High School Head VEX Robotics Coach

Ladue Schools; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 5,500 - 6,900; Full time

Job summary

Ladue School District in Ladue, MO is seeking a High School Head VEX Robotics Coach to provide strategic and technical leadership for a comprehensive competitive robotics program.

You will manage laboratory resources, schedules, and volunteers, mentor students on platforms, enforce safety, and coordinate budgets, procurement, and travel for local and regional events.

Qualifications

• Experience working with high school youth in a structured STEM/robotics or project-management context.
• Proven ability to manage complex, overlapping schedules and multiple student groups.
• Ability to clear district background checks, youth protection training, and safety certifications.

Responsibilities

• Program & Calendar Management: coordinate complex robotics competition calendars and build seasons with balanced schedules.
• Technical Mentorship: guide students on robotics platforms, focus on design, hardware, and programming.
• Finance, Sponsorship, & Logistics: manage budgets, procure parts, and coordinate travel and events.

Skills

Experience with high school youth

Organization skills

Background screening

Job description

Frontline Applicant Tracking - Ladue School District

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

High School Head VEX Robotics Coach

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.