Subject Head: HEBREW – Herzlia High School

Staffwise; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

United Herzlia Schools in Cape Town seeks a Head of Hebrew for the High School to drive curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. You will lead a team of teachers and build a clear, staged proficiency pathway from Grade 7 through Grade 12, aligning teaching and assessment with the school’s language strategy.

The role requires fluency in Hebrew, SACE eligibility, and a track record in language education with leadership potential. Join a vibrant Jewish life and learning community at Highlands Estate.

Qualifications

• Teacher qualification required with SACE registration or eligibility
• Proven leadership experience or leadership potential
• Experience with proficiency-based language teaching approaches (can-do frameworks) is advantageous
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to mentor teens and integrate technology into language teaching
• Fluency in Hebrew (written and spoken)
• Experience with IEB or similar external exams is advantageous
• Willingness to contribute to extra-mural and Jewish life programmes

Responsibilities

• Lead the Hebrew department, including curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and professional growth of a team of teachers
• Develop a clear proficiency pathway from Grade 7 to Grade 12 with observable outcomes
• Coordinate with Pre-Primary to High School to ensure a coherent Hebrew journey
• Strengthen Grade 12 Hebrew as a rigorous academic subject
• Embed Hebrew in assemblies, tefillah, Israel education and broader school life
• Collaborate with Jewish Life and Learning team and external Hebrew pedagogy experts

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Language proficiency

Education

Teaching qualification

SACE registration

Tools

Technology integration

Job description

About The Organisation And The Role

United Herzlia Schools is a highly successful, independent, community Jewish Day School in Cape Town. Hebrew is central to what Herzlia exists to do. It is the language of Jewish text and tefillah, of Israel, and of Jewish life across generations and continents. We are looking for a Subject Head who will lead Hebrew at the High School and who can clearly define the progression of pupil skills at every stage, build a department capable of getting them there, and help Hebrew live in the culture of the school rather than only in the timetable.

Full-time, Permanent, Work
Location: Highlands Estate, Cape Town
Job Category: Education
Posted 2 weeks ago

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the Hebrew department, including curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and the professional growth of a team of teachers.
• Develop a clear, staged proficiency pathway from Grade 7 to Grade 12, expressed in terms of what pupils can actually do in the language, and align teaching and assessment to it.
• Work with colleagues across the Pre-Primary, Primary and High School campuses to build a coherent system-wide Hebrew journey.
• Strengthen Grade 12 Hebrew, both as a rigorous academic subject and as a choice that pupils are drawn to make.
• Help reimagine the presence of Hebrew in the wider life of the school, in assemblies, tefillah, Israel education, signage, staff culture and the everyday texture of a Jewish school.
• Work closely with the Jewish Life and Learning team and with external Hebrew pedagogy expertise to support the school’s language strategy.

Required Skills & Experience

The ideal applicant will have the following competencies:

• Work experience and industry exposure
• A teaching qualification is essential
• SACE registration (or eligibility to register)
• Solid experience in teaching Hebrew as an additional language, as well as evidence of pupils making progress.
• Experience with IEB or comparable external examination systems is advantageous
• Proven leadership experience or evidence of leadership potential
• Familiarity with proficiency-based approaches to language teaching, including can-do frameworks (advantageous).
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal skills
• Ability to inspire and build relationships with pupils
• The ability and maturity to mentor teens and act as a superb role model to pupils
• Ability to integrate well with general staff
• Be able to work comfortably with all segments of the community in an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
• Excellent Administration and Organisational Skills
• Strong organisational and administrative capability.
• Confident teaching a range of learners, including pupils on educational support programmes.
• Ability to integrate technology meaningfully into language teaching.
• Specific requirements
• Fluency in Hebrew (both written and spoken).
• A love of Hebrew and of Jewish life, and the ability to convey both to teenagers
• Willingness to contribute to the school’s extra-mural and Jewish life programmes.

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of submitting your application, kindly consider your application to have been unsuccessful

Closing date for applications: 07 September 2026

Salary range: Market related commensurate with skill and experience
Start date: 01 January 2027