Head of Secondary
Job start: 1 June 2026
Location: Basel-Stadt
Contract level: 100%
Contract term: Permanent
What are your 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 opportunities.
- Linguistic diversity and intercultural exchange.
- Fringe benefits.
What do we offer?
Respect and appreciation are foundational to our community. Each new team member becomes part of our ELABasel family. We are committed to growth and continuous improvement in quality, promoting further education and training while offering apprenticeships to encourage long-term employment and a stable team.
Ready to shape the future?
If you are ready to contribute to the future of children with us, we look forward to your interest. Apply online using the form below.
Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
For more information about ELABasel, please visit our website: www.ela-basel.ch
ELABasel International School AG is a vibrant and dynamic international school that offers a family-oriented environment for children aged 3 months to 16 years. Located in the heart of Basel, our school has been serving the community since 1993 and is renowned for its high-quality childcare and education, small class sizes, and a creative curriculum inspired by the British National Curriculum.
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.