Vice Principal, PYP (JK-5) - INTERNAL ONLY

Vice Principal, PYP (JK-5)

Temporary

Internal Posting 

Posting Date: July 17, 2026

Closing Date: July 27, 2026

Posting #2026053

Hours

Monday-Friday Full Time
September 1 to December 31, 2026

Salary

$114,000.00
This is a non – bargaining unit position

All candidates must be legally able to work in Canada.

Summary

St. Margaret’s School (SMS) is Western Canada’s only girl-centered, independent day and boarding school located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the unceded traditional territories of the Esquimalt Nations, Songhees Nations, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations. Founded in 1908, SMS is an international centre for girl-centered learning and leadership development, providing empowering education for girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (boarding grades 7–12).  St. Margaret’s School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) School offering the Diploma Programme, and we are a candidate school for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).

Reporting to and working closely with the Deputy Head of School, Academics, the Vice Principal, PYP (JK-Grade 5) has 5+ years of IB experience and plays a key role in leading the day-to-day operations of the JK-Grade 5 programs, including teachers, the PYP Coordinator and Administrative Assistant. The Vice Principal has a proven background of school leadership, supporting teaching excellence and an academic environment that promotes and celebrates the whole child, fostering student agency, wellness, and leadership where each student is encouraged to participate and contribute with confidence and competence. The Vice Principal is a strong pedagogical leader and lifelong learner who embraces and moves forward the mission, vision and values of the school. Working closely with the Educational Leadership Team, they ensure that each student receives a rich and personalized educational experience rooted in inquiry-based, experiential learning that is nurturing, stimulating and challenging. The Vice Principal is open-minded, receptive to and welcoming of meaningful dialogue with students, staff and families and promotes a healthy partnership in the education of the whole child. Alongside the Coordinator, Personalized Learning & Enrichment and the Deputy Head of School, Student Life, the Vice Principal acts as a member of our School Safety Team. They regularly liaise with the Coordinator, Personalized Learning & Enrichment, Deputy Head of School, Student Life, Manager of Boarding Operations and the Manager of Student Engagement, School Information System Specialist, External Programs Manager and the wider educational leadership team. The Vice Principal is a positive role model to all members of the SMS community and assists in creating cohesion between all areas of the school.

Core Competencies

• Integrity & Trust


• Service Orientation


• Communication & Collaboration


• Adaptability


• Innovation


• Resilience


• Interpersonal Savvy
  
  

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Oversee the operational needs of the JK-Grade 5 Programs, including leading junior school events, supporting the Deputy Head of School, Student Life in coordinating school-wide events, and supporting the oversight of classroom instruction.


2. Liaise with the JK Coordinator to ensure early years pedagogy, programming, and ECE staff are supported. Ensure that JK operations, such as those related to licensing and compliance, are adhered to. Note that for the 2026-27 school year, the JK Coordinator duties are temporarily assigned to the Vice Principal and will be reviewed at year end.


3. Provide academic leadership in the monitoring, assessing and fostering of a stimulating and innovative learning environment that supports Ministry of Education directives, IB principles and requirements, and current research about best practices in teaching and learning.


4. Liaise with the Deputy Head of School, Academics to implement dynamic programming that aligns with school direction and goals (IB, STEM-X, nature-based and inquiry learning).


5. Provide professional and personal leadership for faculty and staff directly connected to student care.


6. Evaluate job performance of supervisees, in conjunction with other members of the Educational Leadership team and Human Resources.


7. Establish relationships with students by:
   
   
   
   1. Being visible in the school community.
   
   
   2. Being available for student conversations.
   
   
   3. Participating in class activities as available.
   
   
   4. Supporting Student Leadership.
   
   
   5. Being responsible for general student discipline:
      
      
      
      1. Work with teachers and students.
      
      
      2. Connect with parents/families.
      
      
      3. Seek guidance from the Deputy Head of School as needed
      
      
      4. Draft letters of discipline/expectation as needed
      
      
      
      
   
   
   
   


8. Establish connections with parents, maintain proactive and positive relationships and be accessible to address any parent concerns.
   
   
   
   1. In consultation with teachers, communicate with parents about students’ academic and emotional/social development in a timely manner.
   
   
   2. In consultation with the Deputy Head of School, Academics and/or Student Life, effectively communicate with parents on all aspects of school activities, policies and protocols.
      
   
   
   
   


9. Participate on the Safety Team to support the Safer Schools Coordinators and liaise with students and families as appropriate.
   


10. In consultation with the Chief Operating and Financial Officer, the Deputy Head of School, Academics and the Deputy Head, Student Life, determine and manage the budget related to JK-Grade 5 Programs and activities, excluding the allocation of educational resources for which the Deputy Head of School, Academics is responsible.
    


11. In consultation with the Deputy Head of School, Academics and PYP Coordinator:
    
    
    
    1. Identify professional needs, plan in-school workshops and encourage staff to attend professional development opportunities that support the school’s vision.
    
    
    2. Support re: Ministry/CAIS/IB accreditations and evaluations.
       
    
    
    
    


12. Liaise with the Manager of Boarding and the Manager of Student Engagement re: student concerns and/or issues that arise.
    


13. Liaise with the Coordinator of Personalized Learning & Enrichment to:
    
    
    
    1. Ensure appropriate services are provided to students.
    
    
    2. Maintain awareness of student Individual Education Plans and Safety Plans
       
    
    
    
    


14. Liaise with Human Resources, with the support of the Coordinator of Personalized Learning & Enrichment to:
    
    
    
    1. Coordinate with the Director of Human Resources and Deputy Head, Academics on all matters related to Staff/Faculty hiring and discipline.
    
    
    2. Identify HR needs - create postings, conduct interviews, and work with HR to make offers.
    
    
    3. Participate in the onboarding and mentoring of new faculty.
       
    
    
    
    


15. Share with the Communications department those school initiatives/activities that best promote our programs & activities.
    


16. Lead updates to the JK Handbook and work with the Deputy Head of School, Academics and the Admissions department to finalize.
    


17. Liaise with the Deputy Head of School, Student Life to contribute content for the weekly update for faculty each Friday, and for the Google Classroom.
    


18. Work closely with the Admissions Team in the areas of retention and recruitment.
    


19. Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of School, Academics and the Coordinator, Personalized Learning & Enrichment prepare yearly timetables.
    


20. Oversight of duty/supervision (develop the schedule and provide orientation to responsibilities)


21. Lead the planning for the Junior School’s Outweek and liaise with the Deputy Head of School, Student Life to finalize plans.


22. Take the lead in the planning, review and distribution of Student Progress Reports
    
    
    
    1. Liaise with Student Records and Administrative Assistant, JK-12
    
    
    2. Liaise with the Coordinator of Personalized Learning & Enrichment
       
    
    
    
    


23. Support the Athletics, Director and Deputy Head of School, Student Life in the communication and coordination of extra-curricular sports and clubs.
    


24. Attend to Payroll duties weekly.
    
    
    
    1. Approvals for hours worked.
    
    
    2. Liaise with Deputy Head, Academics re: staff/faculty requests for time off/leave requests.
       
    
    
    
    


25. Support the Deputy Head of School, Academics and the PYP Coordinator in the planning of the Curriculum Evenings and related curriculum information sessions.
    


26. Coordinate the Parent-Teacher Interviews and Student-Led Conferences, with the support of the Administrative Assistant JK-12
    


27. Support the Deputy Head of School, Student Life and Admissions team in the development, communication, coordination and execution of plans for Open Houses and information sessions.
    


28. Work in collaboration with the Deputy Head of School, Student Life and the Deputy Head of School, Academics to plan the end-of-year celebrations and Graduation Ceremony.
    


29. On behalf of the school, attend Board meetings and retreats as required.
    


30. Participate on the IB Academic Leadership Team, including co-lead Faculty Meetings with the Deputy Head, Academics and Vice Principal, MYP and DP.
    
    
    
    1. Identify agenda topics/themes for discussion, information with related Q&A
    
    
    2. Ensure minutes are recorded and filed appropriately.
       
    
    
    
    


31. Awareness and understanding of the social/emotional needs of girls, and research in how girls learn best


32. Superior communication, organizational and interpersonal skills in working with colleagues and parents.
    


33. Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
    

Required Education and Experience

• Valid certification by the BC College of Teachers


• Master’s degree in educational administration, Curriculum, Leadership, or related field


• Minimum of 5 years of exemplary classroom teaching experience


• 5+ years experience as an IB teacher


• 3+ years in a school leadership position


• IB training and experience


• Preference will be given to those with experience working in an all-girls and independent school environment. 

• Experience working within a diverse team.


• Experience supporting students with diverse backgrounds and identities.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Embodies a growth mindset.


• A lifelong learner - evidence of continued professional growth.


• Excellent interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills.


• Strong oral, written, facilitation and presentation skills.


• Maintains confidentiality, professionalism and integrity with staff, parents and other community members.


• Demonstrates integrity.


• Initiative to set priorities and identify plans of action and follow through.


• Demonstrated resilience and able to sit in ambiguity.


• Strong organizational and time management skills.


• Desire to form healthy partnerships with parents and families.


• A visionary, big picture thinker and strategic planner.


• Actively supports the vision, mission, and values of our school.
  
  

Valued Benefits
A career with St. Margaret’s School will offer you the opportunity to be part of dedicated team of professionals in a dynamic and rewarding educational environment. This position is located on the school campus, with access to rapid transit, on-site gym, and other amenities. 

St. Margaret's School emphasizes a dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion across living, learning, and work environments. The school aims to have its workforce mirror the diversity of students and the community. Actively encouraging applications from groups facing historical or current equity barriers, the institution is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community. Employees needing employment support, technical aids, or accommodations, are encouraged to contact Human Resources [email protected].