Head of School

Job Purpose

• The Head of School is responsible for providing strategic, academic, administrative and operational leadership to ensure the effective management, continuous improvement and sustainable growth of Dominion Citadel Schools.
• The position holder shall be accountable for maintaining excellent academic standards, developing high-performing employees, ensuring student welfare, improving parent satisfaction, driving enrolment and retention, and maintaining the school's reputation for excellence.
• The Head of School shall translate the vision, mission, strategic objectives and policies of the school into measurable operational results.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and School Development

• Implement the school's vision, mission, core values and strategic development plan.
• Prepare annual school improvement plans with clearly defined objectives and performance indicators.
• Provide strong leadership that promotes excellence, discipline, professionalism and accountability.
• Translate management directives into actionable departmental responsibilities.
• Identify opportunities for school growth, innovation and competitive advantage.
• Develop initiatives that improve educational quality and operational efficiency.
• Ensure alignment between academic performance, operational priorities and financial sustainability.
• Advise the Executive Director on school development, staffing, infrastructure and strategic investments.
• Lead implementation of the school's approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Academic Leadership and Curriculum Management

• Ensure effective curriculum delivery across Crèche, Nursery, Primary and Secondary sections, as applicable.
• Supervise lesson planning, scheme of work preparation and classroom instructional delivery.
• Monitor teachers' performance and classroom effectiveness.
• Ensure regular student assessments and accurate academic records.
• Implement intervention programmes for underperforming students.
• Promote literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, creativity and digital learning.
• Coordinate internal and external examinations.
• Establish academic achievement benchmarks for every class.
• Supervise extracurricular, sporting, cultural and leadership development programmes.
• Ensure effective use of teaching aids, laboratories, libraries and educational technology.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and instructional reviews.
• Maintain a culture of continuous academic improvement.

Staff Management and Performance Development

• Supervise all teaching and non-teaching employees assigned to the school.
• Establish clear departmental responsibilities and reporting relationships.
• Monitor staff punctuality, attendance, discipline and productivity.
• Conduct regular staff performance evaluations.
• Identify training needs and organise professional development programmes.
• Recommend recruitment, promotion, redeployment, disciplinary action and termination where appropriate, subject to management approval.
• Develop succession plans for critical academic and administrative positions.
• Encourage teamwork, accountability, mentorship and professional conduct.
• Address workplace conflicts promptly and professionally.
• Ensure that staff understand and comply with the school's policies and procedures.

Student Welfare, Discipline and Safeguarding

• Ensure a safe, secure, inclusive and supportive learning environment.
• Supervise student discipline and behavioural management.
• Implement child protection and safeguarding policies.
• Monitor student attendance, punctuality and general welfare.
• Establish appropriate measures to prevent bullying, harassment, discrimination and abuse.
• Ensure incidents involving students are documented, investigated and escalated appropriately.
• Coordinate counselling, mentoring and student support services.
• Ensure effective implementation of health, hygiene, sanitation and emergency response procedures.
• Promote positive student behaviour and character development.

Parent Relations and Customer Satisfaction

• Maintain professional and productive relationships with parents and guardians.
• Ensure effective and timely communication between the school and parents.
• Establish systems for receiving, tracking and resolving parental complaints.
• Ensure prompt follow-up on parent concerns and feedback.
• Organise parent engagement meetings, open days and academic progress discussions.
• Develop initiatives that strengthen parental confidence and trust.
• Monitor parent satisfaction and recommend improvements.
• Ensure sensitive complaints and escalated matters are properly addressed by management.

Service Standard: No parent complaint should remain unresolved without documented action, escalation and a communicated resolution timeline.

Admissions, Enrolment and School Growth

• Collaborate with the Admissions and Marketing team to achieve enrolment targets.
• Develop strategies to improve student recruitment and retention.
• Monitor enrolment trends, withdrawals and student transfers.
• Identify factors contributing to student attrition and implement corrective measures.
• Participate in school tours, prospective parent meetings and admissions activities.
• Promote the school's academic achievements, educational programmes and competitive strengths.
• Support marketing campaigns, community engagement and referral initiatives.
• Maintain high standards of parent experience throughout the admissions process.

Financial and Resource Management

• Prepare and recommend annual academic and operational budgets.
• Ensure efficient utilisation of approved financial and material resources.
• Monitor departmental expenditures against budgets.
• Support approved school fee collection and debt recovery initiatives.
• Identify avoidable operating costs without compromising educational standards.
• Supervise the appropriate use and maintenance of school facilities, equipment and materials.
• Make recommendations on capital expenditure and operational improvements.
• Ensure financial accountability and compliance with approved purchasing procedures.

School Operations, Compliance and Safety

• Supervise daily school operations and administrative activities.
• Ensure proper implementation of school policies, procedures and management instructions.
• Monitor facility cleanliness, maintenance, security and safety.
• Supervise school opening, closing and daily operational readiness.
• Ensure compliance with applicable educational regulations and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate administrative, academic and personnel records.
• Supervise school transport, feeding and ancillary services where applicable.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and school safety drills.
• Conduct periodic internal operational and compliance reviews.

Reporting, Meetings and Management Accountability

• Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, termly and annual management reports.
• Hold regular management meetings with Heads of Sections and departmental leads.
• Track school performance against approved targets and key performance indicators.
• Present academic, staffing, enrolment and operational performance reports to the Executive Director.
• Escalate significant risks, safeguarding incidents, parent disputes and financial concerns promptly.
• Ensure management decisions are documented, assigned and followed through.
• Maintain accurate records of departmental meetings and action plans.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Head of School shall be evaluated against the following performance areas.

Performance Area Proposed KPI / Target

Achievement of approved student performance benchmarks

Achievement of annual enrolment targets

At least 95%, subject to approved school targets

At least 90% favourable feedback

100% recorded, tracked and resolved or appropriately escalated

At least 95% compliance

100% of required schemes and lesson plans monitored

Minimum one structured professional development programme per term

100% completed within scheduled periods

Operation within approved budgets

100% timely submission of required reports

100% of reported concerns promptly addressed according to policy

Full implementation and periodic compliance review

All targets are proposed management benchmarks and should be approved or adjusted annually.

Reporting Requirements

Daily

• Student and staff attendance review
• Operational readiness and safety checks
• Review of significant academic, disciplinary and parent-related matters
• Monitoring of teaching and learning activities

Weekly

• Academic performance and lesson delivery updates
• Staff attendance and productivity report
• Admissions and enrolment updates
• Parent complaints and resolution report
• Key operational issues and recommended actions

Monthly

• Consolidated school performance report
• Staff performance and development report
• Enrolment, retention and withdrawal analysis
• Budget utilisation and operational expenditure report
• School improvement progress and risk register

Termly

• Academic performance analysis
• Comprehensive staff appraisal
• Parent satisfaction review
• Enrolment and financial performance assessment
• School improvement recommendations

Annually

• Comprehensive school performance review
• Annual improvement and strategic execution plan
• Staffing and resource requirements
• Proposed annual operating budget
• Recommendations for school growth and development

Educational Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education or a relevant discipline with recognised teaching qualifications.
• A Master's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Management or a related discipline is an added advantage.
• Relevant professional teaching registration or certification, as required.
• Strong understanding of Nigerian educational curricula and modern teaching methodologies.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant teaching or educational experience.
• At least 3–5 years in a school leadership or senior management position.
• Demonstrated ability to manage academic performance, teaching teams and school operations.
• Experience in a reputable private school is preferred.
• Experience with school improvement, parent relations and admissions management is desirable.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strategic leadership and sound decision-making
• Strong academic and instructional leadership
• People management and staff development
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Conflict resolution and emotional intelligence
• Data analysis and performance management
• Financial and budget management
• Digital literacy and school management software proficiency
• Customer service and parent relationship management
• Planning, organisation and problem-solving
• High ethical standards, integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver measurable results

Authority and Accountability

The Head of School shall have authority to:

• Coordinate and supervise daily academic and administrative activities.
• Assign duties to employees within approved structures.
• Recommend recruitment and staff disciplinary measures.
• Approve routine academic and operational decisions within delegated limits.
• Initiate school improvement programmes subject to management approval.
• Coordinate departmental performance reviews and corrective actions.

The Head of School shall not independently approve major capital expenditure, alter tuition fees, terminate employment, enter into material contracts or make major policy changes without the required management authorisation.

Standards of Professional Conduct

The Head of School must:

• Demonstrate exemplary professionalism, honesty and integrity.
• Protect the reputation and interests of Dominion Citadel Schools.
• Maintain confidentiality of student, employee and management information.
• Uphold child protection and safeguarding obligations.
• Promote fairness, discipline, respect and teamwork.
• Avoid conflicts of interest and unauthorised commitments.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with parents, staff and school leadership.

Performance Review

• Performance shall be assessed through monthly KPI monitoring, termly management reviews and an annual performance appraisal.
• The assessment shall consider academic outcomes, leadership effectiveness, parent satisfaction, enrolment performance, staff productivity, resource management and compliance with school policies.