Opportunity

The focus and scope of the School’s new strategic plan (which will be finalized in the coming months) is ambitious and far-reaching, as Saints seeks to further develop supports that will allow the School to be fully “future ready”. The student experience in its entirety is at the heart of this plan, and the Deputy Head will have full ownership of this fundamental pillar of St. George’s’ strategy.

Reporting to the Head of School, the Deputy Head is a key member of the senior administrative team, with full responsibility for the student experience at Saints. The two Principals (Junior and Senior Schools), the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Boarding will report to the Deputy Head and will work collaboratively to provide support, direction, and oversight to those who lead faculty, amplifying their leadership in pedagogy; instructional and assessment practices; curriculum design, development, and integration; student life and wellness; co-curricular activities; athletics; service learning; and counselling. The Deputy Head will also provide leadership, expertise, and inspiration around emerging trends in education and identified priorities in the School’s strategic plan.

In short, all of the pieces of the student experience – right through their journey from Kindergarten through to Grade 12 – will live in the Deputy Head’s portfolio.

The Deputy Head will have an excellent understanding of the broader life of Saints, ensuring that they have an appreciation of the needs of all stakeholders and of the interconnections between portfolios in a large and complex school with a fast-paced change agenda. They will play a key role in ensuring that St. George’s maintains its reputation for providing excellence, innovation, and thought leadership in boys’ education.

The Deputy Head’s responsibilities, broadly defined, include the following:

• Leading and supporting the School’s strategic priorities, particularly in areas focused on critical and emerging trends in education and student experience.
• Providing visionary direction for the academic program, based on thorough research, innovation, and best practices.
• Identifying trends and anticipating developments in our rapidly changing educational landscape and marrying vision with strategy to ensure that a Saints education is preparing its students well.
• Working collaboratively with the Senior and Junior School Principals on program development initiatives and providing the mentorship and inspiration to faculty to move these initiatives forward.
• Working closely with both schools to ensure continuity in program, and a seamless transition for boys moving into the Senior School.
• In partnership with the Head of School, Human Resources, and the Principals of the Senior and Junior Schools, hiring, evaluating, supporting, and mentoring faculty.

The Individual

St. George’s School is seeking a seasoned, exceptional leader as Deputy Head. The Search Committee recognizes the challenge and complexity of the position, and that no one individual will have all of these skills and attributes in equal measure; however, the following background, experience, and personal qualities will be sought in candidates:

Leadership and Vision

• Outstanding leadership qualities, the ability to see the big picture at all times, the skills to articulate the educational vision for Saints, and then to inspire faculty and staff in its pursuit of the plan’s goals.
• An orientation to strategy and long-term planning, along with well-defined analytical capabilities.
• The ability to identify trends and anticipate developments in the rapidly changing education landscape, and to lead the community to stay ahead of the curve.

Management/Administrative Skills

• A consultative yet decisive management style, and desire and ability to both mentor and empower others to reach their own potential.
• Experience in working with a diverse team of administrators and teachers (ideally in an independent school setting), to ensure academic and operational excellence in a constantly changing environment.
• A demonstrated ability to embrace and communicate change, and the courage, judgement, and wisdom to make important decisions when they have to be made, and to delegate effectively to ensure that they are implemented.

Educational Leadership

• An excellent teacher, with a thorough understanding of innovative pedagogy and the challenges and rewards faced by teachers in a high-performance school.
• A strong academic background, and an impressive blend of teaching, administrative, and management experience gained in an educational institution.
• A deep understanding of, and continual curiosity about, trends in education, information technology, and the particular challenges and opportunities in educating boys and young men across the span of grades.

Credentials

• Master’s degree in Educational Administration or a related discipline.
• BC teaching certificate or the eligibility to acquire.
• Understanding of British Columbia Ministry of Education regulations is an asset.
• Understanding of the BC School Act and the BC Independent School Act is an asset.
• Familiarity with the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools organization and its national accreditation process is an asset.

Personal Qualities

• A natural personal style that connects easily with others, balances firmness and fairness in problem resolution, and demonstrates an active interest in boys’ development as individuals in a community.
• Warmth, approachability, authenticity, unassailable integrity, and the capacity to engender respect and loyalty from all in the Saints family.
• An excellent listener, with superior public-speaking and communications skills.
• A high level of personal strength, stamina, energy, and a good sense of humour.

Additional Information

Key Dates

• The Committee’s consideration of candidates will begin in late February 2023, with the new Deputy Head to take office in July 2023.

How to Apply

• Applications are encouraged immediately at  https://www.odgersberndtson.com/en/careers/18653.
• Nominations and inquiries should be directed to Julia Robarts or Priya Ganesh of Odgers Berndtson at saintsdeputy@odgersberndtson.com.

Your Personal Information

• At Odgers Berndtson, we have always respected the privacy and the confidentiality of the personal information provided to us in context with our executive search assignments. This has been a fundamental value in building trust with our candidates and clients. We are committed to keeping your information secure and managing it in accordance with our legal responsibilities wherever we operate in the world, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) in Canada.
• For more information on your rights and to find out much more about how we process your personal data, a copy of our Privacy Policy is available for your review on our website.
• By providing us with a copy of your resume and any subsequent personal information directly or from third parties on your behalf such as references, you understand that it has been furnished with your consent for the purpose of possible disclosure to our client, who has agreed to comply with our Privacy Policy. We will not disclose your personal information to clients without your prior knowledge and consent.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

• In accordance with the Accessible Canada Act, 2019 and all applicable provincial accessibility standards, upon request, accommodation will be provided by both Odgers Berndtson and St. George’s School throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.
• All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Odgers Berndtson is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all the work that we do. As part of our efforts to better understand our ability to reach as broad a pool of candidates as possible for our searches, our DEI team would like to encourage you to take a moment and access our Self-Declaration Form.

About St. George's School

One of Canada's foremost day and boarding schools for boys.

Connections working at St. George's School