Head of School

Head of School Charter International School, Bangkok, ThailandStart Date: 1 August 2027Application Closing Date: Friday, 7 September 2026 The School Charter International School opened in 2003 as a Kindergarten and has since grown into a full international school offering education from Early Years through to Year 13. The School is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Thai accreditation body ONESQA. Charter is privately owned, located in eastern Bangkok, close to Suvarnabhumi Airport. The School has a diverse community of students from more than 20 nationalities, with a significant proportion of Thai and Thai-international families. The campus is spacious and green, with four main teaching blocks, a sports hall, 25m swimming pool, grass sports fields, science laboratories, art rooms, libraries, specialist classrooms, a canteen, and a multi-purpose theatre. The School’s curriculum, from Nursery upwards, is based on the English National Curriculum and adapted to the international and Thai context. In Secondary, students study Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels. The School has a strong record of supporting students in progressing to universities in Thailand and overseas. Charter has an established school culture, vision, mission, policies, and community values. The School is seeking a Head of School who can bring professional expertise, educational leadership, and strategic improvement while respecting and strengthening the identity and culture of the School. The School Board The Head of School reports to the School Board, which currently consists of seven members, including representatives of the founding family, the School’s leadership, and elected parent and staff representatives. The School Board usually meets monthly during the school term and provides strategic oversight, governance, and support for the continued development of the School. The Role The Head of School is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and strategic development of the School. The Head of School reports to the School Board and works closely with the Director and School Manager on matters relating to Thai Ministry of Education requirements, local compliance, and the effective day-to-day operation of the School. The successful candidate will be expected to provide strong educational leadership, ensure high standards of teaching and learning, promote a positive and inclusive school culture, and support the continued development of the School in line with its strategic priorities. The role requires a leader who can combine vision with collaboration. The Head of School should be able to lead improvement, make sound professional decisions, and provide clear direction, while working within the School’s vision, mission, policies, governance structure, Thai regulatory context, and established community values. Charter values mutual respect, professional trust, and collaboration between academic and non-academic teams. The Head of School will be expected to recognise the important contribution of both academic and non-academic staff, including local staff, and to work constructively with them in supporting the effective operation and continued development of the School. The School is seeking a strong educational leader, not an isolated decision-maker. The successful candidate should be able to bring expertise and fresh thinking while also listening carefully, consulting appropriately, and building trust across the School community. Key Areas of Responsibility 1. Strategic Leadership and School Development The Head of School will lead the implementation, monitoring, and review of the School’s strategic plan, ensuring that priorities are clearly translated into operational plans, measurable actions, and effective outcomes. The Head of School will work with the School Board to support future planning, including school improvement, accreditation priorities, facilities development, staffing, financial sustainability, and long-term development. The Head of School is expected to bring professional insight and leadership while ensuring that strategic decisions are aligned with the School’s mission, policies, governance expectations, and the best interests of the whole school community. 2. Academic Leadership The Head of School will ensure that the curriculum, teaching, learning, assessment, and student outcomes are regularly reviewed and improved. The successful candidate will promote high standards of teaching and learning, support professional development, and ensure that academic programmes remain aligned with the School’s guiding statements, accreditation requirements, and the needs of students. The Head of School will be expected to use data, evidence, stakeholder feedback, and professional judgement to support continuous improvement. 3. Safeguarding, Wellbeing, and Inclusion The Head of School will ensure that safeguarding, child protection, student wellbeing, inclusion, and data protection are properly understood, implemented, monitored, and reviewed across the School. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for students, staff, and the wider school community. 4. Staff Leadership and Human Resources The Head of School will lead and support the academic and non-academic staff teams, ensuring that roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability structures are clear. This includes leading staffing planning, recruitment, retention, professional development, performance management, and the consistent implementation of school policies and procedures. The Head of School will be expected to build a positive working culture based on respect, fairness, accountability, and professional collaboration. 5. Finance, Operations, and Compliance The Head of School will work with the Finance Manager, Director, School Manager, and other senior leaders to support effective budgeting, resource management, campus safety, operational planning, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will be expected to understand school finance, budget planning, responsible use of school resources, and the operational realities of running an international school in Thailand. 6. Community, Communication, and Representation The Head of School will maintain strong relationships with students, staff, parents, the School Board, and the wider community. The successful candidate will communicate clearly and professionally, build trust, promote collaboration, and represent Charter International School positively in local and international contexts. The Head of School will be expected to listen carefully, consult appropriately, communicate transparently, and support a school culture in which people feel respected and valued. Professional Profile The successful candidate should have: Essential A recognised teaching qualification and relevant degree. Proven senior leadership experience in an international school, preferably as Head of School, Director, Deputy Head, Principal, or equivalent. Strong educational leadership experience, with the ability to lead teaching, learning, curriculum development, assessment, and student outcomes. Experience in leading and managing staff, including recruitment, retention, professional development, performance management, and accountability. Experience in strategic planning, school improvement, and implementing whole-school priorities. Strong understanding of safeguarding, child protection, student wellbeing, inclusion, and data protection. Ability to work effectively with a School Board, senior leaders, academic staff, non-academic staff, parents, students, and external stakeholders. Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Respect for the School’s vision, mission, culture, policies, governance structure, local context, and Thai regulatory environment. A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to lead improvement while building trust and maintaining professional relationships. Desirable A Master’s degree or higher qualification in Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Management, School Leadership, or a related field. Experience with the English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, and A Levels. Experience with international school accreditation, preferably CIS and/or WASC. Experience in budget planning, financial management, school operations, and resource planning. Previous experience in Asia, Thailand, or a similar international school context. Professional leadership training or qualification, such as NPQH, NPQEL, or equivalent. Experience in leading a school through change, growth, accreditation, or strategic development. Personal Characteristics The School is seeking a leader who is: Deeply committed to student learning, wellbeing, and inclusion. Strategic, reflective, and able to turn plans into action. Collaborative, respectful, and able to build strong teams. Clear, honest, and effective in communication. Calm and professional in managing complex situations. Open-minded and internationally minded. Able to build trust across a diverse school community. Organised, accountable, and solution-focused. Respectful of the School’s existing culture, history, vision, mission, and community. Able to lead change without disregarding established policies, governance structures, and local context. Able to work constructively with academic and non-academic staff. Respectful of local knowledge, local staff, and the Thai regulatory environment. Able to balance strong leadership with consultation, transparency, and professional humility. Compensation and Benefits The initial contract will be for two years, renewable by mutual agreement. The salary and benefits package will be competitive and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Benefits may include furnished housing, annual flights, medical insurance, professional development support, shipping allowance, end-of-contract bonus, and school tuition for eligible dependents enrolled at Charter International School. Application Process Candidates should submit the following documents as a single PDF file: A letter of application explaining their strengths as a candidate and their interest in the Head of School position at Charter International School. A current CV, preferably no longer than two pages. A statement of educational and leadership philosophy, not exceeding two pages. A list of at least four referees, including current or recent direct supervisors, with email addresses and telephone numbers. Any recent letters of reference already in the candidate’s possession, if available. The closing date for applications is Friday, 7 September 2026. The School may begin reviewing applications as they are received. However, all applications submitted by the closing date will be considered against the agreed selection criteria. Equal Opportunities In line with the principles of Charter International School’s Equal Opportunities Policy, the School is committed to providing equal opportunity and ensuring that applicants are considered fairly and without prejudice or discrimination. Safeguarding Charter International School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection and safer recruitment checks. These will include identity checks, qualification checks, mandatory criminal background checks as required in Thailand, and written and/or verbal reference checks from previous employers. Where applicable, applicants may also be required to provide an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC), police clearance, or equivalent overseas criminal record checks from countries where they have lived or worked. Any offer of appointment will be subject to the successful completion of all required safeguarding and safer recruitment checks. Data Protection In line with Charter International School’s Data Protection Policy, information provided by applicants will be used only for recruitment, safer recruitment, and related school purposes. It will not be shared with organisations outside the School except where required for safeguarding, recruitment verification, or legal compliance. Further information about the School can be found at: https://charter.ac.th/