Nordic School Director

About the role

A pre-school in Dar es Salaam serving children from age one through the year before primary school is looking for a Nordic School Director to provide overall leadership and ensure the institution remains compliant, financially sound, well-run, and aligned with its educational values. The role works in close coordination with the Head of Education, who leads pedagogy, curriculum, teaching, learning, and child development, while the Director retains full accountability for the school’s broader management and sustainability.

Key responsibilities

The Director will steer strategy, governance, finance, HR, administration, safety, facilities, and external relations. This includes turning the school’s vision and long-term goals into practical plans, ensuring operational capacity matches educational ambitions, and supporting growth, reputation, and continuity. The role also serves as the main link between the Board and Trustees and requires active oversight of compliance, reporting, and corrective actions arising from audits and governance reviews.

Strategic leadership and governance

• Lead the school’s strategic planning and support execution in line with its mission, values, and long-term direction.
• Make sure educational priorities, operational resources, and strategic goals are properly aligned.
• Convert strategy into clear work plans, measurable targets, and accountability structures.
• Guide the school through periods of expansion, organisational change, or restructuring when needed.
• Act as the main point of contact between the Board and the Trustees.
• Ensure adherence to all legal, regulatory, safeguarding, tax, and registration requirements.
• Maintain internal policies, procedures, and systems approved by the Board, including those related to HR, procurement, and safeguarding.
• Track audit and governance findings, assign corrective actions, report progress, and keep issues open until resolved.

Finance and operations

• Take full responsibility for income and expenditure within the budget approved by the General Assembly.
• Maintain strong financial controls, reporting, and a structured request-to-pay workflow with clear separation of duties.
• Ensure procurement requests are documented, reviewed, and approved in accordance with internal processes.
• Confirm that purchase, contract, and payment files are complete before authorising commitments.
• Release bank transfers and petty cash payments only after proper approval and proof of receipt of goods or services.
• Verify that requesters and the administration officer confirm delivery quality and completeness.
• Review a monthly sample of expenses and supporting records, document observations, and ensure follow-up action.
• Prepare the annual financial and operational report for the AGM on time and in full.
• Lead budget preparation, periodic monitoring, and updates throughout the year.
• Coordinate annual audit preparations, work proactively with auditors, and track audit recommendations through to closure.

Human resources

• Shape staffing plans and organisational structure to support school operations.
• Implement effective appraisal and performance management systems.
• Set up structured professional development for all staff members.
• Ensure compliance with labour law, safeguarding obligations, and relevant regulations.
• Create regular forums for communication between management and staff.
• Hire, appoint, or terminate staff in consultation with a Board member, and for teaching staff, together with the Head of Education, following legal and internal procedures.
• Ensure expatriate teacher appointments comply with Tanzanian rules and that work permits are secured where required.

Administration and school operations

• Attend Board meetings and present updates on school management and activities.
• Implement decisions made by the Board.
• Oversee the smooth and professional running of the school’s administrative systems.
• Represent the school externally for matters outside the Head of Education’s scope.
• Prepare the annual school calendar with the Head of Education and submit it to the Board.
• Supervise admissions in line with Board-approved guidelines.
• Keep enrolment records and student registers current for billing and reporting.
• Support applications for Swedish state grants for supplementary Swedish classes, if relevant.
• Ensure the Nordic School sports club, Nordic House, and other school activities operate properly.

Safety, facilities, and working environment

• Maintain a secure and child-safe environment for students and staff.
• Establish, document, and implement safety routines.
• Ensure staff receive relevant training in fire safety, first aid, and emergency response.
• Organise annual first aid and fire safety training for all staff.
• Plan and supervise building and inventory maintenance in consultation with the Board.
• Lead planning and follow-up for major maintenance work, especially during school holidays.

Public relations and outreach

• Represent the school in external engagements.
• Work with the Head of Education to organise open days, tours, and promotional events.
• Oversee the school website and social media so that information remains accurate and relevant.
• Help protect and strengthen the school’s public image.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold either a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, elementary education, or a related discipline from a recognised university with at least 5 years of teaching experience and 5 years in school management, or a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, or a related field from a recognised university with at least 10 years’ experience in an education organisation.

Candidates must be registered with, or eligible for registration by, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Tanzania. Strong knowledge of Nordic pedagogy, EYFS, IB PYP, Montessori, or similar international early years frameworks is also required.

Skills and competencies

• Board reporting and governance coordination
• School compliance and regulatory liaison
• Budgeting, financial oversight, and fee management
• Payroll, statutory deductions, and contribution administration
• Human resource planning and performance management
• Labour law and expatriate permit administration
• Operational leadership and administrative systems management
• Safety, safeguarding, OSHA, and fire compliance
• Facilities and maintenance coordination
• Public relations and stakeholder communication
• Knowledge of Nordic and international early years education models

Compensation

The salary on offer is a basic monthly amount of up to TZS 6.5 million.

Application process

Interested candidates are expected to send a CV only to the specified recruitment email with the subject line set as Nordic School Director. The deadline provided is 30 June 2026, although shortlisting may begin as soon as applications are received.

Additional information

The school’s leadership structure includes delegation of day-to-day pedagogical leadership to the Head of Education, while the Director remains responsible for the overall management, accountability, and long-term sustainability of the institution. The role also covers oversight of statutory obligations such as WCF, NSSF/PSSSF, OSHA, fire safety, tax compliance, and work or residence permit administration for expatriate staff.

The school is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and serves children from one year old up to the final year before primary school.

NOTE: Detailed employer and source-site references have been omitted in this version.