Deputy School Director (Academic)

AIGLON COLLEGE SA; Chesières; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension plan

Leave entitlements

Insurance cover

Employee benefits

Job summary

Aiglon College is a distinctive not-for-profit, international boarding school located in Chesières, Vaud, Switzerland. The Deputy School Director (Academic) will provide strategic academic leadership across learning, teaching and assessment to support the school’s holistic education ethos.

The role sits within the School Leadership Team and the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to safeguarding, student wellbeing and the school’s academic strategy within a world-class alpine setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in academic leadership and school governance.
• Ability to lead curriculum development and assessment strategies.
• Commitment to safeguarding and student wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Deputise for the School Director when required.
• Oversee academic life, learning, teaching and assessment.
• Lead Academic Leadership Group and curriculum initiatives.
• Line-manage Academic Heads of Departments and University Advising.
• Oversee Learning Support and examination planning.
• Contribute to whole‑school accreditation and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Staff development

Safeguarding

Job description

Deputy School Director (Academic)

Aiglon College seeks to appoint a suitably qualified

Deputy School Director (Academic)

to join the school from: 23.08.2027

Your profile

The role and candidate profile for this role is detailed in the attached job description and person specification.

Successful Aiglon staff are enthusiastic, experienced, committed, reflective, dynamic and willing to try new ideas. If you share these values and have an appetite for challenge and an ambition to make a positive impact on our world, we welcome your application.

About us

Located in Chesières (Vaud, Switzerland), Aiglon College is a not-for-profit, international boarding school offering a distinctive, world-class education in a stunning alpine setting.

The school was founded on a distinctive ethos: the balanced development of mind, body and spirit. This philosophy underpins everything we do at Aiglon, both inside and outside the classroom.

There are over 480 students, representing more than 70 nationalities, following the International GCSE (IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB Diploma) programmes.

What we offer

Aiglon is dedicated to the well-being and professional development of all staff, within a vibrant, friendly, and modern workplace. Beyond competitive salaries and comprehensive social security benefits, we provide free accident and loss of salary insurances, generous pension and leave entitlements, as well as a range of special perks and advantages.

JOB PURPOSE

The role of Deputy School Director is a key management and leadership position in the school, and they are a pivotal member of both the School Council (the leadership team) overseeing many aspects of the operational management and leadership of the School. The role is primarily concerned with the school's academic leadership, with the other Deputy School Directors leading and managing school safeguarding, wellbeing, character education and boarding functions. Additionally, the Deputy School Director is an integral part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), working alongside the School Director, CFO/COO, and other Deputy School Directors. Aiglon, distinguished by its philosophy and ethos, prioritises the holistic development of every child. As a school committed to character development and holistic education, we prioritise the student experience and ensure their wellbeing and safety, which are fundamental to their journey at Aiglon.

OBJECTIVES

• To deputise for the School Director as and when required.
• To manage all academic aspects of the school.
• The following list should not be considered definitive but act as a guide to those areas for which the Deputy School Director will be responsible.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM

1. To be a member of the School Council and the ELT.
2. To uphold the ethos and values of the school and to be a role model for staff and students.
3. To ensure student needs and interests are placed at the forefront of all decisions made at the school.
4. To be fully involved in the whole-school strategic planning and implementing and developing the school’s vision of education.
5. To be the representative and advocate for all direct reports.
6. To work with all members of the School Council to ensure that students’ education is appropriate, broad, balanced and effective across all aspects of school life and that the well-being and safeguarding of students are prioritised.
7. Understand and implement all school policies and procedures, particularly those relating to safeguarding children and young people.
8. Understand the School’s Guiding Principles and uphold the ethos of the School at all times.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP OF ACADEMIC ASPECTS OF THE SCHOOL, INCLUDING LEARNING, TEACHING, AND ASSESSMENT

1. To monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in the school and to be proactive in devising and implementing strategies for high performance in these areas.
2. Oversee the school reporting structure and academic assessment plans and monitor their delivery.
3. To advise the School Director on academic policy and carry overall responsibility for the school's academic life, including chairing the Academic Leadership Group and leading new initiatives such as curriculum reviews and effective academic monitoring of students.
4. To act as line manager to the ALG, Academic Heads of Departments and University Advising departments.
5. To oversee the Learning Support Department and monitor the provision of Learning Support.
6. In conjunction with the Assistant Heads, monitor and analyse all school public examination results.
7. Management of student data and trends regarding academic performance and potential, including but not limited to overseeing the analysis and dissemination of data from year group examinations (e.g. MIDYIS and ALIS) and overseeing target setting and the administration of other measures of value added and academic performance.

LEADERSHIP OF STAFFING, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT

1. To be fully involved in recruiting new academic staff.
2. To oversee the management of staff professional development days, inset and CPD (in conjunction with other members of the School Leadership Team).
3. To be fully involved in new staff induction programmes (in conjunction with other members of the School Leadership Team).
4. To work with the Director of Educational Systems to ensure the academic staff have regular and useful performance management reviews.
5. Manage the school’s PGCE programme.

LEADERSHIP OF WHOLE-SCHOOL ACCREDITATION

1. To line-manage the Accreditation Coordinator and ensure that all aspects of accreditation (CIS, NEASC, and IB) are well-organised and well-planned and that the School Director and School Council are fully informed about the progress of accreditation.

MANAGEMENT OF UNIVERSITY ADVISING

1. Line management of the Director of University Advising.
2. Ensure the School Director and other members of the School Council are fully informed regarding trends and patterns and new developments in university applications.
3. Ensure the School Director and other members of the School Council are fully informed regarding Year 13 university offers.

MANAGEMENT OF LEARNING SUPPORT AND EXAMINATIONS

1. Line management of the Head of Learning Support
2. To work with the Head of Learning Support to oversee the applications for special consideration.
3. To work with the Director of Educational Systems to ensure the planning and management of internal and external examinations
4. To work with the Assistant Heads to ensure the accurate and timely analysis and publication of examination results

MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL EVENTS AND MARKETING MATERIALS

1. To work with other members of the School Council to ensure school events are well-planned and run smoothly.
2. To work with the Director of Educational Systems to ensure the well-planning of Prize Giving, Graduation, and parent‑teacher events.
3. To work with other members of the School Council to ensure the Aiglon Guide is updated annually.
4. To work with the Marketing and Communications team and the Director of Educational Systems to ensure Aiglon Study Guides are accurate and available to the school community.

DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSIVITY

1. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the School’s DEIJ policies and procedures.

SAFEGUARDING

1. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and the School’s safeguarding policies and procedures and liaise closely with the Safeguarding lead.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

1. Ensure that up-to-date knowledge of health and safety legislation applicable to the role is maintained and that the school’s health and safety policies and procedures are fully implemented and adhered to.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Maintain and update personal knowledge and skills in line with legislation and the role's needs.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To be actively involved in staff recruitment as required by the School Director.
2. To be on hand out of hours in the event of an emergency.
3. Attend school functions and events as often as possible and support students and staff in their activities and endeavours.
4. To be a teacher in their specialist area with a reduced teaching load.
5. To participate in the duty rota of School Council members on certain weekends and weekend evenings.
6. To be a member of the Critical Incident team.
7. To undertake any other reasonable tasks delegated by the School Director.