Head of Secondary

Compass International School Doha was established in 2006 to provide a premium British education to both expatriate and local Qatari families. We have three campuses; Al Themaid and Madinat Khalifa educate students from Early Years through to Secondary whereas Gharaffa is a stand-alone Primary campus for children aged 3-11. All campuses offer a bespoke British curriculum. Secondary students can select from a wide range of IGSEs, AS and A levels. Additionally, we offer the prestigious IB Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13. All three sites offer a warm, friendly learning environment with our students at the heart of everything we do. We are proud of our outstanding teachers and our community feel. As for Qatar, a sunny climate year-round and an airport with fantastic global connections ensures the continued popularity of this destination for expats. 

Our school has Qatar National Schools Accreditation (QNSA) and is a member of the British Schools in the Middle East (BSME), COBIS and AoBSO.

To learn more about our school, please visit our website

About the role

We are seeking a Head of Secondary for our Madinat Khalifa campus, which educates students in Years 7-11.

A key member of the CISD Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Secondary will provide direction, inspiration and guidance for the teaching staff at Madinat Khalifa. With the support of the Deputy Head of Secondary, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school. You will drive academic standards through the provision of a bespoke, British curriculum and by monitoring and evaluating the quality of learning and teaching. You will nurture staff by prioritising purposeful professional development, meaningful performance management and care for their wellbeing. Together with the Executive Principal you will set out a vision and strategic direction for the Secondary school at Madinat Khalifa. Since we are one school with three campuses, you must be an excellent collaborator; you will be expected to work closely with the Head of Secondary at Themaid Campus as well as the three Heads of Primary. Finally, you will ensure the vibrant parent community at Madinat Khalifa continues to feel connected and involved with the school.

About you

Ready to lead the school on its journey of continuous self-improvement, you will be a qualified teacher with a minimum of 10 years teaching experience in a Secondary school. Additionally, you will have extensive experience of leadership and management, gained either in the UK or a respected international school.

Able to work with a high degree of cultural sensitivity in our changing and fast-paced international environment, you will have the ability to lead your team with energy, enthusiasm and a strong sense of integrity.

Please refer to the job description of the role for the following information:

• Job purpose
• Reporting to
• Key relationships
• Key results areas
• Performance measurement

Benefits

Nord Anglia Education is the world’s leading premium schools organisation. We are a fast-paced and growing family of 87 international schools in China, Europe, the Middle East, South-East Asia and The Americas, providing outstanding education to over 80,000 students from preschool to 18 years of age. Our schools are united by one philosophy—we are ambitious for our students, our people, our community and family of schools. This means that we want every student to achieve more in our schools, than in any other schools in the world. We ensure this through personalised learning enhanced with bespoke global opportunities such as Juilliard, MIT and UNICEF. We learn from the best and with the best.

We offer you unsurpassed opportunities to innovate and develop best practice across our family, to access extensive professional development, and to gain exceptional experience and career development in our schools. At Nord Anglia, you will have opportunities to progress more, learn more, and collaborate more.

We offer a professional working environment and an attractive remuneration & benefits package.

Alongside great training and a competitive package, you’ll enjoy the chance to live and work in a rapidly growing country which is perhaps best known for successfully hosting the World Cup in 2022.  Qatar is a great place to be based for travel and enjoys a lovely climate most of the year. 

EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS SOUGHT

Essential

• A university degree and a teaching qualification
• At least 10 years of teaching experience within the British curriculum
• A proven record of successful leadership at a senior level

Desirable

• A master’s degree in the field of education or an NPQH qualification
• Previous international experience

PERSONAL QUALITIES SOUGHT

• Fluent English speaker
• Values-led approach; integrity and honesty are paramount
• Reliability, loyalty and commitment
• Personal confidence and presence
• Energetic and positive with a ‘can-do’ approach
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Approachable to all; able to show respect and display cultural sensitivity
• Sense of humour and grace under pressure
• Ability to understand complex issues and solve problems
• Able to manage own time and prioritise; organized
• Flexible and adaptable; able to handle uncertainty
• Able to delegate effectively

To apply

Please apply for this vacancy using our recruitment portal.

Online applications should contain a CV, a two-page letter of application and the details of three professional references.

Start date: 1st August 2025

Closing date for applications is Thursday, 28th November 2024.

Selection process

First stage interviews will be conducted face to face or via Teams and final interviews will take place in December 2024.

Candidates are encouraged to apply early as the school reserves the right to appoint before the closing date. 

At Nord Anglia Education we are committed to providing a world class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people are able to thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our pupils irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender or culture.

All post holders in regulated activity (having regular unsupervised contact with children) are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures including satisfactory criminal record checks from both Country of residence/birth and any Country of residence within the last 10 years.