Head of Academy

The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, is an independent boarding and day school of 660 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 19. It began operating as a day school in August 2003, and started a full residential programme in April 2009. Its 18-acre (7.3 hectares) campus is based in the Kizingo area, on the south-eastern side of Mombasa Island. The design of the campus was inspired by Swahili architecture.

Instruction is in English and each student is expected to master at least one additional language. Children in the Junior School are taught in English and Kiswahili as part of a dual-language programme. There are currently 240 residential students, 85 teaching staff and over 100 support staff. For further information please visit our website www.agakhanacademies.org/mombasa 

We are seeking a talented Head of Academy who understands the nature of educational excellence, and who displays deep cultural awareness (ideally underpinned by experience of working and living in the developing world).

The Head of Academy is effectively the Chief Executive of the entire School and leads the Academy’s Senior Management Team. S/he has ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the Academy’s day-to-day running within the strategic and financial policy framework established in consultation with the Aga Khan School Head Office and for the realisation of His Highness the Aga Khan’s vision.

The successful candidate should have ;

Experience in IB -ideally with broad understanding of the full IB continuum (PYP-MYP-Diploma);

Experience of Boarding/Residential Community Life- ideally time spent in a co-educational boarding school or the ability to adapt to residential community life.

Cultural Awareness – experience of living and working internationally, desirably in the developing world, and ideally with some time spent in Africa;

Evidence of Leadership and Management – proven ability gained in senior positions in schools with reputations for educational excellence;

Evidence of Academic Leadership – a reputation as a respected educational leader and thinker with a record of improving teaching and learning, and of introducing new techniques and approaches.

Financial Management and Stewardship – experience of working in schools with constrained finances, and an appreciation of the need to be engaged in developing realistic strategic and operational plans, of utilising and allocating resources wisely, and of establishing sustainable budgets and successfully implementing them whilst instinctively knowing what aspects of a school budget must be protected in order to assure quality.

People Skills – high levels of emotional intelligence, and the ability to judge people’s character, to spot talent, to recruit, develop and retain excellent staff, and to forge successful and diverse teams;

Collaborative Mindset – the ability to harness the power and support of the network within which the Academy exists and a willingness to play a leadership role in and across AKS and AKDN;

The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students in its care. As an employer, the school expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are appointed subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

The closing date for applications: 28 February 2023

Start date: 1 August 2023

Early applications will be considered 

Applications should consist of a CV accompanied by a covering letter addressing the criteria in the Person Specification, These can be uploaded at www.society-search.com using the link -Apply now

Being an intentionally diverse community, we welcome applications from qualified candidates from all cultural and educational backgrounds.

Please note longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Society. A provisional shortlist of candidates will then be taken forward to interview with Aga Khan Schools. Visits to Kenya are likely to be required for the final shortlist.