Located in the scenic Berkshire-Taconic landscape in the quiet northwest corner of Connecticut, The Hotchkiss School is a community in which faculty and staff members build careers and grow as professionals. We seek to identify, recruit, and develop faculty and staff members who bring a diversity of experiences, perspectives, talents, and backgrounds. Collectively, we are dedicated to supporting the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of nearly 600 students who come from around the country and the world.

In the 2022-2023 school year, 41 percent of Hotchkiss students are U.S. students of color, 13 percent are international, and 96 percent of students are boarders from 29 countries and 37 states in the U.S.  The School is eager to accept applications from individuals who are excited to support an inclusive and warm learning community for students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.

Position Summary:
For the 2023-24 school year, the Humanities & Social Sciences Department is seeking a highly qualified and dynamic teacher who combines significant knowledge in U.S. History; enthusiasm for interdisciplinary curriculum development; and ability to guide, inspire, and facilitate their colleagues’ professional growth. The head of the department will lead and manage the department with this central charge in mind, attending to teaching and curricular matters, taking an active role in recruiting, hiring, evaluating, and fostering the development of their department’s faculty, staff, and program of study. Department heads are leaders with respect to diversity and inclusion efforts.

I. Intellectual Leadership and Professional Development

Foster a culture of collaboration and creativity by:

• encouraging teachers to be critically reflective, learner-centered, and current in their discipline and pedagogy;
• aligning the department’s instructors, offerings, and methodologies with the School’s curricular and pedagogical priorities;
• organizing periodic departmental professional days to highlight specific areas for study.

Encourage instructors’ professional and personal growth by:

• regularly providing insightful, motivating, and constructive feedback;
• supervising departmental evaluation procedures that emphasize professional growth and objectively assess performance;
• support each faculty member’s professional portfolio;
• affirming instructors’ achievements publicly and privately;
• modeling the importance of self-evaluation and the giving and receiving of feedback;
• training and supporting new faculty members;
• collaborating with the dean of faculty/associate head of school, the dean of academic life, the director of diversity and inclusion, and other administrators; and
• overseeing individual department members’ compliance with School policies. 

II. Curricular Leadership
Help design effective programs of study and support teaching methodologies by working with the dean of academic life and the director of teaching and learning to:

• sustain continuous discussion about teaching and learning in an intentionally diverse community;
• encourage thoughtful implementation of technology as a classroom tool;
• coordinate periodic self-studies and external reviews of the department;
• support collaboration across academic disciplines and departments; and
• collaborate in the hiring process with the recruitment team.

III. Department Management

Permit instructors to focus on teaching and learning by:

• overseeing budget and employing sound fiscal practices;
• managing speaker funds, endowed lectureships, and associated stewardship duties;
• reviewing course placement of students;
• determining course offerings and offering a rationale for them;
• assigning teaching responsibilities with a focus on the needs of the School, the department, the students, and the instructors;
• representing the department to all interested constituencies in and outside of the Hotchkiss community; and
• acting as a clearinghouse for parent and student queries about departmental concerns.

IV. Classroom Instruction

 The ideal candidate will be:

• a student-centered educator, skilled in discussion facilitation;
• a professional oral and written communicator;
• eager to work collaboratively with colleagues;
• committed to improving their practice through peer observation;
• dedicated to making positive contributions to the student experience both inside and outside the classroom.

Duration of tenure and evaluation

The head of department (HOD) has a 10-month schedule. When possible, each HOD will have a two-course reduction in teaching. When such course relief is not feasible, workloads will be reduced in roughly equitable ways. Each department head (HOD) is expected to serve a five-year term, subject to being successful in the role. Each HOD will be given regular feedback and formally evaluated annually by the dean of faculty.

Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree in History or a history-related field required; master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred. Supervisory experience is preferred and/or willingness to engage in professional development in this area. Several years of teaching experience, at the secondary level, is also preferred. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

Hotchkiss faculty participate actively in all aspects of community life through service in Hotchkiss’ residential, advising, and co-curricular programs. Typical responsibilities of a full-time faculty member at Hotchkiss include teaching four classes, coaching two seasons (or the equivalent) of a co-curricular team, regular duty in our residential program, and periodic participation in faculty committees and/or as an advisor to student clubs.  Full-time faculty members are generally expected to obtain a public service endorsement on their CT driver's license within the first year of employment, so that they may drive students in school vehicles.

Compensation:

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and education level. Compensation is based on adjustment of salary to a 10-month employment schedule, which adds 11% to their base salary while actively serving in the HOD role. Full-time faculty are housed by the school. In addition, Hotchkiss provides a comprehensive benefit package, which includes a variety of health insurance offerings, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability offerings, HSA/FSA options, and retirement benefits through TIAA. Ample funding exists to support participation in professional conferences, workshops, summer study, and travel, as well as advanced degree work. Faculty are encouraged to enjoy meals in our dining hall while school is in session. 

Application Information:

Through the online application process, located at Hotchkiss.org/careers, interested candidates should submit a cover letter that addresses interest in working at Hotchkiss with particular focus on the ability and interest in participating fully in an intentionally diverse and inclusive residential community. Applicants should also submit their résumé/CV, a statement of teaching philosophy, relevant college and graduate school transcripts, and contact information for three references. The School is committed to building and supporting a diverse community where all feel safe, seen, and supported. Successful applicants will address their ability to contribute to a warm, inclusive, and exciting learning environment.

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Additional Information:

The essential functions and basic skills have been included in this description. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.

Given the persistent risks of the spread of the Covid-19 virus, all employees of the School are required to be fully vaccinated by their first day of work as a condition of employment. Employees who are unable to receive the vaccine due to disability, medical condition, or a sincerely held religious belief may request an exemption, which will be reviewed by the School to determine the availability of any reasonable accommodations.

The Hotchkiss School is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities. The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all phases of the employment process (including recruitment, hiring, assignment, terms and conditions of employment, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline and termination).

In accordance with applicable law, the School does not discriminate against any individual based on age, ancestry, color, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, past or present history of mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Department: Humanities & Social Sciences

FLSA:  Exempt

Reports to: Associate Head of School, Dean of Faculty

Designation: Administrative Faculty

Schedule: 10-months

Travel: Occasional (athletics)

About The Hotchkiss School

Located in the scenic Berkshire-Taconic landscape in the quiet northwest corner of Connecticut, The Hotchkiss School is a community in which faculty and staff members build careers and grow as professionals. We seek to identify, recruit, and develop faculty and staff members who bring a diversity of experiences, perspectives, talents, and backgrounds. Collectively, we are dedicated to supporting the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of nearly 600 students who come from around the country and the world. In the 2022-2023 school year, 41 percent of Hotchkiss students are U.S. students of color, 13 percent are international, and 96 percent of students are boarders from 27 countries and 36 states in the U.S. The School is eager to accept applications from individuals who are excited to support an inclusive and warm learning community for students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.

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