Elementary Principal
Yokohama International School (Japan)

Effective August 1, 2024 

Application Deadline: September 30, 2023

Introduction

We are looking for a leader to join our School Leadership Team and lead our Elementary School from the 2024-25 academic year. This position requires someone deeply committed to supporting students' learning and personal growth, as well as a leader who can inspire students and colleagues alike. We believe this is a unique school and we are looking for the right person to be part of our team.

The School

Yokohama International School has a strong reputation within the international school world. This is based upon our desire to provide an experience for our whole community to live a full and balanced life, to learn through connecting, challenging and creating, and to lead by empowering others and making a difference.

We are an  IB continuum school with a focus on innovation in teaching and learning and also a proud history that dates back to 1924. Our community spirit is strong and is built upon trust and an appreciation of our diversity and commitment to supporting each other to lead fulfilling lives professionally and personally.  We have a new purpose built campus that reflects the diversity of our learning program and provides opportunities  to live and grow within an open and unique environment.

If you don’t know our school already then take a look at our website (www.yis.ac.jp), which offers all the information you need to find out who we are and what is important to us. You may also wish to look at our Impact Strategy which will give you an insight to areas of focus and development in our school.  

The Role

Being an Elementary Principal is an exciting position that allows you to be part of the formative years of our students and to support each student in making appropriate and sufficient gains in their learning, across our holistic program. Working with a highly skilled and experienced elementary team, you will be involved with classes from our Early Learning Center (3 & 4 year olds) through to Grade 5. We are an IB continuum school so our Elementary follows the PYP, however there is very much a YIS flavor to our learning program which adds to the uniqueness of our dynamic school which is strongly guided by our Guiding Statements.  The Principal position is  complex and requires many aspects of leading and managing learning, so please see the Job Description for details.

The Person

Beyond the obvious qualifications, we are looking for a person who can not only successfully lead our elementary learning community, but who will add capacity to our team and help us in bringing continual improvement to our school, our programmes and ourselves. This person will:

• Have the ability and capacity to be a learning leader through inspiration and by example.

• Have understanding of the developmental stages of elementary students and support their learning 

• Understand what appropriate gains in learning means and how to keep this as the focus for all decisions, discussions and developments.

• Be able to lead and support teachers so they can grow, learn and feel professionally challenged and fulfilled.

• Be fully involved in school life and understand the importance of providing unique holistic opportunities for students.

• Have the ability to connect with parents and support them in their role as partners in their child’s learning.

• Have an understanding and interest in inclusion and diversity, and provide an environment where this can happen.

• Have the ability to engage in tough conversations with diplomacy and tact, without losing sight of the responsibility of leadership or the integrity of all involved.

• Have strong communication skills and be able to communicate comfortably with individuals as well as large groups in a timely, efficient and confident way.

• Show a genuine interest in students and get to know them and their families on a personal level. 

• Be an active part of the school leadership team and possess the desire and ability to contribute to the betterment of the whole school.

• Have the ability to lead through developing other leaders and being excited by their success and “checking in” one’s ego at the door.

• A sense of team, calm and humor.

To apply, please click on “Apply Now” button on our employment page on the website, which will take you to our recruitment portal. Beyond answering the required questions, you will need to prepare a cover letter, CV of no more than 2 pages, and provide contact details for at least three professional references.

Thanks for taking the time to consider YIS and we look forward to hearing from interested candidates.