Kibera School for Girls Headmistress Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Position: Kibera School for Girls Headmistress
 

Location: Kibera
Reports to: Kibera Program Manager
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7am to 5pm
 

Job Scope
 

The headmistress is responsible for the overall coordination of the school curriculum, activities and operations, ensuring that the school runs efficiently and effectively on a day-to-day basis. 

The headmistress is responsible for ensuring a superior quality of education that is in line with the founding vision and mission.

About the Kibera School for Girls

 
The Kibera School for Girls is the first free primary school for girls in the Kibera slum. The school strives to empower the young women of Kibera to imagine and then enact their own solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems by providing a superior education. 

The Kibera School for Girls creates life long learners who take with them the skills to change their own lives and feel a responsibility to give back to others.

School Mission:

• The Kibera School for Girls provides an education rooted in principles of tolerance, creativity, and self-directed learning. The school provides a supportive environment for young women to realize their full potentials through a strong arts program, a focus on literacy, a science and math program, and opportunities for students to find and learn about their own passions.
• The Kibera School for Girls was founded based on recognition of a need for educational reform in Kenya and a desperate need for empowering educational spaces for women. By providing all female role models, employing talented and passionate female teachers and staff from Kibera, and serving the neediest students the school is a beacon of hope.
• We believe in teaching children that anything is possible with hard work and education, in classrooms where children learn at their own pace, and in creating an environment that is challenging, engaging, and creative.
• Through principles of creativity, non-discrimination, free education, and communal and parental engagement The Kibera School for Girls will bring social and systemic change to pass.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage all school staff and create a high-impact and successful team environment.
• Manage budgets, supply acquisition, HR efforts, administrative duties and general logistics.
• Developing and administering the general school routine, and coordinate all activities within the school building.
• Participating in the selection of new teaching and school administrative personnel.
• Observing, counseling, and motivating professional staff toward performances to attain the educational goals of the school to create a high-impact and successful team environment.
• Continually evaluate existing programs and practices, curriculum content, and piloting of experimental programs.
• Maintaining an educational philosophy and school climate which encourages a cooperative and participating attitude on the part of all teachers and students.
• Encouraging and initiating continued improvement in curriculum and teaching methods.
• Work with teachers, students, parent and social worker in identifying intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs affecting students’ success in school, and taking steps to direct and coordinate the efforts of teachers and parents with school social work services.
• Maintaining effective communication to keep the staff, students, and parents properly informed.
• Orienting new personnel assigned to the school.
• Having school records available and up to date for ready reference and reporting.
• Affecting or recommending changes which will lead to improved administration, supervision and opportunity for student development.
• Actively participating and encouraging staff participation in parent-teacher and other community groups, as a means of developing understanding, cooperation, and respect for school objectives and endeavors.
• Managing and developing external international and national partnerships.

Knowledge, Skill and Behaviors Required to achieve Role’s Objective
 

Education

• Diploma or Higher Diploma in ECD
• Bachelor’s degree in education and demonstrated record of contributing to the success of a school or extensive past teaching experience, minimum 10 years, at the primary school level and demonstrated expertise in the classroom

Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 3 years in a senior management position (Headmistress/Head Teacher, Deputy Headmistress/Head teacher)
• Experience with curriculum development and excitement about non-traditional curriculum
• Experience in employee performance management and staff development
• Passion for Shining Hope’s mission and work and ability to work comfortably in the Kibera slums
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and committed to meeting deadlines and creating and improving processes.
• Willingness to take ownership of projects and significantly drive progress of the school
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with myriad stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), presentation, and analytical skills

Preferred Start Date: As soon as possible.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience.

Support foreign application: Kenyan residents or citizens only please.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should email their applications with details of your current or past gross monthly salary and a detailed CV to jobs@shininghopeforcommunities.org So as to reach us no later than 4th March 2014. 

Copies of certificates and testimonials should NOT be attached at this point.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.