Head of Primary

Kinabalu International School; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 200,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinabalu International School in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, seeks a Head of Primary from August 2027 to lead the Primary School and PLT within the Senior Leadership Team. The successful candidate will be an outstanding educational leader with international school experience or familiarity with the English National Curriculum, able to shape pedagogy, wellbeing and student outcomes.

You will work with the Principal, Head of Secondary, Operations and Governors to drive strategy, culture and

Qualifications

• Accomplished primary educator with a strong leadership track record.
• Experience in international schools or with the English National Curriculum is preferred.
• A clear, ambitious vision for primary education underpinned by evidence-based practice.
• Strong understanding of curriculum design, implementation and evaluation.
• Experience developing leadership capacity through coaching and professional dialogue.
• Commitment to safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusive education.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Primary School and Primary Leadership Team (PLT) with strategic direction.
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team, Principal and Board of Governors.
• Drive high standards of teaching, student wellbeing and pastoral care.
• Foster a collaborative school culture and ongoing professional development.
• Use data and performance information to prioritise improvements.

Skills

Exceptional educators

Primary leadership

Curriculum design

Coaching & mentoring

Safeguarding & wellbeing

Data-informed improvement

Team leadership

Communication skills

Job description

August 2027 Start | Kinabalu International School, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Kinabalu International School (KIS) is seeking an exceptional, ambitious and values-driven Head of Primary to lead our Primary School from August 2027.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and inspirational educational leader to join a successful, forward-thinking international school at an important stage in its development.

We are looking for more than an effective administrator or an experienced classroom practitioner. We want an outstanding educational leader who is passionate about primary education, ambitious for every child, deeply committed to the development of teachers and excited by the opportunity to shape the next chapter of our school's journey.

At KIS, we believe that excellent schools are built on excellent relationships, inspirational teaching, high expectations and a genuine understanding of every child as an individual.

Our next Head of Primary will be someone who leads by example, inspires confidence, brings people together and creates an environment in which students and staff alike feel supported, challenged and empowered to succeed.

We are seeking a leader who combines a clear educational vision with the warmth, integrity, humility and determination needed to turn that vision into reality.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the Head of Primary will play an important role in shaping the strategic direction and continued development of Kinabalu International School.

Working closely with the Principal, Head of Secondary, Head of Operations and Board of Governors, the successful candidate will contribute to whole-school strategic planning, educational improvement and the continued development of a positive, ambitious and collaborative school culture.

The Head of Primary will have overall responsibility for the educational leadership, management and development of the Primary School, ensuring consistently high standards of teaching, learning, student wellbeing and pastoral care.

Central to this responsibility will be the leadership and development of the Primary Leadership Team (PLT), comprising:

• Assistant Head of Primary – Teaching & Learning

• Assistant Head of Primary – Wellbeing

• Head of Early Years

Through this team, the Head of Primary will provide clear strategic direction, develop leadership capacity, ensure accountability and foster a culture of professional trust, collaboration and continuous improvement.

We are seeking a leader who understands that successful leadership is not simply about setting direction, but about empowering others, building effective teams and creating the conditions in which both students and staff can flourish.

The leader we are looking for

The successful candidate will be an accomplished primary educator with a strong track record of successful leadership, excellent knowledge of teaching and learning, and a genuine passion for the education and wellbeing of children.

We are particularly interested in leaders who:

• exceptional educational practitioners, with a deep understanding of what constitutes excellent teaching and learning across the primary age range.

• Have successful experience in primary school leadership, ideally within an international school or a school following the English National Curriculum.

• Demonstrate a clear and ambitious vision for primary education, underpinned by research-informed practice and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Have a strong understanding of curriculum design, implementation and evaluation, including the development of coherent, engaging and appropriately challenging learning experiences.

• Understand the importance of strong foundations in the Early Years and the progression of learning throughout Key Stages 1 and 2.

• Can lead the development of consistently excellent teaching through coaching, mentoring, professional dialogue and meaningful staff development.

• Have experience leading and developing successful teams, empowering middle leaders and building leadership capacity across a school.

• Set and sustain high expectations for academic achievement, student progress, behaviour and personal development.

• Use assessment and school performance information intelligently to identify priorities, support students and drive improvement.

• Are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background or ability, receives the support, challenge and opportunities needed to thrive.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of safeguarding, student wellbeing, inclusion and pastoral care, recognising these as fundamental responsibilities of school leadership.

• Are confident, compassionate and effective in managing staff, supporting professional growth and addressing challenges constructively.

• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting, positive and productive relationships with students, staff and parents.

• Understand the importance of working collaboratively across a whole-school leadership team, contributing to shared priorities beyond their own section.

• Are reflective, open-minded and willing to challenge established practices thoughtfully in pursuit of better outcomes for students.