Primary School Principal

Founded in 1924, the Foundation of the International School of Geneva, commonly known as Ecolint educates 4500 students aged from 3-18 representing over 130 nationalities. Each of our eight schools is dedicated to the development of seven life-worthy, future-ready global competencies: we develop lifelong learning, self-agency, and the ability to interact with the world, with others, and with resources to develop transdisciplinary, multiliterate thinking.

Through this, we drive our mission, which is to educate students to be global citizens with the courage and capacity to create a just and joyful tomorrow together. Ecolint is built on strong humanitarian values and prides itself on its long history of pedagogical innovation, including the creation of the Model United Nations system and the International Baccalaureate. We have around 1250 employees representing more than 60 nationalities, united as one core of dynamic professionals, committed to our mission.

The La Châtaigneraie Campus is set amidst the picturesque rolling farms and villages of Founex overlooking Lake Geneva not far from the city. With a mix of historic and new buildings, the campus is split into a Primary and Secondary school with a combined total of around 1600 students. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School while also offering our students the option to complete the Swiss Maturité.

Our programs are based on the IB’s ‘Learner Profile’, a set of ideals that inspire, motivate and focus the work of the school and help students to become more thoughtful, grounded, responsible, and caring global citizens. Fostering these qualities is at the heart of all we do. The international team of educators is devoted to supporting and celebrating a diverse population of students.

To complete our team, we are looking for a:

• Reporting to the Director General, the Primary School Principal has overall responsibility and accountability for the academic and administrative leadership of the La Châtaigneraie Primary School.
• The Principal will provide leadership, expertise, and innovative thinking around emerging trends in primary school education, administer and manage the operations of the Primary School, and inspire faculty, staff, and students to be active and engaged learners.
• In addition to being accountable for the Primary School, the Principal is also a member of the senior leadership team of Ecolint, providing guidance, leadership, and strategic direction to Ecolint as a whole.

 
Key responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team of Ecolint to ensure that all three campuses are providing an outstanding education to their students and that the overall goals and strategies of the School as a whole are being pursued.
• Work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team of Ecolint to ensure that all three campuses are providing outstanding education to their students, and that the overall goals and strategies of the School as a whole are being pursued.
• Have overall accountability and responsibility for all aspects of La Châtaigneraie Primary School including (through working with Ecolint’s central administration) HR, budget, admissions, and marketing.
• Have overall accountability and responsibility for all aspects of La Châtaigneraie Primary School including (through working with Ecolint’s central administration) HR, budget, admissions, and marketing.
• Oversee the appointment and professional development of outstanding educators with experience in the emotional and cognitive development of primary school students.
• Oversee the appointment and professional development of outstanding educators with experience in the emotional and cognitive development of primary school students.
• Provide direction, motivation, and inspiration to the Primary School faculty, staff, and students.
• Provide direction, motivation, and inspiration to the Primary School faculty, staff, and students.
• Seek new approaches to innovative learning and program delivery, based on educational research and best practice.
• Seek new approaches to innovative learning and program delivery, based on educational research and best practice.
• In collaboration with the Secondary School and Campus Principal, set and implement strategic priorities for teaching and learning across the campus.
• In collaboration with the Secondary School and Campus Principal, set and implement strategic priorities for teaching and learning across the campus.
• Work constructively with the Staff Association and the unions to ensure productive, positive partnerships and open and collegial relationships.
• Work constructively with the Staff Association and the unions to ensure productive, positive partnerships and open and collegial relationships.
• Work closely with parents, students, staff, and other members of the internal and external La Châtaigneraie community, acting as an ambassador for the Primary School.
• Work closely with parents, students, staff, and other members of the internal and external community, acting as an ambassador for the Primary School.

 
Academic:

• Work collaboratively in identifying and integrating technology tools that transform learning in the classroom.
• Work collaboratively in identifying and integrating technology tools that transform learning in the classroom.
• In collaboration with the Secondary School Principal, work to ensure a seamless transition for students as they journey through their time at La Châtaigneraie.
• In collaboration with the Secondary School Principal, work to ensure a seamless transition for students as they journey through their time at La Châtaigneraie.
• Work in partnership with the pastoral care and learning support teams to ensure appropriate provision for students with identified learning needs.
• Work in partnership with the pastoral care and learning support teams to ensure appropriate provision for students with identified learning needs.
• Oversee the development of innovative programmes that provide authentic and transformational learning opportunities for students.
• Oversee the development of innovative programs that provide authentic and transformational learning opportunities for students.
• Ensure continuous professional growth of staff to support program excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.
• Ensure continuous professional growth of staff to support program excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.
• Conduct staff evaluations, oversee staff induction orientation programmes, and take an active role in the mentoring of new teachers and department heads.
• Conduct staff evaluations, oversee staff induction orientation programs, and take an active role in the mentoring of new teachers and department heads.
• Lead, coach, and support teachers in the areas of curriculum design and development and ensure consistency in instructional and assessment practices.
• Lead, coach, and support teachers in the areas of curriculum design and development and ensure consistency in instructional and assessment practices.

 
Students:

• Take an active interest in the lives of the students at La Chataigneraie, providing advice, counsel, wisdom, and support as they journey through the Primary School.
• Take an active interest in the lives of the students at La Chataigneraie, providing advice, counsel, wisdom, and support as they journey through the Primary School.
• Set and communicate high standards for curricular/instructional quality and student achievement.
• Set and communicate high standards for curricular/instructional quality and student achievement.
• Seek out and support students’ involvement in the leadership of the Primary School.
• Seek out and support students’ involvement in the leadership of the Primary School.
• Ensure that La Chataigneraie Primary School continues to develop conscientious global citizens with both emotional and cultural intelligence.
• Ensure that La Chataigneraie Primary School continues to develop conscientious global citizens with both emotional and cultural intelligence.
• Ensure that the safety and welfare of students and staff are at the center of all action and all decision-making.
• Ensure that the safety and welfare of students and staff are at the center of all action and all decision-making.
• Ensure that the Primary School offers an inclusive and safe environment for students, with a constant focus on anti-discrimination and community-building.
• Ensure that the Primary School offers an inclusive and safe environment for students, with a constant focus on anti-discrimination and community-building.

 
 
Profile:

• Ecolint welcomes applicants from different backgrounds and with varied experience gained in settings around the world. First and foremost, the new Primary School Principal will be bilingual (English/French) with a command of both languages, both spoken and written. The Principal will bring intellectual depth, expertise in primary education and belief in the transformative power of a truly international education.
• The Principal will have the ability to inspire, excite, support, and engage faculty in striving for excellence in teaching and learning, and they will connect deeply and authentically with a diverse, engaging, and involved student body.
• The successful candidate is likely to possess all or most of the following experience, qualifications, credentials, and personal qualities.

 
Personal Qualities:

• An excellent listener who possesses tremendous organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to “roll up their sleeves” and multi-task in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining an excellent rapport with all constituents.
• An excellent listener who possesses tremendous organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to “roll up their sleeves” and multi-task in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining an excellent rapport with all constituents.
• Strong emotional intelligence, with the sensitivity to understand the needs of others and the ability to create the conditions for all students to thrive.
• Strong emotional intelligence, with the sensitivity to understand the needs of others and the ability to create the conditions for all students to thrive.
• A calm, consistent and articulate communicator, with strong relationship-building skills.
• A calm, consistent and articulate communicator, with strong relationship-building skills.
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion, strongly complemented by cultural intelligence.
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion, strongly complemented by cultural intelligence.
• A collaborative and collegial approach, with the ability to bring faculty, staff, students, and parents together in pursuit of a common vision.
• A collaborative and collegial approach, with the ability to bring faculty, staff, students, and parents together in pursuit of a common vision.
• Integrity, an open mind, empathy, resilience, optimism, compassion, humility, and respect for others.
• Integrity, an open mind, empathy, resilience, optimism, compassion, humility, and respect for others.
• A truly global mindset, a deep appreciation of diversity in all of its forms, and a sensitivity to cultural differences and traditions.
• A truly global mindset, a deep appreciation of diversity in all of its forms, and a sensitivity to cultural differences and traditions.
• Ability to personally model the school’s core values, as well as approachability, openness, and enthusiasm.
• Ability to personally model the school’s core values, as well as approachability, openness, and enthusiasm.
• Ability to connect easily with others, and balance firmness and fairness in problem resolution.
• Ability to connect easily with others, and balance firmness and fairness in problem resolution.
• A passion for teaching and learning, and for working with children of all ages.
• A passion for teaching and learning, and for working with children of all ages.
• A strong desire to support students’ growth, and to enable them to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.
• A strong desire to support students’ growth, and to enable them to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

 
Candidates are required to apply online by sending them:

• CV
• three professional references from your Managers, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer, that may be followed at the point of the interview 
• a covering letter addressed to Conrad Hughes before May 31th 2023 mentioning the reference number 230 339.

 Please note that only applications via our website will be considered.

The International School of Geneva values and encourages diversity among its staff. As such, we welcome applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds and experience. The School is seriously committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All successful candidates will be subject to rigorous conduct and child protection checks appropriate to their position, including prior checks with their previous employers and the authorities.