Kindergarten Principal

Job Start:  As soon as possible

Location: Karl-Heine-Straße 95 Leipzig, Germany

Contract: Full-time, initially time limited contract of employment for two years, extension possible

Leipzig International School is an independent non-profit day school for students from Nursery to Grade 12. It provides a high-quality international education, conducted predominantly in English, to children of all backgrounds; thereby supporting a diverse community and promoting international understanding. Over 200 staff members from all over the world work together to create a stimulating and exciting learning environment for our children whose families come from over 70 countries. Established in 1992, the school has grown and developed significantly over the past years. It operates at two locations: on Könneritzstraße (School, Grades 1 through 12) and on Karl-Heine-Straße (Kindergarten).

Our Leipzig International Kindergarten, opened in June 2014, provides over 270 children aged 1 to 6 with a full-day early education programme. We are fortunate to be working in an attractive, purpose-built facility that hosts a wide range of indoor classrooms and play spaces as well as a spacious, landscaped outdoor learning environment. Our aims is to support each child’s personal, social, academic, physical and emotional development in an international setting. 

Are you interested in becoming part of an international team? Do you believe that education is about learning how to become a citizen of the world? Then we are looking forward to hearing from you!  

We are seeking a Kindergarten Principal (m/f/d) starting as as soon as possible who will maintain and further develop of a stimulating and productive, internationally minded learning environment.

As our Kindergarten Principal you will be responsible for the Kindergarten and for a team of about 60 staff members. You will be a member of the school’s Management Team and, as such, share responsibility for the school as a whole. You are accountable to the Head of School and the Commercial Director, with whom you collaborate with, keeping them informed about decisions and developments in the Kindergarten. As a learning leader, you will be responsible for overseeing the children’s personal, social, academic, physical and emotional development in an international setting whilst also promoting an environment where all students feel safe, secure and valued.

Your main tasks and responsibilities will be to:

• Ensure that the Kindergarten provides an excellent educational programme by creating a safe and stimulation learning environment in which the students can discover and develop their intellectual, physical, social and creative potential
• Promote the motto of our school “learning to be a citizen of the world”, so that children develop their first skills to think and act with openness to the perspectives, values and traditions of other cultures and communities, and thus develop an international understanding 
• Ensure a high-quality education in Kindergarten, embracing diversity as an essential part of the learning environment while ensuring equal opportunities
• Lead the development, implementation, evaluation and presentation of the Kindergarten concept and curriculum, and develop corresponding organizational and quality management systems
• Lead the strategic development of the Kindergarten and connect with whole school development planning, including the facilitation of and adherence to external accreditation process
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, Cambridge Curriculum, International Primary Curriculum and Saxony’s State Curriculum for Kindergartens as well as best practice from around the world
• Ensure that Kindergarten staff meets regularly for joint planning and facilitate continuous professional development, with a dual focus on team development and concept development
• Ensure equal opportunity and fair treatment of all team members and provide them with the training, the resources and the environment to further develop their professional skills
• Appraise all team members according to school policy and advise the Head of School on any contractual decisions
• Appoint pedagogical staff for the Kindergarten in close collaboration with the Head of School and the Human Resources Manager with the aim to employ and maintain caring, committed and talented internationally minded staff
• Collaborate with our Primary School to ensure an effective transfer for all children
• Advise the Director of Admissions in close collaboration with the Head of School on every child applicant for the Kindergarten
• Plan and organise parent evenings and conferences
• Meet with the Kindergarten Room Parents and encourage parent involvement in the life of the community
• Prepare and oversee budgets for the Kindergarten
• Maintain contacts with other international schools in order to facilitate collaboration

Your qualifications:

• Bachelor or Master level degree in related subject areas: Early Childhood Education, Social Work or Social Pedagogy or comparable education, or state recognised educator or remedial educator
• Strong management skills and leadership experience
• Structured and self-dependent working style 
• The ability to challenge situations and to change things for the better
• Strong communication and intercultural skills
• Fluency in the English and German language
• Experience of working in an internationally-minded and diverse school community is preferred

What we offer:

• Wonderful children and families
• An international team and work environment
• A dynamic and diverse workplace which continues to develop good teaching and learning practices
• The benefit of ongoing internal and external professional development
• Company pension scheme
• 30 days of paid vacation
• The chance to engage in the life of the International School in the beautiful city of Leipzig

The LIS strives for equal distribution of gender as well as for diversity.

The position will be filled as soon as the suitable candidate is identified.

Please apply only via our online application tool.