JOB ADVERTISEMENT 

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL 

SOS Children’s Villages was established in Sierra Leone in 1974. We work with government and partners in communities to help families care for their children or to provide an alternative family for children who have no one to care for them, or who have lost parental care or are exposed to risks of neglect, abandonment, abuse and exploitation. Located in Freetown, Bo and Makeni, SOS Children’s Villages Sierra Leone has a wide range of programmes, in which the love of a caregiver is essential, to ensure children grow in a loving home and become their strongest selves.

Our Vision: Every child belongs to a family and grows up with love, respect and security.

Our Mission: We build families for children in need, we help them shape their own futures, and we

share in the development of their communities.

Our Values: Courage

Commitment

Trust

Accountability

Programmes include Alternative Care settings, Interim Care Centres, Youth care programmes that support more than 530 children and young people leaving in villages and in communities. In addition to quality care, we advocate for children, young people and women’s right, protection, safeguarding and empowerment. SOS Children’s Villages also provide quality education to over 4,000 students through its Herman Gmeiner International Schools, Kindergartens and Technical Vocational/ Employability and Entrepreneurship Training Centre in support of care-exit strategies and reintegration processes. Other projects include the Youth Innovation challenge & Youth-Can! which support young entrepreneurs with their businesses and young people on their quest to employment. The emergency programmes aid vulnerable families cope with the impact of COVID-19 and the economic downturn to prevent family separation.

SOS Children’s Villages Sierra Leone is recruiting a School Principal to assume overall responsibility for the successful and effective running of one of its schools, both academic and administrative areas in line with the organisation’s vision, mission, values, policies, strategies, and available resources. Oversees the development and implementation of the school’s curriculum, ensuring that it meets national and organisational standards, and is aligned with the school’s goals and objectives.

S/he is responsible for ensuring that students and staff receive the support they need to be successful. This includes providing resources, services, and programs that promote student well-being, as well as fostering a positive and collaborative working environment for staff.

The principal is responsible for maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment, which includes enforcing school policies and procedures, addressing disciplinary issues, and responding to crises or emergencies.

Serves as a liaison between the school and the community, communicating with parents, students, and stakeholders about school programs, policies, and activities. They also work with community partners to promote the school’s mission and goals.

Preparation and implementation of the school budget in liaison with the school accounts department.  Authorization of expenditures, distribution of resources, checking of inventories- equipment/textbooks/resources.

Provides visionary leadership for the school, setting the tone and direction for achieving academic and organizational goals. They are responsible for developing and implementing policies, programs, and activities that support student learning and well-being.

S/he is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the school, including budgeting, hiring and evaluating staff, and supervising teachers and support staff. They also ensure that the school is compliant with all legal and regulatory requirements. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s in education, or sociology, and or pedagogy or any other diploma includes a teacher preparation program.
• A trained, qualified, and highly experienced person with previous administrative experience in senior positions e.g. Deputy Head or Head in another School.
• Minimum 5 years professional experience as a teacher.
• Have a great writing and reporting capacity and a mastery of the IT tool.
• Highly developed communication with tact & diplomacy, interpersonal, networking, and negotiation skills.
• Trustworthiness and confidentiality as well as modelling principled behaviour

WORK CONDITIONS

STARTING DATE: 1st July 2024

DURATION OF CONTRACT: One year with a possibility of an extension based on performance

and/or availability of funding

Number of positions: One

LOCATION: Makeni

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply: submit a letter of interest, with Curriculum Vitae, photocopy of certificates, and three (3) professional references with at least one (1) from a direct supervisor, by email only to apply.sl@sossierraleone.org  Please indicate in the subject line the position and location you are applying for, for example: “Application for the Position of Institutional Partnership Coordinator in Freetown ”.

Closing date for the submission of applications is Friday 24th May, 2024

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, all employment is subject to applicable background checks, including criminal record checks.

What We Stand For:

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organisation, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action.