Director of Design and Making at The Head-Royce Collaboratory

Director of Design and Making at The Head-Royce Collaboratory

 

All Divisions, Oakland, CA

Design And Making Department – Director Of Design And Making /

Full-Time /On-Site

 

The Head-Royce School is seeking a Director of Making and Design to spearhead our newly established Collaboratory (set to open fall 2025)—an innovative makerspace, design studio, and machine shop that serves as a hub for creativity, curiosity, and collaboration across our K-12 curriculum. Reporting to the Assistant Head of School, this 12-month position is a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking educator to inspire and equip students with cutting-edge skills in engineering, fabrication, design thinking, and innovation.

 

We welcome candidates with backgrounds in design thinking, engineering, making/fabrication, or computer science, especially those experienced in running an educational makerspace or workshop. Familiarity with woodworking, metalworking, and equipment maintenance is highly valued. Above all, we seek a visionary team player who has a growth mindset, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for empowering young innovators in a project-based, cross-disciplinary learning environment.

 

If you are excited to join a dynamic team and influence the future trajectory of design technology and computer science at the Head-Royce School, we invite you to apply and help shape the next generation of problem-solvers, creators, and innovators.

 

As the Director, you will:

 

• Shape Vision & Curriculum: Collaborate with faculty to integrate learner-centered, interdisciplinary activities into courses that emphasize prototyping, design, and technological tools.

 

• Lead Teaching & Collaboration: Work directly with students and teachers, offering guidance on projects that range from 3D printing and electronics to robotics and woodworking.

 

• Manage the Collaboratory: Maintain and continuously upgrade a wide array of equipment (e.g., laser cutter, 3D printers, CNC machine, podcast studio, VR gear). Develop and enforce safety protocols while ensuring a welcoming environment for hands-on exploration.

 

• Influence Future Directions: Play a key role in shaping the lab’s growth—identifying new tools, processes, and best practices to keep our program on the leading edge of design technology.

 

Primary Responsibilities

 

• Collaborative Vision and Planning

 

• Develop a long-term and cohesive K-12 making and design vision: Develop a long-term vision for the Collaboratory that aligns with the school’s strategic goals, working closely with the Director of Technology, Technology Innovation Coordinator, and senior leadership.

 

• Promote Student Responsibilities: Create a pathway for students to gain independence in the Collaboratory, ensuring that safety and design frameworks are in place.

 

• Develop, maintain, and proactively manage an eventual Collaboratory team, providing guidance, performance evaluations, and professional development opportunities as the Collaboratory grows.

 

• Budget Oversight: Proactively manage the Collaboratory’s budget, making strategic decisions about purchases, maintenance, and upgrades of equipment and supplies.

 

• Curriculum & Faculty Support

 

• Integrate Design & Innovation: Work with teachers across all grades and disciplines to infuse project-based learning, design thinking, and real-world problem-solving into existing and new curricula.

 

• Interdisciplinary Integration: Partner with faculty and department chairs to design hands-on, project-based learning experiences that leverage advanced tools (e.g., laser cutters, 3D printers, electronics, woodworking). Collaborate with the Technology Innovation Coordinator to ensure complementary technology support for these initiatives.

 

• Faculty Coaching: Provide individualized sessions and workshops to help teachers identify and incorporate design and innovation concepts, leveraging methodologies like design thinking, lean startup, and agile.

 

• Student Engagement & Real-World Learning

 

• Mentor & Guide: Establish competitions, big builds, and encourage participation in personal PBL projects, capstone research, and hands-on explorations. Offer support for both in-class projects and potential competitions (e.g., Regeneron, Toshiba ExploraVision, H2GP).

 

• Develop K–12 STEAM Programs: Lead, coordinate, and communicate co-curricular programs that push students to solve authentic challenges using design processes and critical thinking.

 

• Collaboratory Management & Safety

 

• Oversee Makerspace & Equipment: Maintain and update all tools (3D printers, CNC machines, electronics stations, woodworking gear, laser cutters, etc.) to ensure they’re in safe working order and readily accessible.

 

• Enforce Safety Protocols: Establish and communicate clear safety procedures, supervise users, and support a culture of responsible risk-taking.

 

• Professional Learning & Program Expansion

 

• Plan & Lead Workshops: Design and facilitate internal professional development during opening weeks, faculty meetings, and year-end institutes.

 

• Grow the Program: Organize or evolve initiatives such as an annual design challenge summer institute. Partner with colleagues to expand the Collaboratory’s impact on campus (e.g., strategic use of current makerspaces, input on future campus design, and new staffing) and beyond.

 

• Shape Strategic Direction: Serve on the Department Council and collaborate with leadership to align innovation efforts with broader school goals.

 

• Community Partnerships & School Life

 

• Industry Engagement & Mentorship: Leverage networks in tech and related fields to create mentorships, guest speaker opportunities, and other real-world connections for students.

 

• Contribute to School Culture: Sponsor a club, offer an after-school activity, or coach—sharing your passions beyond the classroom to foster a vibrant, innovative learning community. Serve on additional committees and adhoc task forces as needed.

 

• Partnership with Technology Department

 

• Shared Professional Development: While the technology department leads regular training on core tech platforms (Google Workspace, learning management systems, cybersecurity), the Director of The Collaboratory focuses on advanced fabrication, design methodologies, and makerspace-specific tools. Both roles coordinate offerings to ensure comprehensive and non-overlapping PD.

 

• Joint Curriculum Support: In partnership, the Director of The Collaboratory brings deep knowledge of “making and design” to complement the technology department’s expertise in instructional technology, ensuring faculty have end-to-end support for technology-enhanced project-based learning.

 

• Communication & Coordination: Frequent check-ins with the Director of Technology help unify technology initiatives—providing a seamless user experience for students and faculty, from everyday tech tools to specialized Collaboratory equipment.

 

Our Ideal Candidate

 

• Hands-On Expertise: Adept with design and fabrication tools—ranging from 3D printers to laser cutters, sewing machines, and woodworking equipment—and eager to experiment alongside students.

 

• Organized & Detail-Oriented: Skilled at maintaining clean, functional makerspaces, managing inventory, and coordinating busy schedules with multiple stakeholders.

 

• Collaborative Mindset: Enjoys partnering with faculty across disciplines and grade levels; embraces feedback, iteration, and co-creation with colleagues and students alike.

 

• Adaptive Problem-Solver: Comfortable saying, “I don’t know” and following it with, “Let’s figure this out together”; thrives in a dynamic environment where new ideas and occasional missteps are part of the learning process.

 

• Committed to Inclusive, Student-Centered Learning: Values hands-on, project-based approaches that empower a diverse population of learners to develop critical thinking, creativity, and resilience.

 

• Growth-Oriented: Open to continued professional development, including coaching and emerging technology training, while modeling lifelong learning for the entire community.

 

$140,000 - $165,000 a year

Status: Full-time, Year-round Exempt, 1.0 FTE

Location: On-Site, South Campus, Head-Royce School