UWCSEA has a vacancy for August 2025 at its East Campus for the Head of Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) teaching IB ESS, IB Biology and Grade 9/10 Coordinated Science. The appointee will lead learning in ESS and will ensure that the values which underpin the College mission statement are reflected in the intended learnings. They will lead colleagues in the development, teaching and administration of the curriculum, and will identify and address professional learning needs as they arise in consultation with the Vice Principals.
The Head of ESS will be exected to be an active and dynamic leader, and support our efforts to develop a positive culture of learning. The successful candidate will join well-resourced Science and Humanities Faculties that are composed of enthusiastic and dynamic teachers, and contribute to the leadership of the Science Faculty.
Main Responsibilities
Leaders as teachers
- Teachers should be willing to contribute positively to the collaborative culture of the Science department, Science Faculty, and broader High School teams.
- Teachers construct learning experiences that challenge and inspire students, support the diversity of learners, and demonstrate a strong commitment to concept-based teaching and learning.
- Teachers ensure assessments support ongoing learning and provide timely, relevant, and appropriate feedback to students on formative and summative assessments.
- Teachers demonstrate effective classroom management that shows an understanding of the academic, social, and emotional dimensions of learning.
- Teachers keep parents informed about the learning of their children, and be proactive in communication with parents.
Effective Leadership – Leading across all five areas of the learning programme
- Puts student learning at the forefront of all decisions and planning.
- Has a clear vision for the department and translates this into practical and achievable plans.
- Ensures that the learning programme in the department is consistent with the UWCSEA mission, the UWCSEA Learning Principles, the UWCSEA profile and with the strategic goals of the school, campus and College.
- Ensures that the learning programme in the department develops and changes as necessary to match developments in technology and educational practice.
Professional Development – Supporting the professional development of staff they lead
- Identifies and utilises the full potential of staff in the department by being alert to professional development needs.
- Mentors staff within the Professional Learning Programme, and coaches where appropriate so that they work most effectively.
- Organises and/or runs informal/formal Professional Development opportunities for the department as individuals or as a whole.
Collaboration – working collaboratively within teams
- Enthuses and motivates staff and fosters an environment where creativity and collaboration flourish.
- Involves people in decisions, and delegates interesting and challenging tasks.
- Gives, expects and acts on constructive feedback, and acknowledges error.
- Assumes shared and individual responsibility for successes and problems and is happy to be accountable for the outcomes.
- Sets clear boundaries and expectations providing freedom for the team to work effectively.
- Acts and leads ethically and with integrity.
Communication – communicates effectively within and beyond their team
- Relates well to individuals and deals sensitively with potentially difficult situations with colleagues/ students/ parents and has effective sensitive and/or difficult conversations.
- Chairs meetings effectively and ensures opportunities for more informal communication to take place within the department.
- Is clear and articulate in both spoken and written communications with students, colleagues, parents and the wider community.
- Is proactive in making appropriate information available to colleagues, pastoral teams, parents and the College community.
Expectations and Standards
Person Specifications
- A good Science degree and a recognized teaching qualification or certification are expected.
- Broad experience of curriculum development and programme development would be an advantage.
- Teachers should be willing and eager to participate in the five key elements of a UWCSEA education: Academics; Activities; Outdoor Education; Personal and Social Education and Service.
- Academic expectations include enthusiastic participation in Professional Learning.
- Pastoral expectations include the leadership of a mentor group, unless the teacher is exempted due to other responsibilities.
- On average the College expects a yearly contribution of one and a half sessions per week in each season to Activities and/or Service.
- The College expects that teachers will participate enthusiastically in the curricular Outdoor Education experiences which are relevant to their students and will also occasionally volunteer for holiday Outdoor Education trips.
- A commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential alongside a willingness to adapt and develop pedagogy to meet the needs of our learners.
Applications
The UWC Mission is to make education a force to unite people, nations and culture for peace and a sustainable future. We are committed to creating a community in which all members feel safe and secure, and know that their authentic selves and individual differences are accepted with respect and care. At UWCSEA, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) is an ongoing and evolving process and strive to create and sustain a sense of belonging for all members of our community, past, present and future. All qualified applicants, including those who identify as a part of marginalized group(s) and individuals with (dis)abilities are all encouraged to apply. Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the students in our care and expects all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and all appointments are subject to interview, satisfactory references, identity and criminal record checks.
