Upper School Principal

Brief description of the role:

As the primary administrator of the Upper School, the Upper School Principal oversees its

day-to-day operations, ensuring the effective management of its programmes, staff, students,

and curriculum. They work closely with all stakeholders to create an inclusive, dynamic, and

supportive learning experience. The Principal reports directly to the School Director and is a key

member of the school’s leadership team.

Profile:

● Deep understanding of and commitment to the International Baccalaureate;

● Demonstrated ability to build, lead, support and inspire teams;

● Minimum 5 years’ successful experience in a comparable position in an international

school (required);

● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English, preferably with a good

knowledge of a second language;

● Strong technology skills with a willingness to embrace emerging technologies;

● Knowledge of and experience in working with data collection, visualisation, information

management, as well as curriculum and learning management systems;

● Excellent time-management and organisational skills;

● Adaptable and flexible, especially when confronted with difficult situations;

● Effective complex problem solver;

● Highly collaborative and consultative;

● Pro-active, well-organised and discreet;

● Teaching certificate and classroom teaching experience (required);

● Experience and interest in providing alternative educational pathways for students

(preferred);

● Master’s Degree or equivalent in educational leadership experience or a related field

(preferred).

Characteristics:

● Kind, reflective, empathetic and honest, understanding that schools are complex and

that each individual brings their own identity, experiences and unique context;

● An effective leader and community builder who values all stakeholders and invests in

each year level to contribute to the success of the overall student experience;

● Humble yet forthcoming, open-minded but knowledgeable with the ability to engage

effectively and professionally with a breadth of internal stakeholders;

● Passionate about secondary education, pedagogical research and the needs of

adolescents in today’s environment;

● Sensitive to and invested in developing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging;

● Highly interpersonally credible, with the capacity to build relationships with a diverse

range of stakeholders, including students, the parent community, alumni, board and the

broader Luxembourg and international school community;

● An effective collaborator, eager to listen deeply, and to lead and contribute to a

community in the pursuit of shared goals;

● Resourceful and adaptive, eager to embrace personal and collective change, growth,

and learning;

● Culturally sensitive and aware, willing to navigate cross cultural and multi-cultural norms

and expectations;

● A positive contributor to the school, the community and the world;

● Adept at recruitment and all aspects of staff supervision and their continuous

professional development;

● Able to inspire trust and confidence amongst staff, parents, students and families

through relationship building and excellent public relations;

● Committed to the health, safety & security of children, including child protection issues.

Some of the responsibilities will include:

● Building a collaborative learning community within which students, faculty, staff feel a

sense of belonging and a joy for learning by being a kind, purposeful, present, and

visible leader;

● Ensuring that the operation of the Upper School reflects the school’s philosophy and that

the school’s mission and vision are implemented;

● Maintaining a culture of high expectations and academic excellence;

● Monitoring and evaluating the upper school’s academic performance and student

outcomes, using data and evidence to inform decision making;

● Ensuring that all students achieve their potential through learning experiences which are

designed to meet individual needs and build transferable skills;

● Connecting deeply with staff and students and upholding a welcoming, safe, and

respectful culture;

● Leading by example and upholding outstanding standards of professional conduct,

challenging the school’s staff body to strive for excellence;

● Fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration amongst staff and

students, encouraging creativity, diversity, and personal growth;

● Managing the upper school’s budget, resources, and facilities, ensuring they are used

efficiently and effectively to support the upper school’s operations and development;

● Inspiring a culture of innovation and collaboration that allows time and space to explore

and experiment with digital tools;

● Partnering with the Community Relations team to drive student enrollment;

● Maintaining and building upon positive relationships with parents and other stakeholders;

● Engaging meaningfully with the wider Luxembourg and international school community

as an outward-facing and charismatic ambassador for ISL;

● Overseeing the day-to-day management of the Upper School, including the

administration and supervision of systems and routines to ensure efficient operations;

● Keeping students, staff, the community, the Director, and the Board informed about

Upper School programmes and activities;

● Supporting the Director in running the whole school, and serving as acting Director when

necessary.

Working conditions:

Full time (40 hours per week) – Indefinite employment contract with a 12-month trial period –

Starting annual salary range EUR 142K to EUR 148K – 48 days holidays - digital lunch

allowance card - relocation allowances and home leave travel allowances - Supplementary

Pension scheme - access to professional development training.