Head of Primary ISP Program

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and entrepreneurial Head of ISP Primary Program to lead the development and implementation of our newly launched International Signature Program (ISP) Primary. This is a hands-on program leadership role for an education professional who can build a new program from the ground up, lead and develop a teaching team, teach students directly, establish effective systems and processes, and work collaboratively with academic and school leadership.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working in a developing environment where not all systems are already established and should be able to identify needs, initiate projects, make practical decisions, manage resources, and turn ideas into implementation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Leadership and Start-up Development

• Lead the development and day-to-day implementation of the ISP Primary program.
• Translate the ISP Primary vision and strategic direction into practical programs, systems, and learning experiences.
• Take initiative in identifying opportunities and areas for improvement, and develop practical solutions.
• Initiate and lead new academic and student-development projects from concept through implementation.
• Establish and continuously improve program structures, processes, and operating systems.
• Develop annual priorities, action plans, and implementation timelines for the Primary program.
• Work collaboratively with academic leadership to establish the program's culture, standards, and long-term direction.
• Support program growth and readiness as the Primary section expands.

2. Teaching and Learning

• Teach a defined number of classes as a teaching leader and role model.
• Demonstrate high-quality classroom practice and model effective teaching strategies.
• Support teachers in lesson planning, differentiation, assessment, classroom management, and student engagement.
• Conduct lesson observations and provide constructive, developmental feedback.
• Monitor student learning and ensure appropriate support and intervention where required.
• Promote inquiry, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and other future-focused competencies.

3. Team Leadership and Teacher Development

• Lead, support, and develop the ISP Primary teaching team.
• Establish a collaborative, professional, and accountable team culture.
• Set clear expectations and monitor teacher performance.
• Mentor and coach teachers to strengthen their professional practice.
• Identify professional development needs and coordinate appropriate CPD.
• Support teacher recruitment, onboarding, induction, and integration into the ISP culture.
• Build team capacity as the program grows.

4. Budgeting, Financial Planning and Resource Management

• Contribute to the development of the annual ISP Primary budget.
• Prepare budget proposals based on program priorities, student needs, staffing, resources, events, and development plans.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and identify potential variances.
• Make informed recommendations on the allocation of academic and program resources.
• Evaluate the educational value and cost-effectiveness of proposed resources, programs, and activities.
• Work with the relevant Finance and Operations teams on purchasing, procurement, and budget management.
• Demonstrate sound financial literacy and commercial awareness when making program decisions.
• Balance educational quality, student experience, and responsible resource management.

5. Student and Parent Engagement

• Monitor student academic progress, engagement, and overall learning experience.
• Work closely with teachers and relevant school teams to address student needs.
• Serve as a key academic contact for parents.
• Communicate effectively with parents regarding student learning, progress, and academic matters.
• Support parent engagement activities, academic events, and program showcases.

6. Program Operations and Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate academic planning, teaching schedules, meetings, and program requirements.
• Establish effective workflows and operating procedures for the Primary program.
• Ensure teachers follow agreed academic processes, policies, and standards.
• Work with relevant school departments on student support, events, resources, and program operations.
• Identify operational challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Use student, parent, and teacher feedback and relevant data to drive program improvement.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for academic leadership.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Education, Primary Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Significant experience teaching in a primary school environment.
• Experience in an international school, English-medium program, bilingual program, or international curriculum is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in a leadership role such as Grade-Level Leader, Subject Leader, Coordinator, Assistant Head, or equivalent.
• Strong classroom teaching skills and willingness to maintain a teaching load.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring, coaching, and leading teachers.
• Experience establishing, developing, or launching a new program, project, initiative, or school section is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to take an idea from concept to planning to implementation to evaluation.
• Basic to strong financial literacy, with the ability to understand budgets, monitor expenditure, and make resource-allocation decisions.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong English communication skills, both written and spoken.

Key Competencies

We are looking for a leader who demonstrates:

• Program Builder - able to initiate and develop a new program rather than simply maintain an existing one.
• Strategic and Operational Thinking - able to connect long-term vision with practical day-to-day implementation.
• Initiative and Ownership - proactively identifies opportunities, takes responsibility, and moves projects forward.
• People Leadership - able to inspire, coach, develop, and hold teachers accountable.
• Teaching Excellence - remains connected to classroom practice and leads by example.
• Project Management - able to manage multiple initiatives, timelines, stakeholders, and priorities.
• Financial Literacy - understands budgets, resource allocation, cost implications, and financial accountability.
• Problem Solving - comfortable working through ambiguity and finding practical solutions.
• Data-Informed Decision Making - uses evidence and relevant data to improve program quality.
• Collaboration - works effectively with academic leadership, teachers, parents, and other school teams.
• Growth Mindset - continuously seeks to improve the program, team, and student experience.

What Success Looks Like

In the first year, the Head of ISP Primary is expected to help establish:

• A clear and consistently implemented ISP Primary academic and operational structure.
• A strong, collaborative, and professionally developed teaching team.
• Effective teaching, learning, and assessment practices.
• Clear systems for monitoring student progress and program quality.
• A positive student and parent experience.
• Well-managed program resources and budget.
• A pipeline of initiatives and improvements that support the future growth of ISP Primary.