Director Of Teaching And Learning

Independent Schools Association Of Southern Africa; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Johannesburg seeks a Director of Teaching & Learning to enhance curriculum and pedagogy. The role involves leadership in academic policies, faculty development, and representing the academy's vision across Africa. Ideal candidates will have extensive educational experience and a passion for leadership development.

Qualifications

• Experience leading collaborative teams.
• Expertise in curriculum planning and assessment design.

Responsibilities

• Lead faculty in curriculum and assessment improvement.
• Manage budgets and logistics of the academic program.
• Engage with stakeholders for clear communication.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

10+ years in education

3+ years in senior academic leadership

Job description

Since its inception, African Leadership Academy (ALA) has sought to identify, develop, and connect the most promising young leaders on the African continent.

Our learning community serves young leaders, aged 16-19, who spend 2 years at the academy engaging with the knowledge, skills, habits, and culture that will accelerate their trajectories of ethical and effective leadership.

ALA is a learning community committed to leadership development through academic rigor, authentic practice, and an intentional community.

ALA also seeks to become a learning organization, deliberately designed for continuous improvement. As we continue pursuing our strategic vision, ALA seeks a Director of Teaching & Learning (DTL) to join the senior leadership team.

The DTL will lead the faculty in the continuous improvement of the academy's curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment agenda.

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Defining a Mission-Driven Curriculum at a Global Standard: Students at ALA are challenged to achieve a global standard through a curriculum custom-built to advance our mission. Guided by ALA's 7 Traits, faculty craft courses that equip students with powerful skills and knowledge. The DTL leads faculty and Heads of Department (HODs) to enact ALA's principles of planning and assessment in designing and delivering our curriculum. Through rigorous examination of evidence from student work and teacher reflection, the DTL also leads HODs and faculty to improve the curriculum through thoughtful iteration.
2. Building a Culture of Collaborative & Continuous Improvement: At ALA, we believe that the variable with the most profound impact on student outcomes, after the students themselves, is the teacher. We believe teaching is a complex craft and that every teacher must also be a learner. We aim to build a collegial culture of open, collaborative, and transparent learning among peers. Therefore, the DTL leads the community of practice at ALA, working with HODs and faculty to embed and improve best practices in teaching and learning. They are charged with strengthening core systems—such as classroom observation, collaborative planning, and shared assessment principles—while also identifying and championing new strategies to improve student learning outcomes.
3. Leading School Operations and Policy: The DTL sits on the Academy's Senior Leadership Team and serves as a core contributor to both the day-to-day leadership of the learning community and the long-term strategic positioning of the Diploma Program and the Academy at large. They work closely with senior colleagues to shape, implement, and uphold academic policies, ensure operational coherence across departments, and drive the continuous improvement of teaching and learning systems.
4. Representing a Learning, Innovating & Leading School: The DTL is an ambassador for ALA's educational vision across the African continent and the world. They will participate in African and global conversations on education, represent ALA's teaching and learning philosophy to internal and external stakeholders, and contribute to activities like accreditation, donor engagement, and conference presentations. They are also a key stakeholder in other educational programs at ALA, such as the Anzisha Education Accelerator and the AL4Education Sector Network.

Core Activities

• Setting annual academic objectives in coordination with organizational and strategic goals.
• Setting individual and departmental goals with each HOD.
• Leading a rhythm of HOD and faculty meetings to enable collaboration.
• Collecting and analyzing data to track student achievement and guide decision-making.
• Leading faculty recruitment, hiring, evaluation, and development.
• Coordinating with the Dean of the Academy on accreditation.
• Managing budgets and logistics of the academic program.
• Teaching one course within the academic program.
• Engaging with key stakeholders to ensure clear communication and alignment.
• Contributing to policymaking, calendar-setting, and strategic decisions as part of the Dean's leadership team.

Skills and Profile of the Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader passionate about enabling communities of leadership learning, with a growth mindset and an eye for continuous improvement. They should demonstrate:

• Passion for the African continent, its people, and its future.
• Extensive engagement with research, theory, and philosophy of teaching and learning.
• Experience leading collaborative teams.
• Enthusiasm for designing, implementing, and assessing systems and processes.
• Expertise in curriculum planning, assessment design, and evidence-based review.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Experience working with students in a residential setting.
• A coaching mindset for growth and development.

Minimum Experience & Education

• 10+ years in education with a proven record in teaching and learning, preferably in Cambridge A-Level or equivalent.
• 3+ years in senior academic leadership roles (e.g., Head of Department or higher).

Reporting & Location

The DTL reports to the Dean of the Academy and is based at the ALA Campus in Johannesburg, South Africa. The start date is flexible, ideally in January.