Head of Secondary

Description

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children students and our schools.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

Purpose of Role

Position Title: Head of Secondary

Reports To: Principal / Head of School

Location: Hanoi Vietnam

Division: Grades 610 (growing to Grade 12)

The Head of Secondary is the strategic architect and lead learner for the schools growing secondary division. Tasked with building a future-ready secondary program this leader ensures that systems pathways and pedagogical practice evolve in alignment with the schools vision for holistic inclusive and globally minded education. With a balance of visionary thinking and operational execution the Head of Secondary nurtures a culture of professional learning student agency and university readiness. A key component of this role is the development of strong reciprocal relationships with students staff families and external partners ensuring the secondary school community is cohesive forward-looking and collectively invested in student success.

ISP Head of Secondary Key Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership

Ensure teaching practices prioritize clarity challenge formative feedback and academic rigour appropriate for adolescent learners.

Lead curriculum design across departments with coherence global relevance and innovation ensuring vertical alignment that prepares students for the demands of upper secondary and university pathways.

Promote the integration of technology real-world application and cross-curricular learning to foster critical thinking adaptability and future-ready competencies.

Align instructional expectations and assessments with international standards to support students readiness for higher education and lifelong learning.

Curriculum & Program Design

Lead the expansion of the secondary school including Grade 1012 programming.

Guide the ongoing development and refinement of curriculum frameworks that are vertically aligned culturally relevant and academically rigorous.

Coordinate with SLT to create clearly defined academic pathways toward university and career readiness.

Collaborate with the Head of Primary to support student transitions into the secondary program.

Oversee stakeholder engagement and strategic planning related to school growth.

Build strong partnerships with parents families and the wider community to support student success and program alignment.

Professional Learning & Capacity Building

Foster a culture of instructional coaching and feedback grounded in trust discovery and shared professional goals.

Design and lead professional development focused on high-impact research-based learning & teaching strategies including setting clear learning objectives providing timely feedback facilitating cooperative learning and using visual and experiential methods to deepen understanding.

Promote collective teacher efficacy by creating structures for collaborative planning peer observation and shared reflection.

Identify and mentor emerging teacher leaders supporting leadership development within and across departments.

Support staff in goal setting and professional growth through regular observation and reflection.

Engage in regular classroom visits and learning walks to support teaching practice and foster instructional improvement.

Model lifelong learning and facilitate targeted professional development aligned to school priorities.

Student Success & Wellbeing

Support teachers in using data to inform instruction and report on learning.

Coordinate with learning support counselling and EAL departments to support diverse needs.

Collaborate on college and career readiness including counselling systems and transitions.

Ensure that reporting and communication practices reflect progress growth and reflection.

Promote inclusive education principles and equitable access for all learners.

Operational Leadership

Build strong relationships with students staff and families.

Manage scheduling staffing and resourcing to align with program expansion.

Represent the school in accreditation community and university partnership contexts.

Administrative

Oversee the intake and coordination of all evaluation requests submitted by teachers or parents ensuring appropriate next steps are taken.

Support School events including but not limited to school publications and communiqués; Work closely with the members of the administrative team for enrollment admissions advancement public relations and student activities and programs

Communicate about the schools academic and co-curricular programs by writing school articles publications and/or making presentations

Oversee and assist with any accreditation and attendant school visits

Assist with day-to-day operations whenever called upon to assist; Supervise budgets relevant to the international academic program

Ensure maintenance of internal School Calendar schedules and agenda

Skills Qualifications and Experience

Key Attributes

Future-oriented thinker with a focus on building sustainable systems.

Skilled instructional leader across adolescent developmental stages.

Strong communicator and relationship-builder.

Leads with purpose humility and clarity

Credentials and Expertise

Masters Degree in Education Curriculum or a related field.

Deep understanding of standards-based education using frameworks such as AERO USCC Cambridge or equivalent international benchmarks.

Demonstrated experience applying Understanding by Design (UbD) principles to curriculum planning and instructional leadership.

Significant experience in international and bilingual K12 school settings with a focus on Secondary School education.

Strong classroom teaching background with a minimum of five years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures including an online due diligence search references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying hiring developing and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender ethnicity sexual orientation and gender expression age disability status neurodivergence socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.