Second Master/Vice Principal

WELLINGTON COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL SHANGHAI

SECOND MASTER / VICE PRINCIPAL

This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the best-regarded British school names in China in a strategic senior leadership capacity.

The Second Master / Vice Principal will be the perfect position for an experienced senior leader looking to move to China for the first time or to return the country in a senior role. The standing and success of Wellington College International Shanghai, the magnificent professional and career development opportunities provided by Wellington College China, and the vibrant life of the international city of Shanghai all make this a compelling opportunity at a fascinating time to be in China.

The Second Master / Vice Principal will be a vital member of our Senior Leadership Team, inspiring teams across the school to deliver a high-quality education and working closely with the Master and other senior colleagues to sustain and strengthen further the College. It could suit an existing senior deputy head or other senior leader looking to take their next step up, but it could also be an option for those with headship experience who are attracted to the size, strength and reputation of our College and our group and the chance to be in China as the country becomes even more significant geopolitically. Whatever your background, this has the potential to be a highly significant career move: if you succeed, there are likely to be future opportunities to make progress within the Wellington College China group.

Wellington College International Shanghai opened in 2014 in the New Bund area of Shanghai. With state-of-the-art facilities, WCIS has almost 1,600 pupils aged 2-18 following EYFS, the English National and International Primary Curricula, IGCSEs and the IBDP. We seek to foster in our pupils a sense of the Wellington Identity in a way that is consistent with the original Wellington College – one of the UK’s most respected schools and long known for its pioneering, innovating and transforming education – but within the context that has been set by Wellington College China since 2011.

The Second Master will have a good understanding of international best practice in education and extensive experience of education in high-calibre schools. This is a new position intended to add significant capacity to WCIS’s leadership; the successful candidate must be able quickly to establish credibility with leadership colleagues, teachers and staff, parents and more widely in the Shanghai community.

This is an outstanding opportunity. WCIS is highly successful but there will be plenty of scope for the Second Master / Vice Principal to make a significant difference across the College and in strengthening cohesion within our community.

The Second Master / Vice Principal will be offered a highly competitive salary. The remuneration package will include an accommodation allowance, comprehensive medical insurance for themselves and dependents, school places, relocation support, annual flight allowance aligned with the WCC policy for senior leaders and a phone allowance.

WCC also offers an exceptionally attractive level of variable performance-related pay for Senior Leaders. The Second Master will be entitled to the group’s highest level of bonus plan incorporating an annual Executive Bonus based on individual and school targets and enrolment in the group’s Long Term Incentive Plan which is linked to Group-wide KPIs. 

All senior leaders have fully-funded access to an external Executive Coach to support their personal and professional development.

The position will be offered on the basis of an initial 3-year contract but WCC is interested in candidates who see themselves being committed in the longer-term to WCIS and WCC.

Further, detailed candidate information about this role, including information on how to apply, is available at www.rsacademics.com

For a preliminary, confidential conversation about the role with Jean Sullivan, Head of International Search at RSAcademics or Keith Clark, Head of International Leadership Appointments, please contact jeansullivan@rsacademics.com.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is 27th November at 10:00 (UK)/18:00 (China)

Wellington College China and Wellington College International Shanghai place the safety and wellbeing of its community at the heart of all that we do as an institution. This includes robust child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures. All members of staff understand the central importance of this commitment and undergo annual training in safeguarding young people. Also, they are required to read and sign the College’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct annually. The College adheres to the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection (ITFCP) for its recruitment processes. Applicants to the College staff are required to undergo rigorous background checks before they are appointed.