High School Head FIRST Robotics Coach

Applitrack; Ladue (MO); On-site; USD 62,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Applitrack in Ladue, MO is seeking a High School Head FIRST Robotics Coach to lead a year-round, student-run robotics program, coordinating calendars, resources, and competitions.

You will mentor students in design, programming, safety, and leadership, manage budgets and volunteers, and ensure compliance with district policies while traveling for events.

Qualifications

• Experience working with high school youth in a structured STEM or project-management setting.
• Proven ability to manage complex, overlapping schedules and budgets.
• Ability to clear district background checks and safety certifications.

Responsibilities

• Schedule coordination to manage competition calendars and build seasons.
• Oversee onboarding of volunteers and mentors with district compliance.
• Oversee workshop space logistics and tool access.
• Maintain registrations, competition requirements, and coach certifications.
• Mentor students on robotics platforms: design, hardware integration, programming.
• Enforce safety protocols in a diverse workshop environment.
• Design a leadership matrix to empower student daily operations.
• Foster peer mentorship for long-term sustainability.
• Guide students toward STEM scholarships, internships, and university programs.
• Budget management combining school funds, sponsorships, and grants.
• Procurement, inventory, and vendor relationship management.
• Coordinate travel, lodging, and permissions for events.

Skills

Experience with youth

Organization skills

Background screening

Job description

High School Head FIRST Robotics Coach

• Position Type:
  Athletics/Activities/ Coaching
• Date Posted:
  9/28/2026
• Location:
  Ladue Horton Watkins High School
• Date Available:
  As soon as possible

Position Overview

Provides strategic and technical leadership for a comprehensive competitive robotics program. This role manages laboratory resources, navigates complex competition calendars, and empowers student leaders to operate the program as a cohesive, student-run engineering enterprise.

• Reports To:Athletic/Activities Coordinator
• Position Type:Year-round stipend with peak commitment during competition seasons.
  

Key Responsibilities

1. Program & Calendar Management

• Schedule Coordination: Manage complex competition calendars. Balance iterative tournament schedules with high-intensity build seasons.
• Volunteer Coordination: Oversee the onboarding of adult volunteers and mentors, ensuring compliance with district policies and background checks.
• Resource & Space Allocation: Oversee the logistics of a shared workshop space, ensuring equitable access to tools, field perimeters, testing spaces, and storage.
• Program Compliance: Maintain active registrations, competition requirements, and coach certifications across multiple robotics organizations.

2. Technical Mentorship

• Platform Mentorship: Mentor students on industry-standard robotics platforms, focusing on structural design, hardware integration, and programming languages.
• Tool & Shop Safety: Enforce rigorous safety protocols for a diverse workshop environment, ranging from basic hand tools to specialized shop equipment.
• Leadership Structure: Design a scalable student leadership matrix that enables students to manage daily operations and program logistics.
• Peer Mentorship: Foster a program culture where experienced students help mentor newer members to build long-term sustainability.
• Career Pathways: Actively guide students in leveraging their robotics experience for STEM scholarships, internships, and university engineering programs.

4. Finance, Sponsorship, & Logistics

• Budgeting: Manage budgets combining school funds, sponsorships, and grant allocations.
• Procurement: Oversee inventory and parts ordering, managing vendor relationships and maintaining efficient supply chains.
• Event & Travel Logistics: Coordinate travel, lodging, and district permissions for local and regional competition events.
• Collaboration: Coordinate and collaborate with other VEX/FIRST coaches regarding shared space and possible equipment.

Qualifications & Skills

Required:

• Experience: Experience working with high school youth in a structured STEM, competitive robotics, or project-management capacity.
• Organization Skills: Proven ability to manage complex, overlapping schedules, large groups of students, and multi-layered budgets.
• Background Screening: Ability to clear all district background checks, youth protection training, and safety certifications.

Working Conditions:

• High-energy, fast-paced workshop environment.
• Significant time commitment extending across both school semesters, including evenings and weekend tournaments.
• Ability to travel for competition events.

Compensation:

The stipend range for this position is $5,539 - $6,926. The successful candidate will be placed on the range according to relevant education and experience.

The Ladue School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs or activities. Inquiries related to district programs may be directed to Title IX coordinator, 9703 Conway Road, St. Louis MO 63124; telephone number 314-994-7080.