Director of Inclusion / Directress of Inclusion

Zurich International School

Zurich International School is an inclusive non-profit day school located in the Greater Zurich area, offering comprehensive bilingual and international educational programs for local and expatriate students aged 3 to 18.

Position: Director of Inclusion and Challenge

The Director of Inclusion and Challenge plays a mission-critical role in shaping personalized, inclusive, and appropriately challenging learning experiences for all ZIS students. This strategic leader oversees a well-established learning support system, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and allied services while spearheading 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 leading the department, the Director provides cross-campus guidance to ensure consistent, equitable, and aligned student support programs. This role also serves as a key advisor to the Leadership Team on matters of inclusion, challenge, and well-being. The position is initially defined as a two-year role, with potential for scope evolution as challenges and data systems advance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Lead and align Student Support Services across campuses, including learning support, EAL, counseling, and psychological services to ensure 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 campus visits, faculty meetings, and program reviews.
• Ensure student support programming reflects the ZIS Mission and curricular goals, contributing meaningfully to whole-child learning.
• Research and promote best practices in inclusion, challenge, and student wellness.
• Design and implement school-wide systems for identifying, tracking, and responding to individual learner needs (e.g., IEPs, screening tools, accommodations).
• Chair crisis management and counseling teams, leading initiatives that strengthen our capacity to respond holistically to student needs.
• Stay informed about trends and research in education to drive innovation and instruction.

2. Challenge & Differentiation Leadership

• Develop and oversee a mission-aligned approach to academic challenge ensuring high-ability students are engaged, stretched, and supported within an inclusive framework.
• Embed differentiated teaching and learning practices across grade levels through coaching, program design, and faculty development.
• Collaborate with divisional principals and curriculum leaders to integrate challenge into curriculum planning and pedagogy.

3. Educational Data & Evidence-Informed Practice

• Build systems for gathering and analyzing learning data to inform teaching, intervention, program design, and strategic planning.
• Partner with divisional and curricular leaders to ensure data systems support both instructional decision-making and long-term school improvement.
• Approach data with discernment, aligning it with ZIS values—prioritizing student growth and well-being.

4. Leadership of Personnel & Operations

• Supervise and appraise student support faculty and program leaders, including hiring, performance evaluation, goal setting, and professional growth.
• Coordinate professional development focused on inclusive education, advanced learning, and social-emotional well-being in collaboration with principals.
• Manage the departmental budget, ensuring effective resource allocation across programs and campuses.
• Oversee and regularly update handbooks, manuals, and policies related to student support and inclusion.

5. Communication, Collaboration, and Community Engagement

• Serve as a visible, collaborative leader across campuses—meeting regularly with support staff and engaging with faculty and families.
• Ensure clarity and transparency in communication regarding strategic plans, program updates, initiatives, and changes related to this role.
• Represent Student Support Services within the Senior Leadership Team and in external forums as appropriate.
• Maintain and update the Student Support section of the ZIS website to reflect current programs and guidance for families.
• Cultivate a network of local educational psychologists, therapists, doctors, and specialists to enhance internal services with external expertise.

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, including system-level or cross-divisional coordination.
• Deep understanding of Universal Design for Learning, multi-tiered systems of support, student well-being, and advanced learning needs.
• 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.
• Master’s degree in Special Education (or a specialist certification); minimum of five years of leadership experience preferred.

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.