Upper School - I-Lab Shop Manager

The Nueva School

Upper School Innovation Lab (I-Lab) Shop Manager (.80 FTE)

Starting July 2026

The Nueva School seeks a collaborative, hands-on, and creative I-Lab Shop Manager to support our Upper School (grades 9-12) Innovation Lab. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working alongside students as they design, prototype, and create, serving as a “guide on the side” in a dynamic, student-centered environment.

As a Shop Manager, you will play a key role in maintaining a safe, inclusive, and inspiring maker space while supporting a multidisciplinary team of educators. You will be part of the core team responsible for both the physical I-Lab spaces and the culture within them—ensuring students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to bring their ideas to life.

While this role is a .80 FTE, it is benefits-eligible and aligned with full-time roles at Nueva, with a typical daily schedule of approximately six hours.

In deciding whether to apply for a position at Nueva, you are encouraged to consider whether your values align with Nueva’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

A Day in the Life

Your day may begin by introducing a student to a tool, such as a scroll saw or a laser cutter. Later, you might partner with colleagues to support a class designing and sewing costumes, assist another group prototyping puzzle boxes, or guide a student through an independent jewelry project.

Throughout the day, you collaborate with faculty, troubleshoot projects, and support students at varying levels of experience. You may also spend time organizing materials, maintaining tools, and ensuring the shop remains a safe and welcoming space.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Shop Supervision & Student Support

• Supervise safe use of I-Lab shops, including tool training and enforcing safety protocols
• Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment
• Support students in class, independent, and extracurricular projects
• Assist with after-school programs (e.g., robotics, invention studio), including occasional evenings/weekends

Curricular Collaboration

• Partner with faculty to support class projects
• Support faculty across disciplines in using I-Lab spaces
• Assist with design engineering classes as well as interdisciplinary projects in other disciplines
• Work with students in individual and small group settings

Lab & Operations Management

• Maintain tools, equipment, and shop spaces; collaborate with Facilities as needed
• Design systems to keep spaces organized and user-friendly
• Manage and supervise our crew of student shop assistants during “intern week” at the end and start of school year
• Manage inventory and optimize materials and storage

Community & General Responsibilities

• Model curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning
• Contribute to a positive team culture
• Support Nueva’s mission and student experience
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• Commitment to safety, inclusion, and respectful community practices
• Strong collaboration and adaptability to a dynamic learning environment
• Profound openness to feedback and commitment to improve as an educator

Preferred

• Experience across fabrication domains (e.g., woodworking, metalworking, laser cutting, 3D printing, textiles, CAD/CAM, CNC, electronics, robotics)
• Expertise in design, engineering, and making
• Experience working with students or young people
• Ability to explain concepts to learners at different skill levels and providing students with diverse entry points
• Familiarity with design thinking
• Ability to guide student projects while maintaining student ownership
• Passion and curiosity for hands-on problem-solving and enthusiasm for continuous learning

About the Innovation Lab (I-Lab)

Nueva’s I-Lab is home to its PK–12 Design Engineering and Computer Science program. Through design thinking, students engage in solving complex problems through creativity, empathy, and iteration – building skills in making and engineering while learning how to navigate ambiguity and prototyping possible solutions. We believe that the best way we can prepare young people for their future is by helping them develop skills in solving complex problems and tackling ambiguity.

Compensation and Benefits
The full-time salary range for this faculty position is $80,800 – $166,000, with the starting salary determined based on several factors, including but not limited to years and type of creditable experience, education level, and area of expertise (please refer to our faculty salary matrix for more information). Nueva offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including fully paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees, employer contributions toward dependent premiums, a generous 403(b) retirement plan match, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and daily lunch. Eligibility requirements apply.

To Apply

Please submit your application materials, including a cover letter describing your interest and preparedness for the position, a résumé outlining your relevant experience and expertise, and contact information for three professional references (including your relationship to each), through the Nueva Employment Website. You may include pictures of past making/ fabrication projects although this is is not required. For specific questions, please contact Angi Chau at achau@nuevaschool.org.

At Nueva, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where all students and employees feel a sense of belonging. We seek candidates who bring a range of perspectives, experiences, and identities that reflect the diversity of the Bay Area and our broader world. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Even if you do not meet every listed qualification, we invite you to apply if you believe your skills, experiences, and passion align with the spirit of this role.

About The Nueva School

The Nueva School is an internationally recognized, nonprofit, independent day school serving gifted learners since 1967. Nueva serves nearly 900 students PreK–12 across campuses in Hillsborough and San Mateo. Known for its inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum and leadership in social-emotional learning and design thinking, Nueva fosters a passion for lifelong learning and develops the imaginative mind.

Please send your application information (cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three references) to the Nueva Employment Website. To address specific questions, please email Angi Chau, at achau@nuevaschool.org

The Nueva School is an Equal Opportunity Employer – we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability or sex. We welcome applications from people of color and those with experience outside the education field.

About The Nueva School

The Nueva School, an internationally-recognized, nonprofit, independent day school, has served gifted and talented students since 1967. Today, Nueva serves nearly 1000 students PK-12. Nueva is located in the neighboring towns of Hillsborough and San Mateo, equidistant between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, serving six different counties throughout the Bay Area of Northern California.

A constructivist school, Nueva is known for its distinctive inquiry-based interdisciplinary studies, project-based learning, and pioneering work in social-emotional learning and design thinking. The Nueva community instills a passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the imaginative mind. Our school has received the US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award, the US Department of Education National Green Ribbon Award, and the American Institute of Architects Award for School Design and Sustainability; has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program and appointed an Ashoka Changemaker School; co-founded the Common Ground Speaker Series; hosts the biennial Innovative Learning Conference, and was highlighted by the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times best-selling author Thomas Friedman in his book That Used to Be Us in the chapter “Average Is Over.”

For more information about The Nueva School, visit our website: www.nuevaschool.org