Secondary school department head
Also known as: secondary school head of department, high school head of department, school department head, high school department head, head of department in high school, head of department in secondary school
About this occupation
Secondary school department heads manage and supervise their assigned departments to ensure that students are instructed and supported in a safe learning environment. They work closely with the secondary school principal to lead and assist school staff and to optimise communication between school management and teachers, parents, and other districts and schools. They facilitating meetings, develop and review curriculum programmes, observe staff when the principal delegates this work, and assume shared responsibility with the principal for financial resource management.
A specialisation of headteacher.
Essential skills and knowledge
- project management
- provide feedback to teachers
- assess employees' capability levels
- curriculum standards
- learning technologies
- manage secondary school department
- assist in the organisation of school events
- make improvements to work activities
- curriculum objectives
- assessment processes
- provide education management support
- show an exemplary leading role in an organisation
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (O*NET 11-9032.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Counsel and provide guidance to students regarding personal, academic, vocational, or behavioral issues.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies, and student behavior or learning problems.
- Observe teaching methods and examine learning materials to evaluate and standardize curricula and teaching techniques and to determine areas for improvement.
- Determine the scope of educational program offerings, and prepare drafts of course schedules and descriptions to estimate staffing and facility requirements.
- Enforce discipline and attendance rules.
- Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Enterprising, Conventional
Top skills: Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing
US median pay: US$105,870 a year (2025), 328,330 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.2)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyImportant (3.3)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.2)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary
- Instructional Coordinators
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Training and Development Managers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.