Founding Principal

Job Vacancy: Founding Principal – Lizar Senior School

Company:
 Lizar School Naivasha

Location:
 Naivasha, Kenya

Reports to:
 Board of Governors

1. Organizational Background

Lizar Senior School Naivasha is a new, forward-thinking educational institution set to launch in January 2026. Our mission is to provide a world-class, holistic education that nurtures and inspires an empowered Global Citizen. We are committed to creating an ecosystem where students thrive, teachers excel, and continuous innovation drives academic and personal progress.

We are seeking a visionary and dynamic Founding Principal to build our Senior School from the ground up, establishing its culture, academic rigour, and operational excellence.

2. Job Purpose

The Founding Principal will be the academic and administrative leader responsible for establishing, launching, and leading the Senior School. This role requires a strategic leader who can translate the school's vision into a tangible, world-class educational environment. The Founding Principal will be instrumental in building the school's reputation, ensuring full compliance with CBE and international standards, and creating a culture of excellence, innovation, and performance.

3. Key Responsibilities

A. Strategic Leadership & School Establishment

• Execute the laid strategic plan for the launch and ongoing establishment of the Senior School programs.
• Lead all pre-launch activities, including policies formulation, recruitment, marketing, and student enrolment.
• Establish and sustain the school's culture, ensuring it reflects the core values of Lizar Senior School.
• Act as the public face of the Senior School, building strong relationships with parents, the local community, and educational partners.

B. Academic Excellence & Curriculum Implementation

• Spearhead the design, implementation, and oversight of a rigorous academic curriculum, with a focus on the potential adoption and integration of international best practices.
• Ensure full compliance with all relevant national (CBE) and international accreditation bodies, Basic Education Act 2013, KNEC Act, TSC Act, TSC Code of Conduct, Lizar School Policy, HR Guidelines and any other regulatory requirements.
• Drive the integration of technology and digital learning platforms to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
• Foster innovative, student-centered pedagogies that prepare learners for the future.

C. Staff Recruitment & Professional Development

• Lead the recruitment and selection of a high-calibre, dynamic team of educators and support staff in line with Lizar HR Guidelines.
• Create and implement a robust program for staff training, mentorship, and continuous professional development and termly performance appraisals and management.
• Cultivate a collaborative and empowering environment where staff are motivated to excel and innovate in their practice.

D. Operational Management & Policy Standardization

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Senior School, ensuring efficiency, children rights and safety, and a conducive learning environment.
• Develop and standardize operational policies and procedures in alignment with the broader Lizar School framework.
• Maintain an inventory of the school's resources under your costudy and manage the resources effectively, including budgeting, resource allocation, and facility management.

E. Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem Development

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with students, parents, staff, directors, education officers and the Board of Governors.
• Foster partnerships with other educational institutions and organizations to contribute to the broader education ecosystem.
• Ensure transparent and proactive communication with all stakeholders.

4. Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience:

• A Bachelor in Education and TSC Registered
• Master's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in educational leadership, with a proven track record of success.
• Direct experience in establishing a new school, department, or program is highly desirable.
• Demonstrate understanding in CBE curriculum implementation, centre management, and MOE compliance is a significant advantage.

Core Strengths & Competencies:

• Strategic Visionary:
   Ability to bridge strategic vision with practical, on-the-ground execution.
• Academic Innovator:
   Deep understanding of modern curricula, technology integration, and future-ready learning practices.
• Builder & Influencer:
   Exceptional leadership skills to inspire a new team, build a positive culture from scratch, and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Operational Expert:
   Strong managerial skills to establish efficient systems and policies.
• Integrity & Compliance:
   A meticulous approach to maintaining assessment integrity and adherence to global educational standards.
• Passion for Excellence in Education:
   A genuine passion for creating inclusive, innovative learning spaces and making quality education accessible.

5. What We Offer:

• A rare and exciting opportunity to be the 
  Founding Principal
   and architect of a premier Senior School.
• A competitive, executive-level compensation package.
• Significant autonomy to shape the school's academic direction and cultural identity.
• The chance to work with a supportive Board and central office dedicated to world-class education.
• A professional environment that values and invests in innovation and continuous improvement.

6. Application Process

Interested candidates who embody the passion and expertise to build an educational system that inspires the leaders of tomorrow are invited to submit their following to

[

]:

1. A cover letter (max. 2 pages) detailing your suitability against the person specification and your vision for founding a new Senior School.

2. A comprehensive Curriculum Vitae.

3. Application Deadline:
    Friday, 10th October 2025, at 5.30pm