Division Head & Dean Positions

You have been a dedicated part of an independent school community for years.

Whether you've taught that well-loved subject, supervised countless groups of chatty teens as a dorm parent, or been a visible member of school administration, you are a colorful part of an independent school's tapestry. If you believe that you possess the foresight, leadership skills, and creativity to further improve the quality of education and community at an independent or private school, then consider working with CS&A to take the next step in your career path as a division head or dean.

Depending on the role you wish to fill and the opportunities available, you may work with either our Placement Group or our retained Search Group. Read more below for information on how to find these types of jobs with our Placement Group; click here to see current opportunities available through the Search Group.

Division Head and Dean Positions at Independent Schools

Roughly translated, the position of division head or dean at an independent school corresponds to that of a principal in a public or charter school. At an independent school that only has one “division” (a grade 9-12 boarding school, for instance), the title “dean” will usually correspond to senior administrators who work under and report to the Head of School. Positions include Academic Dean, Dean of Students, Dean of Faculty, and Dean of Residential Life. At day schools, deans typically report to Division Heads.

Finding a Job: Placement vs. Search

If you're interested in pursuing a leadership position at an independent school, you can follow two distinct paths within CS&A. Both our Placement Group and our Search Group help job seekers find the right administrative jobs in independent schools. Our Search Group works on a “retained search” basis, in which a school hires the team to proactively recruit a specific candidate pool for a job opportunity. This is typically a six to 12-month engagement and includes several visits to the school by one of our search consultants. To see a list of our current retained search opportunities, click here.

Our Placement Group operates on a contingency basis, and our Placement Associates have comparable independent school knowledge. Whereas CS&A might work on 100 “retained searches” a year, we'll work on placing several hundred administrative positions through our Placement Group. We do not post our Placement positions on our website; prospective administrators learn of openings when they become a candidate with CS&A's Placement Group.

We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications expressly include:

  • A master's degree (preferred) or bachelor's degree from an accredited university
  • Experience in a highly visible educational administrative position
  • Strong peer leadership and communication skills
  • Familiarity with school administration systems, procedures, and practices
  • Experience working with or teaching students, particularly in independent, private, boarding, college preparatory, or like-kind school settings
  • A commitment to education and 21st-century learning principles
  • Strong references that support these qualifications

Recent News

04/02/2025 | Navigating the Head of School Search: One Candidate’s Take

The journey to becoming a Head of School is both exhilarating and daunting, and at times, even a little ridiculous. I remember arriving at my hotel after a finalist interview day, electrified by the experience, but so completely drained that I fell immediately asleep, thankful I had pre-set my alarm for the next morning. The

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03/31/2025 | Assistant Head of School, Becky Jobes on her Path to International School Leadership

Senior Consultant and International Practice Leader, Karen Neitzel, had the privilege of re-connecting with Assistant Head of School, Becky Jobes, over Zoom in late March.  Becky is in her first year as the Assistant Head of School at Frankfurt International School. That search was led by Karen Neitzel, Deb Welch and Madeleine Maceda Heide.  She

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03/10/2025 | Executive Coaching for K-12 Leadership – An Insurance Policy for Stability and Sustainability in School Leadership

The average tenure of independent school heads has decreased significantly over the past few years, and the consequences of more frequent leadership turnover within school communities can be monumental in terms of morale, market standing, and even long-term sustainability.  So what can be done to increase the likelihood of retention and success for a school

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03/10/2025 | Rethinking How and Why We Gather

Like nearly everyone reading these words, I have spent much of my professional life in meetings. Over the course of my career, as I have shifted from teaching and leading primarily students to teaching and leading primarily adults, I have become a student of meetings, curious about how to make the most of these gatherings

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02/27/2025 | Five Years Later: The Lasting Impact of the Pandemic on Job Seekers

Believe it or not, five years have passed since the country went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While life has largely returned to business as usual, the job market hasn’t fully reverted. Instead, the hiring landscape has evolved, leading to a workforce with a fresh perspective on job hunting. From flexible work models

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02/14/2025 | 8 Critical Experiences for Aspiring Heads of School

You love your work in schools and get great satisfaction from positively impacting the lives of students. Have you thought about taking the step and considering leading a community and being a head of school? Independent schools need great leaders to successfully confront all the challenges that exist in today’s complex world; never has the

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02/09/2025 | The Changing Role of an International School Head: What are the Implications for Recruiting?

Successful searches demand that all concerned – boards, candidates and consultants – understand the ways in which the role of a school leader is changing.  The implications of this awareness are critically important for current Heads or aspiring Heads of International Schools. As Search Consultants, we are acutely aware that Heads of International Schools are

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01/27/2025 | Replenish at Philly’s Best Eateries During FORUM DEIB

FORUM DEIB will be hosted at the Lowes Hotel on Market Street in Philadelphia.  While you attend the hiring conference and professional development symposium, you are invited to take advantage of some of the city’s best culinary delights. Philadelphia’s food scene is a melting pot of flavors, offering everything from classic cheesesteaks to innovative fine

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12/17/2024 | 3 Things to Tell Your CS&A Associate

If you’ve recently applied for or renewed your candidacy with CS&A, we are excited to work with you this hiring season! When you speak or email with your Associate, it’s important that you tell them certain things about your job search. At Carney Sandoe, we want to make the right match — for both our

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Carney, Sandoe & Associates | (617) 542-0260 | Interested in finding a school job you love?

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