Head of Secondary
Job Start: 1 June 2026
Location: Basel-Stadt
Contract Level: 100%
Contract Term: Permanent
Responsibilities
- Maintain safe, secure, and inclusive learning environments for all students
- Promote a culture of care, respect, and student wellbeing across the Secondary School
- Provide strategic leadership for the Secondary curriculum (British/Cambridge-aligned), ensuring high standards of teaching and learning
- Oversee curriculum planning, implementation, and review across all Secondary year levels
- Lead the administration, analysis, and communication of internal and external assessments
- Monitor student progress, identify trends, and drive school improvement
- Oversee reporting cycles
- Lead target setting and progress review processes across the Secondary School
- Line manage key Secondary leadership roles
- Oversee performance management, appraisal, and professional growth processes
- Support the planning and delivery of professional development
- Manage the Secondary School budgets in collaboration with Finance and senior leadership
- Oversee resources, including learning materials and educational technology
- Foster strong, respectful, and transparent relationships with parents and carers
- Act as a visible and approachable leader within the school community
- Support admissions processes for Secondary Years in collaboration with the Admissions team
- Participate in school tours, information sessions, and transition meetings
- Support smooth student transitions within Secondary and into further education pathways
- Contribute to whole-school strategic planning and school development priorities
- Support accreditation, inspection, and compliance processes
- Work collaboratively with other senior leaders
Essential Skills and Attributes
- Proven experience in senior secondary leadership
- Strong knowledge of curriculum, assessment, and data-informed practice
- Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills
- Ability to manage complex priorities in a fast-paced school environment
- Calm, solution-oriented approach to challenges and crisis situations
- High level of cultural competence and ability to thrive in an international context
- Strong digital competence, particularly with Google Workspace and school data systems
- Approachable, professional, and values-driven leadership style
- Eligible to pass all required police and safeguarding checks
- Reliable, trustworthy, and punctual
- Fluency in English; a good command of German would be an advantage
- Competence with Google Workspace and comfort in an IT environment
- Work permit for Switzerland (required)
What Can You Expect from Us?
- An experienced, friendly, and well-coordinated team
- Regular internal training and further education
- Linguistic diversity and intercultural exchange
- Fringe benefits
What Do We Offer?
Respect and appreciation are important to us. Every new team member becomes part of our ELABasel family. We strive for growth and continuous improvement in our quality, which is why we promote further education and training and offer apprenticeships. We prioritize long-term employment to ensure a strong and stable team.
Are you ready to shape the future of children together with us? Then we look forward to receiving your application!
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
ELABasel International School AG is a vibrant and lively international school that offers a family-like environment for children aged 3 months to 16 years. It is located in the heart of Basel, a cosmopolitan and growing city on the border with France and Germany. Established in 1993, ELABasel celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023 and is renowned for high-quality childcare and teaching, small class sizes, a creative and dynamic curriculum based on the British National Curriculum, and a wide range of extracurricular activities and wrap-around care.
For more information about ELABasel, visit our website: www.ela-basel.ch
Please note that ELABasel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share in this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure Barring Service or local country equivalent checks.