Deputy Director of Academics
Job Description
Deputy Director of Academics
About Role
We are seeking a candidate for an exceptional opportunity to become a senior or high school leader within one of South China’s most established and respected international high school programs. The role encompasses strategic and academic leadership, curriculum innovation, and the pursuit of teaching excellence. Responsibilities include staff management, fostering professional development, ensuring high educational standards, and proactive engagement with parents and external stakeholders to represent and communicate the program’s vision and values.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
- To join the School Leadership Team, contributing to the broader strategic direction of DHHQ.
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
- To ensure the curriculum delivery is fully aligned with the aims of the DHHQ Programme, reflecting the needs of the students.
- To maintain an understanding of international curriculum development and to provide pedagogical leadership in developing the Programme as a model of outstanding practice in learning and teaching.
- To review, develop, and implement a curriculum which ensures an appropriately challenging yet accessible education for all students.
- To lead and embed excellent learning and teaching, focusing on student agency and enhancing the experience of all students and academic staff.
- To quality assure effective learning and ensure accountability for high educational outcomes.
- To line manage academic staff employed in the DHHQ Programme.
PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT
- To foster a culture of excellence and continued professional development at all levels and across all roles in the DHHQ Programme.
- To seek support from the DHHQ Programme partners to drive forward professional learning initiatives.
- To work on the recruitment of high calibre staff.
- To lead and implement the performance management process across the DHHQ Programme.
EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
- To maintain regular and proactive communication with parents.
- To be a compelling ambassador for the DHHQ Programme, effectively communicating the vision and ethos to prospective parents and other external stakeholders.
Our School
Dulwich International High School Programme is part of the wider Education in Motion (EiM) family. The Dulwich International High School Programme offers a curriculum for high school students that is made up of the IGCSE and A-Levels, with CNC modules offered by local partners, for Chinese and foreign students who want an excellent educational experience in preparation for the best universities in the UK, USA or elsewhere, inspiring them to build a global mindset on the foundation of English mastery and cultural understanding to be able to thrive in an interconnected, multicultural and multilingual world. Hengqin Huafa Yung Wing High School, as the Sino partner of the Programme, brings strong support in terms of local educational resources, activities, and experiences.
Dulwich International High School Programme Hengqin offers students comprehensive academic support, university and career counselling, an immersive linguistic environment, and a global culture to Graduate Worldwise. Our students are provided with a supportive environment of mutual care, respect, and concern from all staff members. We believe our students must gain holistic experiences and skills to engage effectively with new opportunities, thrive in a changing future, and create real impact as global citizens.
Zhuhai is one of several Special Economic Zones in mainland China and is undergoing significant development, including Hengqin Island, part of an education and technology hub in South China’s Greater Bay Area. Macau is just minutes away and Hong Kong is a one-hour ferry or bus ride over the new Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
Zhuhai is well positioned for flights within China and to Southeast Asia, and its high standard of living and warm temperate climate make it an excellent place to pursue an international teaching career.
Requirement
The successful candidate will be:
- A highly capable and proven educational leader with significant experience of international curriculum delivery in a China context.
- An outstanding educator and respected leader of learning, with a track record of delivering improvements to teaching and learning and fostering a culture of innovation.
- An effective leader and community builder who values all stakeholders and invests in each year level to contribute to the success of the overall student experience. An effective collaborator, eager to listen deeply, and to lead and contribute to a community in the pursuit of shared goals.
- Resourceful and adaptive, eager to embrace personal and collective change, growth, and learning.
- Culturally aware and willing to navigate within cross cultural and multi-cultural norms and expectations.
- A champion of a professional learning culture based on student needs.
- Adept at recruitment and all aspects of staff development.
- Highly interpersonally credible, with the capacity to build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including students, parent community, alumni, school
- bodies and external agencies.
- Inspiring trust and confidence amongst parents and families through relationship building, which includes strong spoken and written communication.
- Comfortable using technology as a tool to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and enhance instruction.
The successful candidate will have:
- University Honours Degree, a recognised teaching qualification, and evidence of ongoing professional learning and development.
- Proficient in both Chinese and English as working languages.
- In-depth knowledge, understanding, and experience of:
- Teaching strategies and pedagogy that both engage students and achieve the highest outcomes.
- Leadership and management of learning and teaching.
- Previous senior leadership position.
- School curriculum – including international curriculum, for example leading to the IGCSE and A-Level examinations; awareness of the Chinese National High School Curriculum structure and content will be advantageous.
- Assessment for learning, use of data, baselines assessment, and value-added.
- EAL provision
- Current education issues and up to date curriculum developments.
Leadership Capabilities
This leadership capability framework describes what ‘good’ leadership looks like in our schools. It articulates what capabilities we are looking for in order to deliver on College/School’s key priorities.
Our Leadership Capabilities include:
- Leads Teaching and Learning
- Leads with Vision and Inspiration
- Leads by building and sustaining high trust relationships
- Leads Inclusively
- Leads Strategic Thinking and Planning
- Leads the learning culture and professional learning community
- Leads the management of the school
- Leads Highly Effective Teams
- Leads Well-being
How to apply:
Successful applicants will be enthusiastic about the ethos and values of Dulwich International. An attractive and competitive remuneration package will be offered to the chosen candidate. To apply for this post, please click the ‘Apply’ button on this page to submit your application.
To learn more about Dulwich International High School Zhuhai, please visit:https://zhuhai-high-school.dulwich.org/working-at-dulwich
Applications will be reviewed on receipt, and we reserve the right to make an early appointment.
Safeguarding Statement
Our College/School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices, which are aligned to the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, successful references, as well as due visa and work permit process as required by Chinese law.
All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, successful references, as well as due visa and work permit process as required by Chinese law.
Equity Diversity Inclusion Statement
EiM is committed to diversity within its team, organisational practices, policies and culture. It recognises that people with different backgrounds, skills, attitudes and experiences bring fresh ideas and perceptions, and it encourages and leverages these differences to make its work more relevant and approachable. EiM will not discriminate or tolerate discriminatory behaviour on any grounds such as, but not limited to, race, gender, disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age or socioeconomic background. EiM strives to be an inclusive workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging, has a voice, can raise concerns, and feels comfortable and confident. It expects everyone who works with it to share this commitment and to act accordingly, as it aspires to best serve the EiM mission and its community.
