Director at Knightsbridge Schools International, Bogota in Colombia
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Director
Knightsbridge Schools International, Bogota (Colombia)

Appointed - Eric Hamilton
Oct 29, 2014
Dec 30, 2014

Knightsbridge Schools International – Bogotá (KSI-Bogotá)

Bogotá, Colombia

seeks a

Director

 

- - Effective July of 2015 - -

 

Deadline for Application:  December 30, 2014

 

About the School

Knightsbridge Schools International Bogotá is an international day school for boys and girls age 3- 18.  KSI-Bogotá is part of a global family of international schools providing a 21st century international education in a variety of exciting global locations (Bogotá, Montenegro, Turkey and Panama), for our learners aged 3 – 18.  Our philosophy and values are built from the success of Knightsbridge School in London.  We provide a bilingual English and Spanish education, offering our students a challenging and rewarding educational setting.  All students, teachers and staff work together to create a strong KSI family.

Located on a spacious and attractive school campus close to Chia in Bogotá, we strive to provide a wide range of opportunities for our learners to “be all you can be.” 

In addition to KSI Bogota’s own provision, KSI has as part of its family a Learning and Psychology Centre and a KidS nursery offering play-based learning located near Rosales in the heart of Bogotá, both run by separate and highly respected Directors.

KSI Bogotá is founded on the principles of global citizenship, as a member of a global network of schools, with a proud history and heritage of academic excellence in all aspects of international education. The school was established in September 2012 on the former site of Colegio La Candelaria.

Vision for Learners

Knightsbridge Schools International -- educates a community of global citizens by providing them with opportunities to be all they can be and inspiring them to make a positive difference in a changing world.

     

    

 

Mission

To cultivate the intellect, passion and imagination of our learners so that they are empowered to engage productively and creatively as global citizens who value and respect diversity.

 

The Position

The Director of School reports to the Executive Director of KSI in a transition phase until the appointment of a Chief Education Officer and will work collaboratively with all members of the KSI Executive Team to ensure the effective operation of the school, commitment to our core values and the realisation of our Knightsbridge Schools’ educational aims, mission and vision for learners.

 

Overall Responsibilities

The Director of School will have authority for the overall management, organization, and supervision of the school as entrusted by the Board of Directors and KSI Executive Team.  The overall responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

  • ensure that the Knightsbridge Schools’ (KS) mission, collaborative culture, values, ethos and IB learner profile remain highly visible in the international community 

  • demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively with all constituencies that embraces shared vision and decision making

  • build a cohesive school community through strong public relations and communication skills 

  • demonstrate strong organizational skills that support setting and follow-through of short and long term goals 

  • monitor and evaluate all phases of fiscal, business and educational services

  • participate in and lead the marketing, admissions and campus expansion plans

  • serve as the international spokesperson for our innovative educational programmes and global network of KS schools

  • work collaboratively with the Business Manager to create operational budgets that ensure sound fiscal practices, efficient and effective allocation of resources applied in every aspect of school expenditure

  • implement Knightsbridge Schools’ policies and develop new policies for Board approval  according to a review cycle

  • develop and lead the strategic planning of the school’s overall development

  • provide visionary leadership and the demonstration of exemplary management skills in the recruitment and development of faculty, the implementation of a superior curriculum, the assurance of long-term financial stability of the school, the provision of effective communication with all of the school’s constituents and the commitment to a strategic planning process

 

Preferred Characteristics and Qualifications

 

Education:

  • Masters’ degree in Education or Educational Leadership

 

Experience:

  • International teaching experience in at least 2 countries

  • Total teaching experience in excess of 10 years

  • Experience with a for-profit school and/or in a business-oriented environment

  • Experience in the Latin America region highly desirable

  • Minimum requirement of two positions as an international school Principal totalling no less than 5 years

  • Ideally at least one position as Director of School, either substantive or acting

  • Experience working in an all-through school: Kindergarten to Grade 12

  • Experience of taking schools through IB authorisation

  • Experience in a newly established school

 

Qualities & Competencies:

  • English/ Spanish Bilingual

  • Strong organisational and problem solving skills

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills

  • Initiative, enthusiasm, vision, and flexibility

  • Passion for learning and for educating children

  • An entrepreneurial nature – able to convert vision to action with limited resources

  • A global citizen with interest and respect for diverse cultures and values

  • A strong, self-confident leader who inspires by example

  • A team-oriented work ethic and collaborative decision making skills

  • Demonstrated advanced understanding of technology and its use to enhance teaching and learning

  • Demonstrated ability to inspire excellence and improvement in all areas of the school

  • Ability to define priorities and commit to a plan of action

  • Prior experience with school construction and expansions projects desirable

  • Appropriate teaching and academic qualifications in the area of school administration

  • Experience coordinating curriculum and supervising staff

 

Terms of Employment

46 Weeks - Actual work calendar to be determined by KSI

Salary and Benefits

Compensation will be competitive with regional international or independent schools of a similar post and depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. 

 

Professional Learning and Performance Appraisal

The post holder is required to sign his/her individual job description at the beginning of each academic year as part of the performance appraisal process.  He/she is responsible for creating a professional growth plan and collecting evidence to demonstrate how he/she is performing in relationship to the school’s guiding principles, strategic plan and core competencies /key performance indicators outlined in this job description. 

 

Knightsbridge Schools International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.  Employees must have, or be able to obtain, a full police clearance.

 

Procedure for Filing an Application

KSI-Bogotá has appointed Search Associates to facilitate the search for a new Director, with Bridget McNamer to act as the primary consultant. The deadline for applications is December 30, 2014. The review of files will begin as soon as applications are received.

 

Candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and the requested materials as early as possible as the Search Committee/Board of Directors reserves the right to close the selection process at any time if the right candidate is found. Selected candidate(s) will be interviewed first either by phone, Skype or personal interview, and finalist(s) will be flown to Bogotá in early- to mid-December (current dates in focus are December 8 and 9) and will have the opportunity to meet with school administrators, parents, students, and non-teaching staff.  The new Director will be appointed shortly after interviews of finalist candidate(s) have been completed.

 

Candidates who wish to apply should submit the following materials as a single pdf file.

 

  • A letter of application, no longer than two pages, explaining your strengths as a candidate and why you are interested in the KSI-Bogotá Director position

  • A current résumé not to exceed two pages

  • A one or two-page statement outlining your philosophy of education

  • A one-page list of at least three references with current phone numbers and email addresses

  • A maximum of four letters of reference (scanned at low resolution) which may already be in your possession

     

    Please note that all materials must be scanned into a single pdf attachment of 4MB or less and sent to Search Associates at the email address listed below. Please send the application to:

     

    bmcnamer@searchassociates.com

     

    with a cc to:

     

    jdoxey@searchassociates.com

     

     

    For additional information about KSI-Bogotá, please visit the KSI-Bogotá website:  http://www.ksi-bogota.com

     

     

Did You Know…?

Senior associate Harry Deelman was a student under Alec Peterson ("father of the IB") in the 1960's, and was introduced in some depth to the DP hexagon very soon after its creation.