St. Mark’s School is seeking an experienced, visionary, and highly collaborative Dean of Faculty, Assistant Head of School to help lead its dedicated academic community into the next chapter, supporting the purpose of their school — to prepare students for their futures.
St. Mark’s is currently at a significant inflection point, with the new Head of School, Dr. Ivory Hills, ushering in an era of strategic change and innovation. Under Dr. Hills’ leadership, there is an opportunity to reimagine what a traditional boarding school can be in the 21st century. The school is poised to undertake a new strategic planning process and there is excitement about Dr. Hills’ willingness to look at existing structures with a critical eye, ask fundamental questions about the institution’s direction, and consider thoughtful changes where needed. The Dean of Faculty will play a pivotal role in partnering with the Head of School, Academic Dean, senior leadership, and faculty to shape and execute St. Mark’s bold academic vision while helping to establish a crystal clear institutional identity.
St. Mark’s is currently at a significant inflection point, with the new Head of School, Dr. Ivory Hills, ushering in an era of strategic change and innovation. Under Dr. Hills’ leadership, there is an opportunity to reimagine what a traditional boarding school can be in the 21st century. The school is poised to undertake a new strategic planning process and there is excitement about Dr. Hills’ willingness to look at existing structures with a critical eye, ask fundamental questions about the institution’s direction, and consider thoughtful changes where needed. The Dean of Faculty will play a pivotal role in partnering with the Head of School, Academic Dean, senior leadership, and faculty to shape and execute St. Mark’s bold academic vision while helping to establish a crystal clear institutional identity.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
The Dean of Faculty/Assistant Head of School will partner with the Head of School and the senior leadership team on strategic planning and execution by prioritizing the following:
- Partner with the Academic Dean to review and align the school’s curriculum, ensuring a cohesive scope and sequence that optimizes student learning. Thoughtfully evaluate and evolve academic programs to better serve St. Mark’s diverse student body.
- Lead faculty professional development initiatives that cultivate growth mindsets, enhance instructional practices, and promote a culture of continuous learning. Foster a collaborative environment where faculty feel empowered to share best practices and take calculated risks.
- Clarify and refine key academic systems and processes, and ensure these systems are efficient, equitable, and clearly communicated.
- Build trust and strengthen relationships between faculty and administration. Demonstrate an open, empathetic leadership style that encourages transparent dialogue and shared ownership of the school’s strategic vision.
- Implement effective faculty evaluation and retention strategies. Identify opportunities to improve faculty workload and work-life balance, while upholding high standards and making difficult decisions when needed.
- Collaborate across the school’s leadership team to foster alignment, connection, and a shared commitment to St. Mark’s mission and values.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner in shaping the school’s future.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Generally oversee and manage the recruiting, hiring, onboarding, work-load assignment, compensation, evaluation, development, and separation of faculty;
- Develop and implement a robust process that identifies functional needs at the school and supports the recruitment and hiring of appropriate faculty;
- Ensure that faculty comply with the expectations and policies outlined in the Employee Handbook;
- Collaborate with the CFO, Director of HR, and legal counsel on an annual basis to update the Employee Handbook;
- Collaborate with the Director of Athletics, Academic Dean, and Dean of Students to appropriately assign faculty work-load in accordance with the school’s mission;
- This includes but is not limited to: teaching assignments, coaching assignments, house duty assignments, committee assignments, and other tasks that support the operations of the school on behalf of students;
- Develop and implement a system that appropriately compensates faculty and serves the long-term mission of the school;
- Assign school housing in a manner that supports the mission of the school;
- Perform summative evaluations of faculty to identify areas for continued professional development;
- Establish, monitor, and conclude Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) when necessary;
- Collaborate with the Academic Dean and the Dean of Students to identify and support areas of faculty skills development;
- Collaborate with the Head of School on separations or contract non-renewals involving individual faculty members;
- Be attentive and responsive to the needs of faculty, demonstrating genuine care coincident with the needs of the school;
- Manage and evaluate the work of the other personnel in the Office of the Dean of Faculty;
- Be responsible for the content and delivery of periodic faculty meetings;
- Prepare appropriate periodic reports for the Board of Trustees.
- Contribute to the core student-support function of the school by engaging in some combination of teaching, coaching, and/or advising;
- Participate in the Administrator on Duty (AoD) rotation; » Other duties as assigned.
QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES
The next Dean of Faculty, Assistant Head of School must be an experienced educator and strategic leader who brings fresh thinking while demonstrating sensitivity to institutional context and culture. The ideal candidate will be a skilled relationship-builder, motivator, and people manager with a proven track record of leading purposeful change, ensuring strong faculty development programming, and creating systems that promote both excellence and equity. They will operate with both compassion and accountability, maintaining clear boundaries while fostering trust and collaboration across constituencies.
The successful candidate will also demonstrate:
- A commitment to working with a team of adults to prepare students for their future
- A student-centered approach to teaching, learning, and leading
- A team-first mentality with a willingness to take on tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
- Experience mentoring and developing teachers while coordinating meaningful professional development opportunities
- Strong data literacy and ability to effectively use information in planning and decision making
- Capacity to manage multiple projects while handling ambiguity and interpersonal dynamics with grace
- Willingness to fully immerse in the boarding school community, embracing the lifestyle commitment with high energy and enthusiasm
- Proven ability to manage highly confidential information with discretion
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Ability to manage highly confidential information
- Experienced mentor with the capacity to cultivate new skill sets and mindsets of teachers
- Ability to manage ambiguity and interpersonal conflict
- Ability to be both a thought partner and decisive decision-maker
- Strong facilitation skills for teams, meetings, and project work
- Action-oriented problem-solving capabilities
- An understanding of independent school culture and student-centered educational practices
TO APPLY:
Interested candidates should submit via https://bit.ly/StMarks_DeanFaculty_AppForm the following materials confidentially in one, single PDF file:
- A cover letter indicating the candidate’s particular interest in and qualifications for the position
- A current resume
- A statement of educational philosophy
- The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of five references, including at least two recent supervisors. References should speak to the applicant’s ability to be an effective educator and administrator, to work successfully with children, and to work collaboratively and collegially with adults (references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission). Please indicate your relationship with each reference (i.e. supervisor, colleague, or direct report).
Please address any questions by email to julie@strategenius.org or by phone at 415-881-7105.
- Employment - Faculty