Head of HR

The Opportunity

Downe House Riyadh opened in September 2022 and is the first British private all-girls’ school for 3-18 year olds to establish in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The opening of a new school is always an incredibly exciting time. Downe House Riyadh provides a world class curriculum in partnership with an authentic girls-only private school from the UK. With over a century of experience, Downe House is one of the UK’s most celebrated all-girls’ schools. It consistently ranks amongst the country’s top five schools of its kind.

This is an exceptional and rare opportunity for someone who has the qualities, skills and experience to be the Head of Human Resources of Downe House Riyadh in its founding year. The successful candidate will work closely with the Head of School providing professional skills and technical capabilities with specialist's subject knowledge in employment legislation to ensure the effective operations of Human Resources at Downe House Riyadh.

The School

Located towards the north of Riyadh in the prominent neighbourhood of Aqeeq, Downe House Riyadh will offer a British curriculum based on the tradition and expertise of Downe House UK. The curriculum will be sensitively adapted for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ensuring girls will excel in Arabic language and Islamic Studies, alongside other subjects. Downe House Riyadh has accepted admissions from Pre-School to Year 11 (ages 3 to 15) for the 2022 - 2023 Academic Year.

The Person

The successful applicant will be a key public face of the School. The Head of HR will provide an efficient and responsive strategic, administrative and organisational HR service to the school. This will be achieved by helping the Principal to lead ‘people management’ by providing professional skills and technical capabilities, specialist subject knowledge (including employment legislation), integrity in decision making and operational activity that is required for the effective operations of Human Resources at Downe House Riyadh.

We hope this post will attract an experienced professional from the education sector. Alternatively, the role might suit an exceptional individual with wider educational or HR experience gained outside the sector but who has an instinctive feel for the school’s stakeholders and their needs, bringing with them the relevant skills to undertake this complex and exciting job. 

An understanding of, and empathy with, the School’s ethos is essential.

How to Apply

In order to apply, please click on the Apply Now button beneath the advert text - here you will be able to download an application form.

After considering the details of the candidate information pack, job description and person specification, complete all sections of the application form including the supporting statement that sets out your interest in this position, how you meet the requirements of the role and your ambitions for the school.

Any submission without a completed Downe House Riyadh Application Form will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 19th February 2023.

Shortlisted candidates will be notified, and interviews arranged accordingly. Downe House Riyadh reserves the right to appoint before the closing date and early application is therefore advised.

For more information or an informal conversation please contact careers@downehouseriyadh.com 

Safeguarding and Privacy

Downe House Riyadh is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to respect this commitment. The post is subject to applicants providing a satisfactory Police Clearance Certificate from their home country that is less than 3 months old.

By applying for this post, you agree to your data being held and processed by Downe House Riyadh and its affiliates. If you are appointed to the post, you also agree to additional information, including sensitive data such as bank details and medical information, being held by Downe House Riyadh and its affiliates.