Innovation and Technology Lead

Innovation and Technology Lead 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 800 students drawn from more than 45 Southern California communities.

Founded in 1935 by visionary educator Margaret Lee Chadwick, Chadwick is one of two schools operated by the Roessler-Chadwick Foundation. In 2010, Chadwick International School was formed in Songdo, South Korea, which expanded opportunities for students around the globe to benefit from a world-class Chadwick education.

Job Title: Innovation and Technology Lead         

Division/Department: Innovation and Entrepreneurship program

Reports To: Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Location: Palos Verdes, CA

Level/Grade: K-12           

Type of position/FLSA: Full-time Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

Chadwick's evolving Innovation and Entrepreneurship program is a hub for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, creating the next generation of leaders through hands-on experiences that engage students in solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology. This program is anchored by two signature strands: Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Innovation and Technology Lead is an inspired educator and builder who works hand-in-hand with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Director to continuously shape and evolve a K–12 Innovation program that stays ahead of a rapidly changing technological landscape and prepares students for a world that doesn't yet fully exist. This is not a role for maintaining what is: it's a role for someone who is genuinely energized by the question of what a program that encompasses computer science, engineering, robotics, and maker spaces should become and who brings the vision, collaboration, and expertise to help get it there.

In service of that mission, this leader helps oversee the coherence, vitality, and day-to-day quality of this signature strand of the larger program, supporting K–12 Innovation, computer science, and robotics; managing learning spaces, and serving as a key champion for AI literacy and ethical AI engagement across the school. This lead also teaches and co-teaches a suite of 6–12 Innovation co-curricular experiences, creating student-centered environments that foster curiosity, risk-taking, and joyful making through design thinking, fabrication, and hands-on problem-solving.

K–12 Innovation & Design Coordination

• Serve as the lead for the Innovation strand, working closely with the Director and teachers to advance a coherent, mission-aligned K–12 program.
• Partner with the Director to continuously evolve the program's sequence, offerings, and curriculum in response to a rapidly changing technological landscape and the emerging needs of students and the world they're preparing to enter, ensuring coherent, backward-designed progressions of skills and learning experiences across divisions.
• Support K–12 Innovation, computer science, and robotics teachers through observations, feedback, and collaborative planning.
• Champion K–12 AI literacy, working with the Assistant Heads of School and Educational Technology Specialist to coordinate how students and faculty engage thoughtfully with AI across its evolving forms, including conversational AI, agentic workflows, AI-assisted design and coding, and wearable and embedded AI tools.
• Cultivate relationships with alumni, parents, and outside experts to bring practitioners into the program as speakers, mentors, and collaborators.
• Oversee the fabrication and robotics labs, collaborating with the Innovation Technician and Robotics Coaches on maintenance, equipment upgrades, consumable inventory, and on-site operation of high-volume equipment.
• Lead or co-lead the Innovation Board, a student-led group that helps strengthen and expand the program across campus.
• Work with the Director to oversee program budgets related to materials, equipment, and programming.

Instructional Design and Faculty Responsibilities

• Teach an Upper School section related to area of expertise.
• Teach a suite of 6–12 Innovation co-curricular experiences, bringing design thinking, fabrication, engineering, and AI fluency to life for students across the Middle and Upper School experience.
• Partner with Village STEM and K–12 Innovation teachers to co-teach or support learning experiences as needed.
   
• Create inclusive, student-centered classroom and lab environments that inspire curiosity, risk-taking, and joyful making.
• Maintain grades, comments, class calendars, gradebooks, and course sites accurately and on time.
• Attend relevant department and faculty meetings and school events, including professional development, Back-to-School Night, parent-teacher conferences, assemblies, graduation, and other community events.
• Engage in new faculty orientations and professional learning throughout the first year at Chadwick.
• 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 teaching experience in innovation, design, STEM, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating a program, team, or department; cross-divisional collaboration experience preferred.
• Strong facilitation and mentoring skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with students, families, faculty, and administrators.
• Student-centered, innovative approach to teaching and program design with a globally minded perspective.
• Joyful, enthusiastic, reflective, and collaborative colleague with a commitment to lifelong learning.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in curriculum and program design.

Compensation - $83,000 - $95,000 – Based on years of teaching experience, highest degree earned, qualifications and experience.

Experience with the following is strongly preferred:

• Fabrication tools: 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, Cricut, and associated CAD/CAM software
• Electronics, prototyping, and robotics: Arduino, Microbit/Hummingbird, Makey Makey, VEX V5, VEX IQ
• AI literacy, computer science, and programming, including conversational AI, agentic tools, AI-assisted coding, and wearable/embedded AI applications

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 hands to 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 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.

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.