Job details
GEMS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - AL KHAIL Dubai, UAE Posted 3 days ago Unlimited Ref: JB5222537 We are looking to appoint an experienced Head of Secondary School from August 2025. The successful candidate will play a major role on the Executive Leadership Team supporting the Principal/CEO in leading the whole school; strategically, operationally and financially. The Head of Secondary will provide visionary leadership and will demonstrate exemplary management skills in the assistance of recruitment and development of faculty, the quality assurance of all teaching and learning, and the provision of effective communication with all the school’s stakeholders, as well as ensuring the social wellbeing and academic growth of all children. Student leadership opportunities are exemplary at GIS and will be developed further by the Head of Secondary. The educational journey of students through both school divisions within GIS is crucial and therefore the Head of Secondary will focus on a smooth transition by working on vertical alignment with the Head of Primary. To be considered for this role, candidates must be:
- An effective, dynamic and visible leader with a proven track record in school leadership and improvement; moreover, possessing gravitas and presence within a school community.
- Rigorous in promoting excellence and developing commitment to high standards of care and opportunities for all.
- Able to demonstrate successful experience of leading and managing staff, promoting and developing approaches to learning.
- Able to demonstrate a comprehensive and confident knowledge of the IB curriculum.
- Be a consistently outstanding classroom practitioner.
- Create a learning environment which promotes a thirst for knowledge and a love of learning.
- Have a proven track record of raising standards for learners of all abilities including those with complex needs.
- Have effective organisational, managerial and interpersonal skills.
- Be able to promote new initiatives and positive relationships throughout the school community.
- Be able to demonstrate genuine passion towards the wider co-curricular life of a school.
- The Head of Secondary School is responsible for ensuring the best possible learning and teaching environment and placing students at the heart of decision making.
- The Head of Secondary School is responsible for the safeguarding of students in her/his school, in line with the DCI safeguarding framework, policies, and code of conduct and in collaboration with the Head of School/CEO.
- The Head of Secondary School is responsible for Health and Safety in her/his school, in collaboration with the Head of School/CEO and Manager of School Operations.
- The day-to-day running of the Secondary School, ensuring that this is in line with the school’s educational philosophy and that students enjoy a caring, happy and structured environment for work and play in which they, their parents and staff can feel secure.
- To take responsibility for the day-to-day business management of the Secondary School, including the deployment of resources and of the budget.
- The Head of School should provide support, guidance and leadership and be a model of good practice for all staff.
- Possess excellent communication skills and be professional and confident in communicating with all stakeholders, and external agents.
- Be understanding of the needs and issues facing all stakeholders within the school community.
- Establish, review, and develop Secondary School aims, policies, structures and procedures and job descriptions in liaison with whole school policies.
- Lead whole Secondary School planning including the production of the School Improvement Plan (based on the Whole School Improvement Plan).
- Control budgets in the Secondary School, including delegation to subject departments.
- Oversee line management and support for all teaching and support staff in the Secondary School.
- Chair full Secondary School staff meetings, Secondary Academic Leadership Team meetings, attend curriculum committee meetings and meeting of the Executive Leadership Team.
- Produce the Secondary School Staff and Parent Handbooks.
- Coach and/or mentor leaders within the Secondary School.
- Be aligned to and knowledgeable of the MYP and DP programmes.
- Promote the IB values, and ensure the best outcomes and educational journey for all secondary students.
- Ensure the curriculum matches the aims of the school and reflects the needs of students, maintaining an understanding of curricular developments around the world, with a view to GIS continuing to be a model of good practice in terms of learning and teaching.
- Ensure that measures of achievement are accurate and readily available so that students and their parents can take an active interest in performance and reflect upon progress.
- Maintain open dialogue between the school, students, and their parents on all matters educational. The Head of School is responsible for monitoring the progress of students from first placement in the school to the time they leave.
- Ensure curriculum planning, design, and management, in liaison with the Assistant Head and the Secondary School Leadership Team and enhance vertical articulations with the Primary School.
- Produce the Secondary School (MYP and DP) curriculum handbooks in liaison with the curriculum coordinators.
- Timetabling and resource management.
- Overall management of the Secondary School self-evaluation and improvement strategies.
- Ensure Performance Management and Line Management is effective.
- Oversee and implement, monitor, and evaluate the Secondary School’s learning and teaching policy, including the promotion of the School ethos and values.
- Organise and present at parental curriculum and information evenings.
Skills
The Person The successful candidate will have the ability to be an inspirational and innovative leader who can secure the full engagement of staff and all other stakeholders in the delivery of the school’s objectives. She/he will show leadership and moral values through action and example in her/his daily conduct. She/he will engage superbly with the community, be a respected ambassador for the secondary school, motivate others, and achieve excellent academic results within a truly holistic environment. The successful candidate will have the following key skills, experience, and attributes: Qualifications & Personal Development- University educated with an Honours Degree, recognised learning and development is essential.
- Further degree in education is desirable.
- Teaching strategies and pedagogy that both engage students and achieve the highest outcomes.
- Leadership and management in the fields of learning and communication.
- Previous senior leadership position.
- Experience and support of IB curricula.
- Assessment for Learning, Assessment of Learning, use of data, baselines assessment and value added.
- ELL and SEN provision.
- Current educational issues and up to date curriculum developments.
- CIS accreditation process; IB examining, training or workshop experience is desirable but not essential.
- A clear focus and passion for student learning.
- Leadership position in a school with responsibility for curriculum and/or pastoral care and/or personnel.
- Developing and implementing school quality improvement programmes, including demonstration of raising students’ levels of achievement.
- Excellent professional knowledge (of curriculum, quality management, school organisation and current educational issues).
- Successful partnerships and communication with parents and communities outside the school.
- Proven ability to support, motivate, lead, and manage staff.
- The ability to represent the school to its student and parent community.
- Coaching and mentoring skills.
- Experience in an international environment.
- Working overseas.
- Knowledge of other cultures, particularly in the Middle East.
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