Position SummaryThe Upper School Head serves as the educational and cultural leader of the Upper School at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, guiding a vibrant community of students, faculty, and families in grades 9-12. Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Upper School Head champions academic excellence, student belonging, faculty growth, and mission-centered innovation.The Upper School Head is responsible for shaping a distinctly SCH experience - one that combines intellectual rigor, creativity, character, curiosity, leadership, and joy. The role requires an experienced educational leader who understands adolescents deeply and who can cultivate a culture where students are challenged academically, known personally, and inspired to think independently and live courageously.Located in Philadelphia and uniquely connected to the Wissahickon Valley, SCH embraces the educational possibilities of both city and natural environments. Our campus - with buildings constructed across three different centuries - reflects both the history and continued evolution of the school itself. The Upper School experience intentionally extends beyond the classroom through experiential learning, leadership development, outdoor education, entrepreneurship, athletics, arts, and innovation. Beginning with the transformative ninth-grade Outward Bound experience, students are challenged to build resilience, independence, empathy, and community throughout their Upper School journey.SCH's Upper School community reflects the breadth and diversity of the greater Philadelphia region, drawing students from more than 90 zip codes across Southeastern Pennsylvania and neighboring communities. Through a significant commitment to financial aid and accessibility, SCH brings together students with varied backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and aspirations. The Upper School also includes an intentional international student community that enriches the educational experience through global perspectives and cultural exchange.The spirit of SCH is perhaps best captured by the phrase carved into the Alexander Stirling Calder fireplace in the Henry Library in 1906: Kindle Your Own Fire. The Upper School Head helps ensure that students are inspired not only to achieve, but also to discover purpose, cultivate curiosity, and develop the confidence to lead meaningful lives.At SCH, the Upper School experience is defined not only by exceptional academics, but also by authentic opportunities for leadership, entrepreneurship, athletics, artistic expression, robotics and innovation, community engagement, global learning, and real-world experience. The Upper School Head ensures these defining experiences are integrated into a cohesive and mission-aligned student journey.Primary Responsibilities:Educational Leadership:Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for all aspects of the Upper School programPromote a culture of intellectual curiosity, academic challenge, creativity, and student engagementLead ongoing innovation in curriculum, teaching, learning, and student experienceSupport a balanced and student-centered academic environment that values both excellence and wellnessEnsure alignment between SCH's mission and Upper School programmingStudent Experience & Culture:Foster a joyful, inclusive, and relationship-centered Upper School culture where students from varied backgrounds and experiences feel known, valued, and connectedEnsure students are supported, challenged, and celebrated throughout their Upper School journeyPromote student leadership, character development, ethical decision-making, and belongingSupport student wellness and healthy adolescent developmentCultivate a community that values empathy, collaboration, curiosity, and mutual respectPartner with students to sustain an engaged, vibrant, and mission-centered school cultureFaculty Leadership & Development:Recruit, support, evaluate, and retain exceptional faculty and staffFoster a collaborative culture of professional growth and innovationEncourage interdisciplinary learning and mission-driven teaching practicesSupport faculty leadership development and instructional excellenceSignature SCH Programming:Champion the distinctive programs and experiences that define the SCH Upper School journey, including:Inter-A athletics and student-athlete developmentThe Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL)Robotics, engineering, and innovation initiativesVisual and performing artsAP and advanced academic offeringsExperiential and community-based learningOutdoor leadership and the ninth-grade Outward Bound partnershipPhiladelphia-based civic and cultural engagement opportunitiesGlobal education and international student experiencesSupport opportunities for students to engage in meaningful global learning, including international partnerships, cultural exchange, and educational travel experiencesEnsure these experiences are integrated into a coherent vision of adolescent education that develops intellectual curiosity, resilience, leadership, creativity, collaboration, and purposeCommunity Leadership:Build strong partnerships with families, students, faculty, alumni, and school leadershipCommunicate clearly, thoughtfully, and consistently with all constituentsServe as an ambassador for the Upper School and the broader mission of SCHPartner effectively with families from a wide range of backgrounds and experiencesParticipate actively in admissions, enrollment, and community eventsOperational & Strategic Partnership:Partner closely with the COO and institutional leaders to support the daily student experienceLead Upper School planning, scheduling, staffing, and program implementationSupport school-wide strategic initiatives and institutional prioritiesContribute to long-range planning and innovation effortsDesired Qualifications:Demonstrated success in educational leadership and adolescent-centered learning environmentsDeep understanding of Upper School students and adolescent developmentExceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skillsStrong commitment to academic excellence and student belongingExperience supporting innovative programming and interdisciplinary learningAbility to lead with empathy, clarity, optimism, and integrityCommitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community engagementAppreciation for the value of geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity within a school communityPreferred Experience:Independent school leadership experience preferredExperience leading faculty teams and complex school communitiesFamiliarity with advanced academic programming, athletics, arts, innovation, experiential education, and global learningExperience supporting strategic initiatives and institutional changeExperience working with diverse student populations, including international students and familiesLeadership Characteristics:The ideal candidate will demonstrate:Intellectual curiosityAuthenticity and humilityJoy in working with adolescentsVisible and relational leadershipCreativity and adaptabilityExcellent judgmentOptimism and warmthCultural competence and global perspectiveA deep belief in the transformative power of schools and communityApplication Procedures:Application deadline: September 15, 2026. To be considered, candidates must upload a cover letter, resume, and information for three references through our online platform.