Associate Academic Head; International baccalaureate

Position: Associate Academic Head (International baccalaureate)
The Associate Academic Head supports the Senior Academic Head in driving academic excellence, consistency, and innovation across schools. The role partners closely with school leadership teams to strengthen teaching and learning, ensure alignment to academic standards, and implement system-wide academic priorities.

This is a strategic, system-level role focused on building leadership capacity, enhancing instructional quality, and supporting key initiatives such as professional development, leadership recruitment, and student enrichment. The role also contributes to the development and implementation of group-wide academic priorities and strategic initiatives.

Skills & Knowledge

Required:

- Good years of experience in education.
- At least 8-10 years in senior academic leadership roles (e.g., Programme Coordinator, Vice Principal, Principal, or equivalent)
- Experience working across multiple schools or in a system-level/cluster role is desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in driving academic improvement and leading teams through change.
- Strong understanding of the IB/IGCSE curriculum and assessment standards.
- Ability to influence and align diverse school leadership teams.
- Strong systems thinking and ability to scale best practices.
- Experience in leading change across multiple stakeholders.
- High levels of professional credibility and judgement.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership & Curriculum Implementation

- Support the Senior Academic Head in driving academic strategy and ensuring alignment across schools.
- Work closely with Principals and academic leadership teams to ensure consistent implementation of IB and other programmes.
- Lead cross-school curriculum alignment, standardisation, and quality assurance processes.
- Facilitate academic reviews, audits, and benchmarking exercises across campuses.
- Drive alignment between academic priorities and classroom practice through effective leadership engagement.

Leadership Support, Coaching & Capacity Development

- Partner with school leadership teams (Principals, Coordinators, Heads of Department) to strengthen teaching and learning practices.
- Contribute to and help drive the design and delivery of leadership-focused professional development.
- Guide school leaders in implementing effective instructional practices, assessment strategies, and intervention models.
- Provide coaching and strategic guidance to school leaders to strengthen instructional leadership practices.

Teaching & Learning Excellence

- Promote high-quality, evidence-based teaching practices across schools through leadership teams.
- Drive and support the rollout of academic initiatives, including masterclasses, enrichment programmes, and intervention strategies.
- Ensure clarity and consistency in expectations for high-quality teaching, planning, assessment, and student outcomes across schools.

Talent Development & Recruitment

- Contribute to the recruitment and selection of academic leadership positions (e.g., Coordinators, Heads of Department, Vice Principals).
- Contribute to onboarding and development of new academic leaders.
- Identify leadership pipeline opportunities within schools.

Professional Development & Initiatives

- Support the design and implementation of system-wide PD programmes.
- Lead or coordinate workshops, masterclasses, and academic enrichment initiatives for students and staff.
- Contribute to innovation in teaching and learning practices across the group.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

- Support schools in meeting IB/Cambridge and regulatory requirements.
- Contribute to accreditation, inspections, and evaluation processes.
- Ensure robust academic systems, processes, and documentation are in place.

Cross-Campus Collaboration & Network Learning

- Facilitate collaboration and sharing of best practices across schools to drive consistency and innovation.