Head of Upper School Jobs
Head of Upper School jobs are open across independent schools, boarding schools, and K-12 institutions, at levels from assistant head to head of school, with specializations in academic leadership, curriculum oversight, and student affairs. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Head of Upper School JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 6+ Head of Upper School jobs
The Harker School seeks a Head Varsity Baseball Coach for the Upper School Athletic Program. The season begins February and runs through May 2027.
- Assumes the responsibility for safely and effectively managing groups of students
- Organizes practice plans and game plans
- Communicates effectively with the Athletic Director, other staff, students, and parents
- Stays informed regarding weekly sports emails, updated developments, and changes
- Follows all guidelines as expressed in the Upper School Coaches Handbook
- Completes miscellaneous tasks and duties as requested
- Attends coaches meetings and mandatory seasonal parent meetings
- Ensures students participate in a fair and sportsmanlike manner
- Ensures safety and decorum of students while traveling to away games
- Maintains knowledge of league, section, and state bylaws pertaining to volleyball
- Provides guidance for middle and/or lower school programs where applicable
- Assumes responsibility for related duties as required or assigned
- Coaching students (Ages 13–19)
- Experience in or a strong background in volleyball
- Ability to model and promote a positive team culture and sportsmanship
- May be subject to extended periods of standing or walking
- Majority of time may be spent indoors in a gym environment, but some outdoor exposure may occur during team travel
- At least 18 years of age
- Experience working with children preferred; must be comfortable working with and around school-age children
- First Aid/CPR certified
- 1–2 years of coaching experience (preferred)
The Harker School seeks a Head Varsity Baseball Coach for the Upper School Athletic Program. The season begins February and runs through May 2027.
- Assumes the responsibility for safely and effectively managing groups of students
- Organizes practice plans and game plans
- Communicates effectively with the Athletic Director, other staff, students, and parents
- Stays informed regarding weekly sports emails, updated developments, and changes
- Follows all guidelines as expressed in the Upper School Coaches Handbook
- Completes miscellaneous tasks and duties as requested
- Attends coaches meetings and mandatory seasonal parent meetings
- Ensures students participate in a fair and sportsmanlike manner
- Ensures safety and decorum of students while traveling to away games
- Maintains knowledge of league, section, and state bylaws pertaining to volleyball
- Provides guidance for middle and/or lower school programs where applicable
- Assumes responsibility for related duties as required or assigned
- Coaching students (Ages 13–19)
- Experience in or a strong background in volleyball
- Ability to model and promote a positive team culture and sportsmanship
- May be subject to extended periods of standing or walking
- Majority of time may be spent indoors in a gym environment, but some outdoor exposure may occur during team travel
- At least 18 years of age
- Experience working with children preferred; must be comfortable working with and around school-age children
- First Aid/CPR certified
- 1–2 years of coaching experience (preferred)
See All 6 Head of Upper School Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head of Upper School JobsHead of Upper School Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of upper school jobs.
- Master's degree or doctorate in education, educational leadership, or a related field
- Five or more years of secondary school teaching and administrative experience
- Demonstrated experience leading curriculum development and academic program review
- Proven ability to supervise, evaluate, and mentor faculty and department heads
- Strong background in student affairs, discipline policy, and college counseling oversight
- Experience with accreditation processes and strategic planning in an educational setting
Tips for Your Head of Upper School Job Search
Tailor your resume to school culture
Independent and boarding schools weigh institutional fit as heavily as credentials. Highlight your philosophy on student development, faculty mentorship, and community values in your resume summary, not just enrollment figures or test-score outcomes.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists head of upper school openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Gather letters from department chairs
Search committees for head of upper school roles often expect references who can speak to instructional leadership, not just administrative performance. Line up letters from department chairs or faculty you have supervised before applications close.
Target schools in active leadership transitions
Openings posted mid-year often reflect unexpected departures or rapid growth. Finding schools that have recently promoted an outgoing head, opened a new division, or restructured grades can surface roles before they are widely advertised.
Prepare a data-informed leadership narrative
Interview panels at selective schools push beyond anecdote. Bring concrete examples of how your decisions affected course enrollment, faculty retention, or student persistence rates, and be ready to walk through your reasoning process step by step.
Negotiate start date and transition support
Head of upper school offers often come with tight start dates tied to the academic calendar. Know your earliest available date before negotiations begin, and ask what transition resources or overlap time with the outgoing head the school provides.
Head of Upper School Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most head of upper schools?
The most active employers for head of upper schools right now are The Harker School, Pace Academy, and TMI Episcopal, and the most openings are in New York, California, and Georgia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Independent and boarding schools account for the largest share of active postings.
How many head of upper school jobs are remote?
About 0% of head of upper school openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the on-campus nature of most leadership roles in secondary education. Administrative or consulting adjacent positions, such as curriculum design or accreditation support, are more likely to offer flexible or off-site arrangements than full divisional leadership roles.
How do you become a head of upper school?
Most heads of upper school begin as classroom teachers, move into department chair or dean of students roles, then step into an assistant or associate head position before taking on divisional leadership. Earning a graduate degree in educational leadership strengthens candidacy, as does building a record in faculty development, curriculum oversight, and student affairs. National associations for independent school leaders also offer professional development programs that hiring committees recognize.
Can you get a head of upper school job with limited administrative experience?
Candidates with strong teaching records but limited formal administration can be competitive at smaller or growing schools, particularly if they have led grade-level teams, chaired departments, or coordinated academic programs. Framing instructional leadership, mentorship of colleagues, and any committee or project management experience clearly on your resume helps close the experience gap. Starting with a dean or assistant head role at a smaller school is a common path into divisional leadership.
What does the head of upper school interview process look like?
Most schools run a multi-stage process that opens with a screening call with the head of school or a search consultant, followed by a campus visit that includes panel interviews with faculty, students, and parents. Finalists are often asked to present a leadership vision or respond to a case scenario involving academic policy or student conduct. Reference checks with former supervisors and faculty are standard before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to head of upper school jobs?
You can find and apply to head of upper school jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to each one that fits your experience and the type of school you want to lead.
See All 6 Head of Upper School Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head of Upper School Jobs