Director of Inclusion and Challenge
Zurich International School is an inclusive non-profit day school located in the Greater Zurich area, providing comprehensive bilingual and international educational programs for local and foreign national students aged 3 to 18.
The Director of Inclusion and Challenge plays a pivotal role in shaping personalized, inclusive, and appropriately challenging learning experiences for all ZIS students. This strategic leader oversees a well-established learning support system, which includes English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Allied services, and is responsible for two key whole-school initiatives:
- Developing a coherent approach to challenge and differentiation for high-ability learners.
- Designing data systems that support wise, ethical, and effective use of evidence to improve learning outcomes.
In addition to department leadership, the Director provides cross-campus guidance to ensure consistent, equitable, and aligned student support programming and serves as a key advisor to the Leadership Team on inclusion, challenge, and student well-being. This position is initially defined as a two-year role, with the expectation that its scope may evolve as the challenge and data systems mature.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Program Development:
- Lead and align Student Support Services across campuses, ensuring equitable access and high-quality delivery.
- Oversee the admissions process for students with previously identified learning variations.
- Build and maintain coherence across divisions through regular visits, meetings, and program reviews.
- Ensure programming reflects the ZIS Mission and curricular goals, contributing to whole-child learning.
- Research and promote best practices in inclusion, challenge, and student wellness.
- Design systems for identifying and responding to individual learner needs.
- Chair crisis management and counseling teams.
- Stay informed about trends in education to drive innovation.
- Challenge & Differentiation Leadership:
- Develop a mission-aligned approach to engage high-ability students within an inclusive framework.
- Embed differentiated teaching practices through coaching and program design.
- Collaborate with divisional principals to integrate challenge into curriculum planning.
- Educational Data & Evidence-Informed Practice:
- Build systems for gathering and analyzing learning data to inform teaching and strategic planning.
- Partner with leaders to ensure data systems support instructional decision-making and school improvement.
- Approach data with discernment, prioritizing student growth and well-being.
- Leadership of Personnel & Operations:
- Supervise and appraise student support faculty and program leaders.
- Coordinate professional development focused on inclusive education and advanced learning.
- Manage the departmental budget and allocate resources effectively.
- Oversee and regularly update relevant handbooks and policies.
- Communication, Collaboration, and Community Engagement:
- Serve as a collaborative leader across campuses, engaging with faculty and families.
- Ensure clarity and transparency in communication regarding strategic plans and changes.
- Represent Student Support Services within the Senior Leadership Team and in external forums.
- Maintain and update the Student Support section of the ZIS website.
- Cultivate a network of local educational experts to enhance internal services.
Required Skills and Qualifications
- Demonstrated expertise in differentiated instruction, inclusion, and curriculum leadership from PreSchool to Grade 12.
- Proven leadership experience in international school contexts.
- Deep understanding of Universal Design for Learning and multi-tiered support systems.
- Track record of designing and implementing educational data systems.
- Experience supervising staff and leading multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong facilitation, coaching, and adult learning skills.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and digital literacy skills.
- A Master’s degree in Special Education (or a specialist certification) with a minimum of five years of leadership experience preferred.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.