Director of Junior School

St. Michaels University School; Victoria; On-site; CAD 160,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Michaels University School (SMUS) in Victoria, BC, seeks a Director of Junior School to lead JK–Grade 5, aligning educational programming with SMUS's strategic priorities and a Reggio-inspired approach. This role reports to the Head of School and sits on the Senior Leadership Team.

The ideal candidate has deep educational leadership experience, capacity to develop innovative curricula, and a collaborative, coaching mindset to empower faculty and strengthen student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in elementary education.
• Experience with school-wide program design and implementation.
• Strong collaboration with families and community partners.
• Ability to coach and empower faculty through distributed leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Junior School (JK–Grade 5).
• Oversee educational programming, staffing, budgeting, admissions collaboration, and daily operations.
• Lead data-informed decision making and drive continuous improvement.
• Foster partnerships with families and the broader community to enhance learning experiences.

Skills

Leadership

Educational leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Coaching

Job description

St. Michaels University School (SMUS) is a leading independent day and boarding school located in Victoria, British Columbia, serving more than 1,000 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 across two campuses. Founded in 1906, SMUS has a long tradition of academic excellence and is guided by its mission to seek "the excellence in all of us, with passion and compassion" while preparing students for life. Home to a vibrant boarding community representing more than 25 countries, SMUS combines rigorous academics, including Canada's longest-running Advanced Placement program, with exceptional opportunities in athletics, the arts, leadership, outdoor education, service, engineering, technology, and design. As SMUS advances its Floreat 2030 Strategic Plan, it continues to strengthen a future-focused educational experience centred on innovation, belonging, sustainability, and preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Reporting to the Head of School and serving on the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Junior School provides strategic and operational leadership for a dynamic division serving 225 students and their families from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 5. Responsible for all aspects of the Junior School, including educational programming, faculty leadership, student wellbeing, budgeting, admissions collaboration, and day-to-day operations, the Director champions an exceptional student experience while fostering a culture of growth, reflection, and continuous improvement. Working closely with colleagues across the School, the Director ensures a strong, cohesive educational foundation for students, advances innovative, evidence-informed teaching practices, and leads the implementation of divisional and whole-school priorities aligned with SMUS's mission, values, and new strategic plan. The Director also plays an important role in building meaningful partnerships with families and the broader community, helping to create authentic learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished educational leader with significant experience and understanding of a Reggio-inspired approach in elementary education, ideally within an independent school environment. They will bring a deep understanding of child development, curriculum and program design, faculty growth, and contemporary pedagogical practice, along with a demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into meaningful, measurable outcomes. The successful candidate will be a collaborative and values-driven leader who fosters trust, accountability, and belonging while building high-performing teams and empowering others through coaching and distributed leadership. They will be skilled at using data and evidence-informed decision-making to strengthen programs, support innovation, and drive continuous improvement. Equally comfortable engaging with students, faculty, families, and community partners, they will be an exceptional communicator and relationship builder who cultivates strong connections and advances a shared commitment to the development of the whole child.

The salary range for the position is $160,000 to $195,000 plus a suite of competitive benefits. The Director is expected to assume the position in the summer of 2027. Please direct inquiries and accommodation requests to Julia Robarts and Cora Hui at Odgers at [e-mail].