Skip to main content

Physical Education Department Chair

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

Physical Education Department Chair Job Description

Job Summary:

The Physical Education Department Chair will be responsible for the design and delivery of an excellent program of secondary school instruction, participation, preparation, and competition in physical education. This work will require expertise in athletics and sports pedagogy, dedication, enthusiasm, flexibility, and creativity. The Physical Education Department Chair will continue the recruitment of a team of educators with complementary skills and areas of expertise, so that the department offers a rich physical education program responsive to the needs and interests of the Academy’s students.

As a leader during the early years of the Geffen Academy at UCLA, the Physical Education Department Chair will need to be both a master educator and an educational innovator and entrepreneur. Geffen Academy at UCLA will embrace questioning of traditional structures in secondary education. It will emphasize student inquiry in the learning process and the teachers will expect student-generated questions that respectfully and intelligently question protocols.

The curriculum at Geffen Academy presents a multi-faceted exploration of Physical Education. Geffen Academy will provide a wide variety of opportunities for our students to be physically active throughout their work week, and educate them on the positive benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle during their time on our campus, and beyond. Physical Education will be a mandatory core subject at the middle school level, and will enable all students, regardless of age, gender, or ability, to participate in a discovery program that will provide physical activity, a stress reliever, and a stimulus to mind and body. All 9th grade students will take a Health & Wellness class, and all 10th Grade students will take a Water Safety class. The opportunity for Geffen Academy students to experience many different activities and facilities throughout the UCLA Campus is key to our mission and vision. The Physical Education curriculum will incorporate many important life skills such as leadership, character development, grit, determination, collaboration, and teamwork. By incorporating a robust physical education program into our core curriculum, Geffen Academy students will be fitter and healthier, and more productive citizens. They will learn life lessons that will help them to function at a higher level in college, and to live healthy lives in mind and body.

Core Functions & Duties

Job Duties:

• Lead Physical Education Department collaboration with other faculty in creation of an Academy program that meets the needs and interests of the Academy’s students
• Lead Physical Education Department collaboration with relevant UCLA faculty in devising programs that enable the Academy’s students to take advantage of the Academy’s relationship with a research university operating at the cutting edge of knowledge creation
• Lead Physical Education Department evaluation and selection of equipment, PE uniforms, books, digital materials, experiential opportunities such as museum visits and theatrical performances, and other academic resources
• Communicate information about student progress to relevant student services colleagues, including but not limited to department head, Dean of Students, academic advising and college guidance staff, Academic Coordinator, Registrar, counselor/psychologist, and athletic team coaches
• Participate in department representation at parent evenings and recruitment events
• Lead Physical Education Department assessment of the continued relevance and success of course offerings within the department
• Participate in committee work, whether the committee’s focus is solely within the department, or reaches to other parts of the Geffen Academy enterprise
• Lead Physical Education Department participation in interdisciplinary instructional programs
• Lead Physical Education Department service as instructors/mentors/advisers of student independent projects
• Lead Physical Education Department collaboration engagement in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities
• Lead Physical Education Department orientation of new faculty and establish appropriate mentoring relationships
• Convene meetings as needed with the department
• Lead Physical Education Department continuing professional development activities
• Be available to provide proper coverage of instructional work for both scheduled and unscheduled absences of colleagues
• Be available to students and parents for any and all department related issues
• Develop, organize, supervise, and evaluate a developmentally appropriate program of physical education classes and intramural athletics
• Teach, analyze, demonstrate, and explain basic skills, knowledge, and strategies of formal sports, games, rhythms and dance, and fundamental body movement through varied activities and by example
• Provide safety instruction to students and establish standards of student behavior to provide productive environment for physical education and to ensure the optimal condition and safety of all athletic equipment, facilities, fields, and courts
• Cultivate in each student an understanding of and commitment to exercise and physical conditioning, health education, and personal hygiene
• Identify and develop the talents of students in individual, dual, and team physical activities and sports
• Organize and coordinate the school’s intramural athletic programs
• Prepare and implement an annual departmental budget
• Oversee the distribution, collection, storage, cleaning, and repair of all physical education equipment
• Communicate information about student progress to relevant student services colleagues, including but not limited to Dean of Students, grade level deans, college guidance staff, Dean of Faculty, Registrar, counselor/psychologist, and athletic team coaches
• Coordinate department representation at parent evenings and recruitment events
• Reevaluate course offerings within the department
• Coordinate interdisciplinary instructional programs
• Assign faculty as instructors/mentors/advisers of students’ independent projects
• Supervise department faculty in their work with UCLA faculty colleagues
• Be available for personal and professional guidance to all faculty in the department
• Arrange proper coverage for both scheduled and unscheduled absences of department members
• Be available to students and parents for any and all department related issues
• This list of duties is not exhaustive. Department heads will be expected to assure that all aspects of the Geffen Academy program within the ambit of their disciplines is led by capable staff who are carefully supervised and appropriately compensated
• A Geffen Educator’s workload may vary from term to term and year to year. Each Geffen Academy Educator’s annual contract will reflect the workload anticipated for the time covered by the contract. Teaching or other duties beyond those set forth in a contract may lead to additional compensation.

Required Knowledge and Abilities (SKACs):

• Bachelor’s degree in athletic administration, physical education, or a related discipline. Successful participation in competitive athletics would be a plus
• Successful track record working secondary school physical education classes

The preferred candidate would hold current certifications in some, or all, of the following areas of expertise:

• Yoga Alliance, Registered Yoga Teacher or equivalent
• ASFA Certified Self-Defense Instructor or equivalent
• National Strength & Conditioning Association, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist [or equivalent]
• Certified Health & Wellness Instructor
• Candidates should have experience coaching a competitive team sport at the middle school and/or the high school level, and expect to coach as part of the Geffen Academy interscholastic program.
• Mastery of athletics, physical education, health, and wellness pedagogy, both as a teacher and as a manager
• An excellent record of establishing and maintaining safety for all physical education program participants
• Strong background in secondary education with a clear understanding and embrace of the Academy’s mission, vision, and values
• A record of outstanding success as a secondary educator
• A joyful embrace of teaching and coaching
• The ability to think and act strategically combined with a strong commitment to providing an excellent experience for each student
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communications skills to articulate and explain instructional issues to colleagues, students, and families
• Must be self-directed and able to effectively prioritize and handle multiple tasks subject to frequent interruption
• Must be capable of developing and sustaining close, effective working relationships with colleagues in the department and from other parts of UCLA and of the Academy staff on matters of interdisciplinary and institutional concern
• Experience in a variety of managerial and supervisorial roles within a secondary school would be a plus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy (https://equity.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/UC-Nondiscrimination-Affirmative-Action-Policy.pdf).

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and/or service.
    (Optional)

  • Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

Job location

Los Angeles, CA