Head of Design Technology

International Schools Partnership; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Kuala Lumpur seeks a Head of Design Technology to manage and innovate the Design & Technology department. Responsibilities include curriculum oversight and promoting student engagement through creative and practical learning. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and demonstrate leadership and teaching experience in a multicultural setting. This role offers a supportive environment focused on safeguarding and professional development.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive leadership team

Employee benefits

Work-life balance commitment

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of DT curricula and qualifications, including coursework assessment.
• Experience teaching one or more DT specialisms across KS3–KS5.
• Successful experience in a middle leadership role within a school context.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction and development of the Design Technology curriculum.
• Ensure high standards of teaching and learning resulting in strong academic outcomes.
• Oversee departmental planning, assessment design, and coherence across disciplines.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational Skills

Collaboration

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Design Technology or related field

Job description

Description

The Head of Design Technology is responsible for leading and managing the Design Technology department to deliver a high-quality, innovative, and inclusive curriculum that supports outstanding progress and achievement for all students. The department includes Design & Technology, Food Technology, Textiles and Graphics across KS3, IGCSE and post-16 pathways (KS5).

The role involves strategic oversight of curriculum design, teaching and learning, assessment, health and safety, staff development, and resource management, ensuring alignment with Tenby and ISP educational values. The Head of Design Technology ensures students develop strong design thinking, practical, creative, and problem‑solving skills, preparing them for further study, employment, and real-world application.

This role also requires close collaboration with EAL, SEND and Pastoral Teams to ensure inclusive access to practical learning and appropriate support for students with diverse needs.

The Head of Design Technology reports directly to the Senior Leadership Team.

About us

Tenby Schools Setia Eco Park, Kuala Lumpur campus is a large 3-18 school located on a green 20-acre site with excellent facilities and offers a welcoming, inclusive and stimulating place to work. We love learning and we are continually getting better. We are extremely proud to be the flagship school in the region.

We are a unique campus, home to Tenby International School, which consists of a Primary, and Secondary School (IPC, National Curriculum for England, CIE, IGCSE and A Level) and a Malaysian Private School, Sekolah Sri Tenby (Malaysian National Curriculum). The campus welcomes over 2000 amazing students, aged from 3 to 18 years and from 38 nationalities; with 1350 attending the international school, 600 of whom will be in the primary school. We celebrate being Asian and love the fact that we combine international thinking to create a diverse and exciting campus.

We believe in creating “Amazing Learning Experiences” for our communities. Working collaboratively to help children be ready for the world and the contribution they can make locally and globally.

We believe that all students learn though good struggles and this at times needs to be consolidated using a variety of teaching methods. Taking risks, being resilient and showing creativity and adaptability for all our communities is important in our learning process. Our students go onto some of the top universities in the world and if they don’t, go into careers and colleges of their choice.

We are an honest campus and enjoy being self‑reflective, so we can self‑improve together to create amazing learning experiences more often than not. We are not perfect but strive to be the best we can.

We have lots of accreditation's just to show the world that we know what we are doing, including being the first school globally to be gain full accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS), for both TIS and SST schools. We hold the certificates for CIE, IPC, Microsoft, Duke of Edinburgh's Award and are one of 15 schools in Malaysia to hold the Green Flag Award.

About our Group

Tenby Schools SEP is proud to be part of International Schools Partnership (ISP) a fast‑growing global schools’ group in six clusters across the world; Europe, Mexico & Central America, the Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia and the USA. Our Regional cluster includes other Tenby schools across Malaysia. As a teacher you will be supported by the Head of Department, Senior Leadership teams and other learning clusters and networks both regionally and globally. We love to talk about learning at all levels, as this is at the core of everything we do!

This is amazing opportunity for you to develop yourself, take a risk or two, meet other like‑minded teachers, share learning practice and work collectively with a local and global team. We even have a global learning hub where you can share learning and leadership ideas so we can get better together.

So if this excites you, please apply. We’d love to talk to you.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well‑being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Key Responsibilities

Key Responsibility 1: Strategic Leadership of the Design Technology Department

• Lead the strategic direction and development of the Design Technology curriculum across KS3, IGCSE and KS5, including Design & Technology, Food Technology, Textiles and Graphics.
• Ensure high standardsof teaching and learning that result in strong academic outcomes, creativity, and student engagement.
• Oversee departmental planning, schemes of work, assessment design and moderation to ensure coherence, progression and consistency across disciplines.
• Promote a culture of innovation, creativity, sustainability and problem‑solving within the department.
• Ensure departmental practice aligns with Tenby’s values and ISP’s educational objectives.

Key Responsibility 2: Curriculum Development and Innovation

• Review and refine the Design Technology curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners in an international context.
• Embed 21st‑century skills such as design thinking, digital literacy, sustainability, collaboration and entrepreneurship.
• Ensure curriculum content reflects global perspectives, cultural diversity and real‑world applications.
• Lead the department in implementing effective differentiation, inclusive practices and adaptive teaching strategies.
• Monitor and evaluate curriculum effectiveness through data analysis, student voice, lesson observations and outcomes.

Key Responsibility 3: Assessment, Progress and Student Achievement

• Oversee robust systems for tracking student progress across all DT disciplines and using data to inform intervention and curriculum planning.
• Lead standardisation and moderation processes to ensure accurate, fair and consistent assessment, particularly for coursework‑based qualifications.
• Analyze trends in attainment and progress and implement strategies to improve outcomes, including at IGCSE and KS5.
• Ensure appropriate support, challenge and intervention for underperforming students and those requiring stretch.

Key Responsibility 4: Departmental Management, Health & Safety and Resources

• Linemanage the Design Technology teaching team, supporting performance, wellbeing and professional development.
• Ensure high standardsof health and safety across all workshops, kitchens, studios and learning spaces, in line with school and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the effective management of specialist resources, materials, equipment and budgets, ensuring value for money and sustainability.
• Lead regular department meetings and contribute to whole‑school CPD initiatives.
• Support early career teachers, trainees and new staff through induction, mentoring and ongoing coaching.

Key Responsibility 5: Teaching Quality and Cross‑Curricular Collaboration

• Model and promote high‑quality, practical and theory‑based teaching across all DT disciplines.
• Work collaboratively with other Heads of Department to support cross‑curricular projects, STEM initiatives and applied learning opportunities.
• Contribute to whole‑school priorities such as literacy, numeracy, digital competence and sustainability within DT lessons.
• Support whole‑school enrichment, competitions, exhibitions and project‑based learning opportunities.

Key Responsibility 6: Engagement with Parents, Community and External Bodies

• Communicate effectively with parents regarding curriculum pathways, assessment, progress and how to support learning at home.
• Promote DT subjects through curriculum evenings, exhibitions, showcases, competitions and open events.
• Liaise with exam boards, external moderators and industry partners to ensure compliance, enrichment and progression opportunities.
• Support students with post‑16 and post‑18 pathways related to design, engineering, creative industries, food science and related fields.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Design Technology, Engineering, Food Technology, Textiles, Graphics, Education or a related field (required); leadership qualification or NPQ (desirable).
• Proven experience teaching one or more DT specialisms across KS3–KS5, ideally in an international or multicultural school setting.
• Successful experience in a middle leadership role within a school context.
• Strong understanding of DT curricula and qualifications (e.g. IGCSE, A Level or equivalent), including coursework assessment.
• Excellent understanding of health and safety requirements in practical teaching environments.
• Skilled in using assessment data to drive student progress and improve teaching and learning.
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills with a collaborative and solution‑focused approach.

In return Tenby offers

• A Culture of trust, where all contributions are recognised and respected.
• A passionate, positive, highly skilled, and motivated team of professionals who put children at the heart of every decision.
• Allocated support through our Campus Senior Leadership Team to support us developing an exceptional school.
• An embedded whole trust commitment to professional development.
• A peer network of like‑minded teachers.
• A real commitment to work‑life balance – we remember we are human beings first and educators second!
• Great employee benefits.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing and retaining high‑performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio‑economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interviews

Initial interviews will be completed Face to Face whenever possible.

HOW TO APPLY

The closing date is 15th March 2026 but interested candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible as interviews may be arranged before the deadline.

Candidates are invited to send in a letter of application including the reasons for applying to Tenby Schools together with a comprehensive CV, a recent passport‑size photograph and contact details of three referees (one of which must be from your current school).

We follow safe recruitment practices which are aligned to the recommendations of the International Task Force on Child Protection. We hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection. All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks, and successful references.

(Please check your Junk Folder for emails and add tenby.edu.my to your safe sender's list. Only applicants short‑listed for an interview will be notified.)