Lower School Principal

The Canadian International School of Hong Kong is seeking a dedicated and student-centred leader who has exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to serve in the position of Principal of our Bilingual Lower School (English and Mandarin) . The start date for this position is on or before August 2025.

 

The School

Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) is a highly innovative learning community committed to inspiring excellence, cultivating character, and empowering engagement locally and globally. Located in the heart of the southside of Hong Kong Island, Canadian International School of Hong Kong is one of the top international schools in Asia. The school offers a rigorous academic programme to over 1,900 students representing more than 40 nationalities from Early Years 1 (pre-kindergarten) to Grade 12. The 2024-2025 school year will be a historic milestone for CDNIS as the school opens its new and purpose-built CDNIS Early Years Centre as well as welcomes the first cohort of two-year-old Nursery students to the Early Years Centre located a few minutes’ walk from the main campus. 

The school has exceptional facilities, matching its status as a world class international school, continuously developing and improving learning spaces to match its innovative pedagogy. Most recently, the Board made the decision in 2022 to shift direction of the Lower School to offer a fully Bilingual platform of learning for children from EY1 through to Grade 5, expanding up through the Lower School year-by-year until full implementation in the Lower School in 2028-2029. 

 

The Role

Reporting to the Head of School, the Lower School Principal shall assist the Head of School in the successful operation and management of the CDNIS Lower School (Nursery to Grade 5). The Lower School Principal will be an integral member of the Senior Leadership Team as the team implements strategic priorities set by the Board of Governors. The Lower School Principal is the learning leader, administrative head, and ‘compass’ of the Lower School and is supported by two Vice-Principals and one PYP Coordinator who together form the Lower School Pedagogical Leadership Team. The Lower School Principal is also responsible for personnel management and evaluation, teacher recruitment, and student recruitment. 

 

The Candidate

Professional and Personal Attributes:

• A strong focus on building culture, community and the power it brings to an organization’s growth and development
• Unrelenting focus on communicating the school’s vision, direction, expectations and the common purpose
• Comfortably and seamlessly builds relationships and connections across cultural lines with deep understanding and ease
• Bilingual English and Chinese (Mandarin) speaker
• Previously demonstrated mindset of servant leadership qualities and commitment to the growth of others
• Brings a strong ‘systems’ approach to school operations, management and supervision with recognition of the importance of ‘connectedness’ when it comes to decisions, policies and practices 
• A student-centred learning leader who is an advocate of concept-driven, inquiry-based approaches
• The ability to inspire trust in the whole community and motivate and support others to realize their potential
• A highly articulate and effective communicator 
• A visionary, future-ready leader with the passion and skills to drive learning forward
• Highly developed interpersonal and collaboration skills, able to connect with all stakeholder groups, including students, staff, parents, administrators, and the board 
• An optimistic, open-minded outlook and willingness to take balanced risks
• Able to think strategically, tactically and flexibly 
• A creative problem solver
• The ability to navigate complex cultures, and demonstrate international mindedness 
• A solid understanding of both the PYP and other national/international curricular frameworks
• Proven excellence in curriculum leadership and development
• A strong role model who will exemplify the school’s values 
• Committed to child protection best practice

Duties and Responsibilities:

As the inspirational pedagogical leader for the Lower School, the Lower School Principal will:

• Sustain and develop a culture of future-ready, student-centred learning based on current research
• Oversee student wellbeing, including the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of student wellbeing programmes and practices, in collaboration with the Lower School Inclusion Team
• Lead Lower School curriculum development, alignment, implementation and evaluation in collaboration with the Pedagogical Leadership Team. Play a key role in the alignment and articulation of the Early Years - G12 curriculum
• Use data to monitor the success of Lower School programmes and oversee the monitoring of student growth
• Ensure all students’ needs are met through close collaboration with and oversight of the Lower School Inclusion Team
• Support the professional growth of teaching staff through the implementation of the CDNIS Staff Professional Growth and Appraisal process
• Lead the recruitment, selection, orientation and deployment of staff 
• Collaborate with the Pedagogical Leadership Team to develop and implement a whole school approach to professional development in support of the school’s goals
• Build community and ensure effective communication with all stakeholder groups
• Develop and monitor the Lower School annual budget, in collaboration with the Director of Business Administration and Head of School
• Work in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team to develop and implement the school’s strategic goals, policies and practices 
• Oversee the successful day-to-day running of the Lower School

 

Education and Work Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree plus teaching qualification in elementary/early childhood education
• A higher degree at Masters or Doctorate level, preferably in educational leadership and/or principal training/certification 
• At least 5 years successful senior leadership experience in an international school environment, preferably at principal level 
• Senior leadership experience in the PYP preferred
• Leadership experience in a multicultural school setting
• Proven track record as an agile and collaborative team player in a highly dynamic, complex and innovative environment

 

Please visit our school website for a full recruitment brochure for this position:

 

Terms & Applications

Competitive remuneration and generous fringe benefits will be provided. CDNIS will be supported in this appointment process by the executive search firm Korn Ferry (HK) Limited. Applications, together with a full curriculum vitae and the names and addresses of three referees, should be sent to Mr. Andrew Tsui of Korn Ferry (HK) Limited by email to [email redacted, apply via Company website]. Review of candidates will begin shortly and continue until the position is filled. Information provided by applicants will be used for recruitment and other employment-related purposes. 

 

 

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