Overview
Rudolf Steiner School is seeking a Part Time Robotics Coach for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. The position will begin at 1 day per week from 3:30PM to 5:30pm, with the hours expected to increase as the First Robotics Competition approaches. The position reports to the Upper School Chair.
Core Responsibilities:
Team Formation and Management:
- Recruitment: Actively seeking out and recruiting students and adult mentors to participate in the robotics program.
- Scheduling & Logistics: Organizing and managing the team’s schedule, including meetings, practices, and competitions, and coordinating travel arrangements for events.
- Communication: Communicating regularly with team members, parents, and faculty/staff to keep them informed about team activities and progress.
- Budgeting & Resources: Managing program budgets, equipment inventory, and other resources to ensure they are used effectively and efficiently.
- Rule Adherence: Ensuring the team adheres to the bylaws and rules set forth by the governing robotics organization (FIRST).
- Technical Instruction and Guidance:
- Teaching Robotics Skills: Providing instruction in robotics techniques, encompassing programming (e.g., Java, C++), engineering design, building, testing, and troubleshooting robots.
- Tool & Equipment Safety: Ensuring students are trained on the safe use of power tools and equipment, and maintaining a safe and clean working environment.
- Software and Fabrication Tools: Familiarity with software-based design tools like CAD, 3D printing, CNC machining, and electrical concepts is often expected or helpful.
- Building Student Skills: Helping students develop key skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and innovative thinking in a hands-on learning environment.
- Mentorship and Team Development
- Mentoring Students:
- Guiding students in the design, building, and programming of their robots, while fostering student ownership of the robot’s development.
- Fostering a Positive Team Culture: Promoting a positive and inclusive team environment that values inclusivity, respect, teamwork, and hard work.
- Preparing for Competitions: Training the team on competition strategies, game play mechanics, and rules, and conducting practice sessions.
- Encouraging Learning: Empowering student leaders to take on more responsibility and guide their peers
- Documenting Progress: Supervising and collaborating on the creation and maintenance of the team portfolio and engineering notebook.
- Competition and Event Participation
- Supervising Competitions: Attending and supervising students at competitions, scrimmages, and other events.
- Advocacy & Support: Helping teams understand rules and advocate for themselves in case of disputes, and providing guidance on interacting with judges and referees.
- Promoting Ethics & Sportsmanship: Conducting practices and competitions with a high level of sportsmanship and ethics.
- Additional Duties
- Recruiting Participation: Actively recruiting students to join
- Outreach & Engagement: Participating in community outreach and showcasing the team’s work.
- Interacting with Stakeholders: Maintaining positive interactions with parents, students, school staff, and officials.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree is preferred.
- Experience in coaching robotics, especially First Robotics Competition, preferred.
To be considered for the position, please submit a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Rudolf Steiner School, the first Waldorf School in North America, is an independent Nursery to Grade 12 school located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Rooted in the principles of Waldorf education, the school fosters intellectual curiosity, creativity, and a deep respect for cultural diversity. Through a curriculum that integrates academic excellence with the arts, experiential learning, and seasonal festivals, students develop a strong sense of purpose and community. Accredited by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) and the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and a member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), the school holds a distinctive place among NYC’s independent schools.
Rudolf Steiner School, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization incorporated under the laws of New York State and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, religion, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health decisions, gender identity, gender expression, predisposing genetic characteristics, disability, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.