparalleled global opportunities, nationally distinguished outdoor education and community service programs, outstanding athletic opportunities, and award-winning visual and performing arts.
The core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, fairness, and compassion are widely shared and fostered daily in classrooms, during co-curricular activities, and through the camaraderie of this close-knit community.
Located on a beautiful, 45-acre hilltop campus on the scenic Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County, Chadwick enrolls over 850 students drawn from more than 45 Southern California communities.
Job Title: Director of Middle School
Division/Department: 7-8
Reports To: Head of School
Location: Palos Verdes, CA
Level/Grade: K-12
Type of position/FLSA: Full-time Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
The Middle School Division Director is the chief administrative, instructional, and pastoral leader of the Middle School (Grades 7–8). This position ensures that all curricular and non-curricular programs align with Chadwick’s mission and core values, supporting the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of students during this critical stage of development.
As a visible and trusted leader, the Middle School Director helps shape and sustain a distinct Middle School identity: one that celebrates the curiosity, energy, and emerging independence of early adolescents. The Director leads a cohesive and developmentally responsive program with milestone experiences and foundational courses intentionally designed for this age group, setting the stage for success in Upper School and beyond.
An inspiring educator and empathetic leader, the Director builds community, strengthens faculty practice, and upholds a culture of academic excellence, inclusion, and belonging. The Director also oversees faculty growth and evaluation, parent communication, and divisional operations; partners closely with the Assistant Director of the Middle School, who leads student life and behavior development; and contributes to the school’s strategic direction as a member of both the School Leadership Team and the Academic Leadership Team.
ASSOCIATED RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Vision and Program Development
- Lead the ongoing evolution of a distinct Middle School identity that honors the developmental needs of early adolescents and reflects Chadwick’s mission, vision, core values, and core competencies.
- Steward a cohesive, developmentally responsive program with milestone experiences, signature projects, and foundational courses that prepare students for success in the Upper School and beyond.
- Collaborate with leaders in Athletics, Visual and Performing Arts, Experimental Education, Innovation and Design, and other co-curricular programs to ensure a well-designed, high-quality Middle School experience that nurtures the whole child.
- Collaborate with the Middle School Dean of students and support team to ensure that student life, leadership, and advisory programming align with developmental goals for Grades 7–8.
- Partner with the Admissions Office to support admission, retention, and family engagement efforts, ensuring that the Middle School experience is clearly understood and celebrated as a cornerstone of the Chadwick journey.
- Teach one section of a course to stay connected to students, remain actively engaged in classroom life, and model best practices in teaching and learning in partnership with faculty.
2. Instructional Leadership and Faculty Growth
- Support the recruitment, hiring, development, and retention of talented Middle School educators committed to active, student-centered, and mission-aligned teaching.
- Provide support for faculty, including clear and timely communication, workload balance, and community connection.
- Oversee faculty growth and evaluation using Chadwick’s Teaching and Learning Cycle, including regular classroom observations, goal-setting meetings, and feedback conversations.
- Foster a collaborative, reflective, and supportive faculty culture that emphasizes professional learning and trust in alignment with the Chadwick mission.
- Partner with the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning and Department Chairs to advance curriculum innovation, assessment practices, and faculty professional development.
- Lead faculty meetings that connect professional growth to the school’s mission, the developmental needs of early adolescents, and a shared vision for Middle School excellence.
3. Student Experience, Culture, and Support
- Partner closely with the Middle School Dean of Students, who leads student life and behavioral development, to ensure an inclusive, joyful, and safe school culture.
- Partner closely with the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Equity Team to ensure that the Middle School culture and program support belonging for all students.
- Support the design and implementation of advisory, leadership, and co-curricular programs that nurture student voice, empathy, and resilience.
- Oversee the Middle School counselor and learning specialist to promote student well-being and ensure individualized, coherent support systems.
- Maintain visibility and connection with students through daily interactions, classroom visits, community gatherings, and milestone events.
- Collaborate with program leaders and teachers to ensure developmentally appropriate expectations, transitions, and community experiences that support the whole child.
4. Divisional Operations and Schoolwide Collaboration
- Oversee the daily operations of the Middle School, including scheduling, communication, and the division’s operating budget.
- Serve as a visible, engaged, and accessible leader in all areas of the division, fostering trust and partnership with students, families, and faculty.
- Communicate clearly, consistently, and compassionately with caregivers about student progress, school priorities, and community expectations.
- Collaborate across divisions to ensure alignment in student transitions, policies, and programming from Village through Upper School.
- Partner with the Equity Team to ensure that inclusion, belonging, and equity are embedded throughout the Middle School experience.
- Work with the Director of Risk Management to ensure safe practices for all Middle School events, trips, and activities.
- Lead divisional events with operational support from the Middle School Office Manager, ensuring meaningful, well-executed community experiences.
- Collaborate with counterparts at Chadwick International to share best practices and strengthen alignment across campuses.
- Contribute to the school’s strategic direction as a member of both the School Leadership Team and the Academic Leadership Team.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED AND PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCES, AND SKILLS
- A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree in educational leadership or a related field is strongly preferred.
- A minimum of five years of successful teaching experience, preferably with students in grades 6–8, is required.
- Relevant administrative and instructional leadership experience is required.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required.
- Demonstrated success in supporting faculty growth, program design, and curriculum development is preferred.
REQUIRED AND PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCES, AND SKILLS
- A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree in educational leadership or a related field is strongly preferred.
- A minimum of five years of successful teaching experience, preferably with students in grades 6–8, is required.
- Relevant administrative and instructional leadership experience is required.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required.
- Demonstrated success in supporting faculty growth, program design, and curriculum development is preferred.
- Strong knowledge of pedagogy and adolescent development, including an understanding of developmentally responsive practices, is required.
- Experience fostering a positive, inclusive, and collaborative faculty culture is preferred.
- Consistently exemplary personal and professional ethics in keeping with the school’s Core Values are required.
- The ability to develop, articulate, and pursue a compelling vision while fostering collaboration and trust is required.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with students, faculty, and families are required.
- Flexibility, initiative, and strong organizational and time-management skills are required.
- Comfort and fluency with technology and data-informed decision-making are required.
Compensation: $185,000 to $240,000 salary based on years of experience, credentials and other qualifications.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT
- Required to lift and carry up to a maximum of 25 lbs., in a correct manner consistent with the appropriate training provided by the School.
- Occasionally required to use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, touch and use tools, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, bend, stoop, twist, lift, reach, push, pull, grasp, balance, kneel, crouch, crawl, grasp, talk, hear, and walk during the course of employment.
- Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and an ability to adjust focus.
- May use telephone, computer, copier, and other office equipment in the course of a day.
- May be required to sit while operating word processing equipment for up to 2-4 hours daily.
Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. This may include warm, hot, or cold temperatures. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
CLEARANCES
Required Screenings: TB assessment Clearances: Livescan background check
Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the position.