Head of School

Sacred Heart School of Halifax is seeking a dynamic leader and educator who can build a strong vision, culture of collaboration and fuel Sacred Heart's growth.

For over 177 years, Sacred Heart School of Halifax (SHSH) has been providing a deeply meaningful education to our students - one rooted in our founder St. Madeleine Sophie Barat's vision that education transforms society.

Sacred Heart School of Halifax integrates rigorous academics with a whole-child, values-based education rooted in community and global Sacred Heart traditions.

Sacred Heart School of Halifax is different for many reasons. It is one of, if not the only one in Canada, to offer a Diamond Model of education - together, apart, together, meaning co-ed education in the Elementary School (Grades JP-6), single-gender education in the Junior High School (Grades 7-9), and then back to co-ed in the Senior High (Grades 10-12).

SHSH is a Catholic school that welcomes all faiths.

SHSH is proudly independent, with CAIS accreditation that provides a guarantee of excellence in education, leadership, management, and governance. And, we are small enough to retain our familial feel yet large enough to support a robust roster of course offerings, activities, and experiences.

SHSH is part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, an association of Catholic independent schools acting in cooperation with the USC Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart to advance a shared mission. The 25 Schools of the Sacred Heart in the United States and Canada find unity in a shared mission articulated in the Goals and Criteria .

The Network is part of the International Network of over 150 Sacred Heart Schools across the globe.

To ensure the vitality of mission, the structure supporting Sacred Heart education includes the Network of Sacred Heart schools and the Conference of Sacred Heart Education. Together they provide services and programs to ensure vitality of mission for the member schools sponsored by the Society of the Sacred Heart .

Sacred Heart School of Halifax is built on tradition, history, and a powerful Sacred Heart global network united by our Five Goals. Through this foundation, a purposeful pedagogy, and a commitment to developing the whole child - mind, body, and spirit - we are developing students who are not just the best in the world, but the best for the world.

Reporting to the Board of Governors, the Head of School is responsible for providing strategic and educational leadership to faculty, staff, and students. As the Head of School, you will work closely with the Board to develop a strategic plan that is both a contemporary reflection of today's changing world and is proudly grounded in the values and history that make Sacred Heart so special.

You will inspire and engage the members of the Sacred Heart community in that plan, and you will communicate a clear, compelling vision for the future.

As the academic leader, you will enhance excellence in educational instruction, promote 21st century learning, technology and curriculum and you will build upon exceptional School spirit. As the administrative leader, you will translate the School's strategies into clear action plans, lead and engage people, manage budgets and infrastructure, steward the School's programs and operations, ensure that the School meets its Goals and Criteria , and champion equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.

As the lead ambassador for the School, you will promote and represent SHSH to a broad range of audiences and advance enrolment and fundraising goals. As the School's faith leader, you will demonstrate the spirit of Sacred Heart's founder, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, and "by your example, even more than your words, be an eloquent lesson to the world".

As the ideal candidate, your graduate degree and background as both an educator and leader in an independent school environment has equipped you with the foundation you need to build on a history of excellence at SHSH.

You are a highly collaborative and inspirational people leader and your exceptional interpersonal, listening, communication and relationship building skills enable you to inspire confidence and relate effectively with the faculty, staff, students, Board and donors alike. Compassion, courage and authenticity are hallmarks of your leadership. SHSH's Five Goals of: a personal and active faith in God, a deep respect for intellectual values, the building of community as a Christian value, a sense of social justice which impels to action, and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom, all resonate deeply with you.

Above all, you are guided by your heart-based leadership style and your passion for transforming the lives of students and society through education.

As the ideal candidate, you bring strong fundraising skills and can help lead a committee of finance and advancement experts on a path to consistent enrolment and fiscal growth and sustainability. You bring proven leadership in human resources, with…