Headmaster | Residential School at Dehradun

Position Summary

The Headmaster will provide visionary leadership for the fully residential school, overseeing both academic and residential life. He/she will be responsible for delivering an outstanding educational and boarding experience, ensuring students' safety and wellbeing, fostering a strong school culture, and managing all aspects of school operations (academic, pastoral, boarding, staffing, finance). The Headmaster will serve as the chief executive and educational leader of the institution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop, communicate and implement the school's mission, vision, values and long-term strategic plan for a residential environment.
• Lead the continuous improvement of the school in all domains (academic, boarding life, co-curricular, pastoral).
• Act as ambassador of the school to parents, alumni, community, regulators and other stakeholders.

2. Academic Leadership & Curriculum

• Ensure high standards of teaching, learning, assessment and student achievement across the school.
• Oversee curriculum design, teaching methodologies, academic scheduling and evaluation systems.
• Monitor student progress, analyse performance data, and lead improvement actions.
• Promote innovation in pedagogy and integration of technology into teaching/learning.

3. Boarding & Pastoral Life

• Provide leadership for the residential life of students: accommodation, meals, health & wellbeing, leisure and co-curricular/restorative activities.
• Ensure a safe, nurturing, inclusive, and supportive boarding environment where students' personal, social and emotional development is valued.
• Ensure robust safeguarding, child protection and residential welfare policies are in place and adhered to.
• Oversee student discipline, attendance, behaviour management, and pastoral care frameworks.

4. Staff Leadership & Development

• Recruit, retain, develop and evaluate high-quality teaching, boarding and support staff.
• Build a strong senior leadership team and delegate responsibilities effectively.
• Foster a collaborative, professional, positive culture among staff.
• Ensure regular professional development and performance appraisal processes.

5. Operational Management

• Oversee all operational aspects of the school (campus maintenance, utilities, boarding facilities, health & safety, food services, transport).
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation requirements (education law, boarding school regulations, fire & safety, health standards).

6. Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong partnerships with parents, alumni, local community, and other educational institutions.
• Ensure effective communication with the school community—students, parents, staff.
• Lead admissions strategy for both day and boarding students, maintaining the school's reputation and student‐body diversity.
• Represent the school externally, promote its brand and values.

7. Culture & Co-Curricular Life

• Promote a vibrant co-curricular programme (sports, arts, service, leadership, clubs) that complements academic life and boarding community.
• Encourage student voice and leadership, house system (if applicable), community service and global citizenship.
• Foster a culture of excellence, respect, integrity, care and continuous growth.

Key Qualifications & Experience

• A strong educational background: Minimum Master's degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or related field; further qualifications desirable.
• Significant experience (ideally ≥ 15 years) in school leadership, including boarding/residential school experience.
• Proven track record of driving academic excellence and managing complex school operations.
• Experience managing boarding/residential life is highly desirable.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including budgeting, resource management, facility oversight.
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication and stakeholder‐management skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and inspire staff and students, build culture, and manage change.
• Commitment to student wellbeing, safeguarding, and inclusive education.
• Ability to thrive in a 24/7 residential environment and to engage with all aspects of boarding school life (day and evening activities, weekend programmes).

Personal Attributes

• Visionary, strategic thinker with operational realism.
• Warm, approachable leadership style; visible on campus and engaged with students and boarders.
• Strong ethical integrity, resilience, adaptability and a passion for boarding and whole-child education.
• Excellent communicator (oral and written) with the ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders.
• Energetic, hands-on, and able to oversee both big-picture planning and day-to-day details.

Working Conditions

• Residential presence on campus is expected; availability and responsiveness outside standard school hours for boarding life is required.
• Campus duties may include evening/weekend events, house visits, boarding supervision and emergencies.
• Travel may be required (e.g., board meetings, conferences, national education forums).

Performance Metrics

• Student achievement, progression and outcomes (academic, co-curricular, boarding).
• Student, parent and staff satisfaction and retention.
• Boarding house quality, wellbeing and safety metrics.
• Staff recruitment, retention, professional development outcomes.
• Compliance with regulatory/safeguarding standards and accreditation requirements.
• Success of strategic initiatives (campus development, admissions growth, infrastructure enhancement).