Junior Schools Principal

Role overview

The Junior Schools Principal will work closely with the Director General and Senior Principal to provide consistent leadership across Kindergarten, Lower Primary Schools, and Daycare. The role is focused on translating the school’s vision into day-to-day practice, strengthening a values-led culture, and ensuring a high standard of excellence across all areas of school life.

This position requires someone who can build strong relationships across the school community, stay informed about developments within Misk Schools, the Misk Foundation, and the wider education landscape, and lead with clear moral purpose. The successful candidate will also contribute directly to the smooth running, strategic direction, and ongoing improvement of the school.

Key responsibilities

• Set and safeguard high standards of professionalism and integrity throughout the school.
• Keep the Director General informed on operational performance and strategic progress.
• Take responsibility for student safety and welfare, including their spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.
• Support staff growth and wellbeing while promoting a culture centered on learning and achievement.
• Guide Vice Principals, Assistant Principals, and managers across Kindergarten, Lower Primary Schools, and Daycare.
• Oversee key systems and operational processes, delegating tasks appropriately where needed.
• Maintain self-evaluation documents and related review processes on an ongoing basis.
• Help shape the school’s aims and objectives and support their implementation across the relevant schools.
• Put in place and sustain the policies and procedures needed to meet school goals.
• Allocate staff resources effectively to support delivery of objectives.
• Implement the quality assurance framework within Kindergarten, Lower Primary Schools, and Daycare.
• Carry out the school appraisal process within these settings.
• Ensure accurate gathering, review, and communication of student progress and achievement data.
• Apply the behavior policy and associated procedures consistently.
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team Academic to coordinate the whole-school calendar and support smooth daily operations.
• Collaborate with shared services teams to ensure school operations run effectively and deliver required outputs.
• Plan semester and annual requirements with shared services departments in advance.
• With agreement from the Director General, directly manage Vice Principals and Assistant Principals.
• Support middle leaders in addressing issues within their teams.
• Develop a strong teaching team committed to high standards and continuous professional development.
• Through delegation and shared accountability, ensure year groups and classes meet attainment and progress targets.
• Carry out teaching duties when required and remain flexible to teach outside a specific subject area or age range to support school continuity.
• Provide cover and duty support as needed.
• Complete any other duties assigned by the line manager.

Safeguarding

The post holder must actively protect and promote the welfare of children and young people, follow safeguarding policies and the staff code of conduct, and support the designated safeguarding lead as a priority to ensure student safety and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• Qualified Teacher Status is required.
• Leadership preparation such as NPQSL, CPML, or an equivalent qualification is required.
• A Master’s degree in Education or Leadership is preferred.
• Headship preparation such as NPQH, CPAH, or an equivalent qualification is preferred.

Experience

• More than 5 years of successful leadership and management experience in Kindergarten, Lower Primary Schools, and Daycare, with a strong record of achievement in a similar role.
• More than 5 years of teaching experience.
• Understanding of school self-evaluation and development planning.
• Experience managing staff directly.
• Experience supporting staff development.
• Experience in strategic planning and execution.

Personal attributes

• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to make decisive decisions when needed.
• Confident and compelling communicator who can engage staff, pupils, and parents.
• International outlook with awareness of the needs of students and families living and working in Saudi Arabia.
• Strong change leadership mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and a culture of learning.

Skills, knowledge, and abilities

• Ability to lead an exceptional school through innovative and effective educational leadership.
• Capacity to work within a wider organization and build professional relationships across schools and Misk Foundation teams.
• Understanding of high-quality teaching and the ability to model and improve it in others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal ability.
• Ability to present a vision clearly and motivate others.
• Skill in building productive working relationships.
• Data analysis capability, including linking achievement data to curriculum, pedagogy, and teaching strengths and gaps.
• Proficiency with Microsoft and Google office tools.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage priorities effectively.
• Ability to delegate responsibly while supporting team development.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Additional information

This role includes teaching responsibilities as needed, along with cover and duty support when required. The post holder may also be asked to take on additional tasks from the line manager.