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Assistant Director of Upper School

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: Assistant Director of the Upper School
Division/Department: Upper School
Reports To: Upper School Director
Direct Reports: None
Location: Palos Verdes, CA
Level/Grade: Upper School (Grades 9–12)
Type of Position/FLSA: Full-time, Exempt (12-month)

POSITION SUMMARY
The Upper School Assistant Director is responsible for the nurturing, guiding, and monitoring of student life in the Upper School. This role supports students’ academic, social-emotional, and ethical development while upholding Chadwick’s mission and core values. The Upper School Assistant Director carries a quarter-time academic load (teaching one section) or its equivalent, ensuring continued engagement with students and the instructional program.

Working closely with the Upper School Director, Upper School team, as well as advisors and faculty, the Upper School Assistant Director plays a central role in student wellness, leadership development, behavior development, and community life.

ASSOCIATED RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Life

•        Serve as a consistent, trusted point of contact for students, providing guidance, problem-solving support, and advocacy in collaboration with advisors, faculty, and families.

•        Partner with the Upper School Director to oversee and continuously improve the Upper School advisor system, ensuring every student is known well and supported academically, socially, and emotionally.

•        Co-design and oversee weekly Upper School community time and student programming, ensuring programming is purposeful, inclusive, and explicitly fosters connection and belonging.

•        Communicate clearly and consistently with students through a weekly email that outlines upcoming schedules, events, and key reminders, supporting student organization and preparedness.

•        Plan and facilitate grade-level and whole-school student orientations at the start of the academic year, establishing clear expectations, routines, and a strong sense of community.

•        Oversee Upper School student clubs and fundraising efforts, including proposal review, club leader coordination, budgeting oversight, and alignment with school policies and values.

•        Design and facilitate leadership development workshops for student club leaders, building core competencies in communication, planning, collaboration, and ethical leadership.

•        Organize and oversee the annual student leadership selection process, ensuring transparent criteria, equitable access, and alignment with Chadwick’s mission and core values.

Student Support and Behavior Development

•        Conduct classroom observations and partner with teachers, advisors, and wellness team to support inclusive, effective classroom practices and identify academic support needs early.

•        Participates in bi-weekly student support meetings focused on students of concern, coordinating follow-up actions and monitoring progress in partnership with advisors, wellness team, and administrators.

•        Collaborate closely with the wellness team to develop and monitor academic and attendance plans for students with extended absences, ensuring clear communication and reasonable, timely accommodations.

•        Co-chair the Honor Council, stewarding a strong Honor Code culture and facilitating restorative processes that promote integrity, accountability, reflection, and ethical decision-making.

•        Administer student discipline for minor and major infractions, applying school policies consistently while supporting students’ growth, reflection, and behavioral development.

•        Supervise Upper School attendance systems, ensuring accurate reporting, timely follow-up, and proactive intervention for attendance concerns.

•        Monitor monthly assessment calendars for grades 9–12, working with faculty and department chairs to promote balanced workloads, reduce student stress, and support thoughtful academic planning.

•        Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED AND PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCES, AND SKILLS

•        Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

•        Minimum of five years of full-time experience working with grades 9–12 students in an independent school setting.

•        Outstanding interpersonal skills with students, faculty, and parents, grounded in Chadwick’s core values of respect, responsibility, honesty, compassion, and fairness.

•        Sound judgment and courage in making decisions aligned with Chadwick’s mission and values.

•        Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

•        Strong organizational skills, including long-term planning, creative problem-solving, conscientious follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

•        Ability to balance professional responsibilities with personal well-being in a healthy and sustainable manner.

Compensation: $124,000 to $138,000 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.

•        Required to sit while operating word processing equipment for approximately 6-8 hours daily, repetitive motion for typing and other keystroke needs.

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 Assessment:  TB     Clearances:  Livescan Background check

 Note: The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties and responsibilities that are required of the position.

By submitting an Employment Application, I hereby understand and agree that consistent with its obligations under Education Code Section 44051 subd. (a)(2) and as a part of the application consideration process, Chadwick School will contact each Educational Employer and inquire about your employment history including, without limitation, whether I was the subject of any credible complaints of, substantiated investigations into, or discipline for, egregious misconduct, as defined in Education Code Section 44932, subd. (a)(1).