HEAD OF SCHOOL - PREPARATORY

An exciting opportunity exists for a seasoned Head within Gaborone International School, who will lead the Primary School. The successful incumbent will serve as the educational and operational leader, who through collaboration directs all efforts towards academic excellence, nurtures all staff and learners and builds effective relationships with the parent community. This position is specifically reserved for educational professionals who are resilient, innovative, entrepreneurial and passionate about the holistic development of young minds.

Overall purpose of the job:

The purpose of this job is to provide leadership, direction, and co-ordination within the school. The successful incumbent’s main focus should be to develop and maintain effective educational programs within the school and to promote the improvement of teaching and learning with the school. This job requires effective management of all aspects in a school, such as financial, academic, marketing and human resource management.

Responsibilities:

Output 1 – Execution of Academic Strategy

• Executes the academic policies and procedures for all academic and support staff
• Oversees the timetabling process and ensures that there are sufficient classrooms available to accommodate students and to ensure optimal productivity
• Regularly evaluate the application of existing policies and effective implementation of new policies
• Provides support and guidance to academic and support staff
• Analyses academic challenges and progress, and provide interventions/solutions to close possible gaps
• Ensures that the registration and graduation processes are smoothly affected
• Ensures that the overall impression and performance of the campus is aligned with the brand promise
• Contributes to regular parent newsletters regarding School matters
• Build collaborative and effective relationships with the relevant regulatory bodies and key members of the community
• In collaboration with the different Heads of School, develop an academic strategy for the short, medium and long term to address opportunities for academic improvement at the campus

Output 2 – Human Capital Management

• Leads and manages the academic and support staff in the achievement of set school objectives and targets by ensuring
• that the school is a high performing entity
• In collaboration with each Head of School, ensure that academic and support staff roles and responsibilities are clarified, and performance objectives are set
• Manages and conducts performance reviews in accordance with policies and procedures and takes corrective action where necessary
• Ensures that a management succession plan is implemented.
• Builds a pro-active environment where the academic and support staff can take responsibility for results.
• In collaboration with the HR support function, manage strategic Human Resources in accordance with policies, procedures, and legal requirements.
• Ensures identification of critical skills essential for sustainability of service delivery and the development of succession plans
• Provide mentoring and coaching to all the Head of Schools to ensure a successful transfer of skills.
• Drive campus paycost and student/teacher ratios in alignment with targets.
• With the support of Human Resources drive and manage all IR issues.
• Lead by example and model exemplary behaviour staff can learn from and be inspired by.

Output 3 – Brand Awareness and Marketing

• Oversee the management of the marketing process.
• Forecast registration targets for new students and academic staff as well as for roll-over students.
• Develop a student retention plan in collaboration with the Head of Marketing and Admissions
• Participate in initiatives that contribute to the effective marketing of the school, i.e., open days, expo’s, parent talks etc.
• Plan events involving the community and other schools.
• Host subject related workshops and invites surrounding schools.
• Handle and resolve parent complaints escalated from Principals within 24 hours.
• Escalate serious complaints/grievances pertaining to parents, student or staff to the Regional Managing Director and Regional HR Director.
• In collaboration with the Marketing function and the Heads of School design, implement and sustain a customer experience strategy for the campus.
• Identify and keep abreast of competitor activities to ensure a competitor advantage.

Output 4 – Finance Management

• Drive EBIT budget for the Campus
• Signs off all quotes, CAPEX requisitions, and fee credits.
• Continuously review costs with Heads of School to identify areas of opportunity and efficiency.
• Compile the preliminary and final annual budget for the year.
• Drive adherence to all finance policies and procedure
• Manage the debtors book together with Heads of School in alignment with targets and enforce suspension of students where accounts are in arrears.

Output 5 – Health and Safety

• Ensure OHS for in the school, liaising with management as necessary and monitoring compliance.
• Assist with the management and maintenance of facilities by reporting breakages and maintenance needs timeously.
• Select and set up of venues for classes and examinations in line with regulatory standards.
• Monitors the school environment and identify any health and safety hazards.
• Ensure compliance with all OHS policies.

Output 6 – Facilities Management

• Effectively allocate resources and ensure safe systems of work.
• Lead and manage any development and/or on-site contractions of the campus.
• Identifies all risks and hazards and ensures precautionary measures are taken prior to the commencement of hazardous operations.
• Eliminate and mitigate hazards or potential hazards.
• Enforce the requirements of the OHS Act and oversees compliance.
• Provides enforcement of measures in the interest of Health and Safety
• Assumes overall responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of students, staff and visitors.
• Oversees the operation of all IT facilities.
• Ensures the physical safety of everyone on the campus.

Education - Minimum:

• Degree in Education or its equivalent from a recognised University

• Honours/Master’s degree will receive preference.

Competencies:

Skills Behavioural Attributes

Leadership Analytical

Communication Customer Centric

Capability Building Collaboration

Commercial Aptitude Innovation

Management Honesty

Decision Making Integrity

Execution

Growth mindset