Chief of Staff

Carney, Sandoe & Associates; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Vacation and personal time

Housing (boarding schools only)

Job summary

Carney, Sandoe & Associates, an education recruitment organization, has partnered with an innovative TK-8 independent school in Menlo Park, CA to find their next Chief of Staff. This director-level role focuses on growing staff, guiding performance management, coaching leaders, and navigating change with steadiness and care.

The Chief of Staff will partner with the Head of School to strengthen people operations, oversee performance cycles, and coordinate confidential communications while

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of people-management leadership experience in an independent school or mission-driven organization.
• Experience coaching and developing staff and leading performance management processes such as reviews and growth plans.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills with excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Head of School to strengthen staff development, performance management, and accountability across the organization.
• Lead performance management cycles including goal-setting, reviews, and growth or improvement plans.
• Coach and mentor school leaders to build capacity and manage teams effectively.
• Serve as a trusted resource for navigating sensitive personnel matters with discretion and empathy.
• Provide strategic partnership and executive support to the Head of School, managing priorities and confidential correspondence.
• Oversee key operational systems (master calendar) and refine processes to keep the school running smoothly.
• Lead planning and execution of major school-wide events and community gatherings.
• Advance cross-department collaboration and drive strategic initiatives.

Skills

People management

Coaching

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Google Workspace

Calendar tools

Blackbaud

Veracross

Job description

Carney, Sandoe & Associates, an education recruitment organization, has partnered with an innovative TK-8 independent school in Menlo Park, CA to find their next Chief of Staff.

This is a director-level leadership role for someone energized by growing others guiding performance management, coaching leaders and managers, and helping staff navigate change and interpersonal challenges with steadiness and care.

About CS&A:

Our free job placement service connects educators with independent and private schools that align with their specific needs and qualifications. By getting to know each candidate personally, we match them with the right opportunities—saving time and ensuring the best match. Our mission is to help educators find roles where they can truly thrive. We have positions nationwide and internationally.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Head of School to strengthen how Synapse manages, develops, and supports its people across the organization.
• Lead the performance management cycle, to include goal-setting, performance reviews, and individualized growth and improvement plans.
• Coach and mentor school leaders and managers, building their capacity to lead their teams effectively and hold their staff accountable.
• Serve as a steady, trusted resource for navigating sensitive personnel matters and interpersonal dynamics with empathy, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Support staff through periods of change, cultivating a culture of accountability, resilience, and shared purpose.
• Provide strategic partnership and executive support to the Head of School, managing priorities, communication, and confidential correspondence.
• Oversee key operational systems, including the school’s master calendar, and refine the processes that keep the school running smoothly.
• Lead the planning and execution of major school-wide events and community gatherings.
• Serve as a key liaison across departments, advancing strategic initiatives and building strong internal workflows.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years’ experience in a role with meaningful people-management responsibility, ideally within an independent school or mission-driven organization.
• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience coaching and developing others and leading performance management processes, including reviews and growth or improvement plans.
• A track record of handling sensitive personnel matters with fairness, discretion, and care.
• Exceptional organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills, with excellent written and oral communication.
• Comfort adopting new technologies, including AI; proficiency with Google Workspace and digital calendar tools. Familiarity with school systems such as Blackbaud or Veracross is a plus.

Potential Benefits:

Compensation and benefit packages are competitive but will differ by school and will typically depend on geographic location, your experience, and your level of degree.

Paid holidays, vacation and personal time

Housing (boarding schools only)

Carney Sandoe does not discriminate on the basis of physical handicap, sex, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its services, consulting, events, professional development, or other programs.