Head of Residential Life
Aga Khan Academy, Maputo (Mozambique)

The Aga Khan Academy Maputo, located in Mozambique, is seeking a Head of Residential Life (RL) for August 2023.

The Aga Khan Academy Maputo, located in Mozambique, is one of four Aga Khan Academies. In 2000, His Highness the Aga Khan initiated the establishment of the Aga Khan Academies, an integrated network of schools to be located in countries across Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East.

The aim of the Academies is to develop future leaders with the skills and knowledge to support positive development in their societies. The Academies achieve this by recruiting exceptional young people from all backgrounds and providing them with the highest international standard of education. Admission is based upon merit, with financial aid available to ensure access for accepted students regardless of financial circumstances.

The Aga Khan Academy, Maputo is a K-12 co-educational, day and residential school dedicated to expanding access to education of an international standard of excellence.  The Academy offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes, with the Residential Programme accepting students from Grades 6 through to Grade 12.

The Head of Residential Life (RL) will be responsible for the effective leadership and management of the school’s residential/boarding program. With the current number of students in residences of just under one hundred, the incoming Head of Residential Life must be well experienced in leading and managing a fledging Residential Program with a focus on a caring and nurturing learning environment, dedicated to the wellbeing and education of all students. Experience developing policies, procedures and programming, with paramount importance being given to the development and implementation of a strong Service Learning and Leadership programme are critical features of this role.

The Head of RL will report to the Head of School and work closely with the Senior School Principal, coordinators and the School Leadership Team. The position will require establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with parents, students, faculty, and staff

PURPOSE:

The Head of Residential Life (RL) is tasked with the responsibility to ensure that the residences are led and supervised to meet the Safeguarding requirements of the Aga Khan Academy, Maputo, the pastoral needs of students and the mission and vision of the school. He/she is responsible for the appointment of residential staff and leads the team of residential staff. He/she is responsible for the welfare of residential students and staff. The Head of RL is responsible for appointing and developing the supervising Heads of each of the Residence houses and for implementing a quality assurance process, ensuring policies are applied consistently and that there is effective pastoral care of students. He/she ensures effective communication between the Residential community, the rest of the school and parents/guardians.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop the ethos and culture of Residential life in line with the AKA vision and mission, focusing on Leadership, and Community Service Learning.
• Ensure a visible and active presence in the boarding community and houses in order to develop a relationship with all residential students.
• Monitor and maintain the welfare, safety, discipline and pastoral well-being of all Residential students.
• Be responsible for the organisation and development of the Residences, both day to day running and long term strategy.
• Plan and oversee the residential activities programme in line with the expectations of the AKA residential life experience.
• Be responsible for leading and line managing the Heads of Residential Houses, Residential parents, the Nurse, and laundry staff.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are followed (safeguarding, health and safety etc.)
• Deploy, train and develop all residential staff to make the most effective use of their skills including Academy Fellows.
• Ensure the Residential facilities and environment are safe and well maintained.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with parents and guardians of residential students.
• Communicate with parents and other stakeholders.
• Arrange host families and support the host family programme
• Make arrangements for and oversee additional programmes that utilize and impact the residences such as the Grade 9 Student Exchange Programme, holiday related programmes.
• Support the Admissions team by providing information and tours of the residences to prospective parents.

Supervision of Staff

• Lead and line manage Heads of Residential Houses and residential staff to ensure consistent implementation of policies and procedures and effective systems are in place to support student wellbeing.
• Ensure that staff understand the aims and objectives of the AKA Residences and the policies that underpin them.
• Plan and communicate supervision rotas and activities staffing.
• Generate a shortlist of Academy Fellows (when applicable) and ensure appropriate candidates are selected in conjunction with the Head of Academy.
• Provide staff with induction training, continuing development and supervision sufficient for them to learn and develop their roles and responsibilities.
• Ensure suitable cover is arranged in the event of staff absence.
• Be in residence before the start and after the end of each term to ensure that the arrival and departure of students is suitably staffed and to meet parents.

Residences Organisation and Development

• Chair weekly residential team meetings.
• Organise meetings so that residential students can share their ideas and ensure that student feedback is secured on a regular basis through questionnaires.
• Appoint residential students to leadership roles, including food committee, and ensure these roles are carried out effectively and records kept.
• Organise all beginning of term, mid term and end of term travel for students, ensuring appropriate arrival and departure dates.
• Establish, publicise and maintain a routine for the residential houses.
• Oversee the timely organisation of a full and varied set of evening and weekend activities, including the planning of trips; liaising with residential staff, supporting teaching staff and HoA.
• Organise the regular and traditional events throughout the year and other ad hoc events and outings.
• Liaise with the kitchen staff regarding day-to-day and individual student requirements.
• Liaise with the finance department to set an annual budget for boarding and to monitor the uptake of all charged activities.
• Coordinate requests for maintenance and refurbishment as required and ensure the residences are safe and well maintained.
• Ensure all display boards and notices are kept up to date.
• Ensure that the residences are secure at all times.

Policies and reporting

• Maintain all relevant policies and literature as required.
• Be responsible for the annual review and update of the residential handbooks.
• Write and deliver reports as necessary and contribute to the school development plan.

Welfare of Residential Students

The welfare of residential students is the primary responsibility of the Head of RL.

• Act In Loco Parentis for all students within the care of the residences.
• Ensure that students understand the aims and objectives of the AKA Maputo residential programme.
• Plan and run inductions for all new students, regardless of when they may arrive throughout the course of the academic year.
• Ensure that the individual circumstances, needs, strengths, health issues of each student are identified and share with other staff as needed.
• Keep suitable records of events, including health, welfare, socio-emotional, achievement or misconduct.
• Ensure records relating to the whereabouts of residential students are accurate and up to date.
• Be aware of all aspects of Safeguarding and ensure all residential staff complete Child Protection training.
• Serve as the Safeguarding Focal Person.
• Promote and ensure zero tolerance of bullying.
• Promote the school’s Code of Conduct.
• Carry out and review risk assessments regarding Health and Safety matters.
• Carry out regular safety and security drills and ensure all members of the residential community are aware of fire safety protocols from the first night in the residences.

Communication

• The Head of RL should endeavour to foster and maintain positive relationships with the parents and guardians of all residential students.
• Liaise with parents on a regular basis.
• Ensure that parents and guardians understand the aims and objectives of the Residences and the policies that underpin them. In particular, ensure that guardians have a clear understanding of their duties to their students and to the school.
• Cultivate contact and communicate to ensure that parents and guardians are kept fully informed of their child’s progress by the residential parent/Head of Residential House
• Oversee the development of a Residential Life Report to parents at the end of each Semester.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Residential supervisory role, in a culturally diverse setting.
• Proven record of outstanding leadership.
• Minimum, Undergraduate degree with Teaching License and a minimum of 5 years as a classroom practitioner
• Excellent knowledge and practical experience in safeguarding and child protection.
• Previous experience and extensive knowledge of the IB curriculum is preferred
• Experience working in Africa preferred.

ATTRIBUTES

• A dynamic, warm, compassionate and community oriented leader, with a good sense of humour.
• Strong understanding of the wellbeing of students, their needs and ways to support them.
• Outstanding ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to interact well and communicate effectively with students, parents and colleagues within a diverse and pluralistic society
• Attention to detail, discretion and the highest standards of integrity.
• Fluency in English is required, with Portuguese being an asset.

Please submit a current resume with three references, and a cover letter explaining your strengths and suitability for the position, in one PDF file. 

Application can be sent to Recruitment.Maputo@agakhanacademies.org

Application Deadline: March 17, 2023

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as the Academy reserves the right to close the selection process at any time if a suitable candidate is identified.