Deputy Chinese Principal: Operations and Communication

International School
Chengdu, Sichuan Province
April 29, 2025
Full Time
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Job Description

Job Title: Deputy Chinese Principal: Operations and Communication 

Department: Non-Academic

Line Manager: School Principal with a dotted line to Chair of Governing Board

Responsible For: Head of HR; IT Manager; Head of Operations; Director of M&A; Head of Finance

Start Time: ASAP 2025

The Appointment

We seek to appoint an individual with proven leadership ability, capable of commanding respect in a high-level organisation. Specific qualifications are less important than the right skills and personal qualities. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, able to work with the School Principal, Governors and Senior Management Team to lead this highly successful school into its next stage of development. Other essential qualities will include excellent leadership and people management skills, a keen eye for detail and an unswerving commitment to high standards.

The Chinese Principal will need to liaise frequently with the other members of the senior management team in order to fulfil the responsibilities of their role and to ensure that the educational purpose and all business areas of the school are fully supported.

Role Summary

The Chinese Principal is responsible for the leadership and management of Government and Public Relations and the non-academic functions of the school. The list of responsibilities is neither exclusive nor necessarily complete. 

The Chinese Principal’s main areas of responsibility include:

·        Strategy

·        Finance

·        Estates and maintenance, including IT

·        Compliance, Risk Management, Health and Safety

·        HR

·        Catering and transport

·        Data Protection

·        Government and Public relations and

·        Marketing  

The position holder is expected to develop strategies and plans on all business aspects of the school as part of the overall school development plan and to lead the school’s team of Operational, M&A, HR and IT managers. He/She will oversee the staff appraisal within their relevant departments, ensuring all departments’ objectives are met. The role requires a good understanding of business and school operations and the educational priorities of the school in its entirety. The Chinese Principal will also represent the school in all communication with the government, ensuring all relevant regulations are up to date and understood by the school community. 

The Chinese Principal will normally be responsible to the Chair of the Governing Board for the conduct of the school’s government affairs, public relations, financial affairs, business management and material state of the premises and to the School Principal for day-to-day administration.

For the JD details, please kindly refer to the school recruitment website: https://spgs-international-school-chengdu.hirehive.com/.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree or above in Business Management or a related Business field.
  • Professional qualifications in a functional specialty (e.g.: HR or accountancy) would be advantageous.

    • LANGUAGES: Fluent in English.

    WORKING EXPERIENCE

  • Proved record of managing public relationships.
  • A minimum of 10 years’ work experience in the field of business.
  • Management experience in operations, including at least 5 years of successful people management.
  • Experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Experience with schools and the education field.
  • Understanding of high-quality education.
  • Familiarity with functional processes, policies and procedures in an international school setting.

    • COMPETENCIES

  • Robust leadership ability, with demonstrable experience of leading a team by example, empowering others and commanding respect. to deliver quality customer centred outcomes.
  • Strategic and commercial planning ability.
  • A working knowledge of accounting procedures and requirements.
  • An appreciation of the regulations affecting international schools, including a commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of those in the School’s care.
  • Project Management skills.
  • Proven cost management and large-scale budget leadership and/or accounting experience.
  • Demonstrable evidence of managing change and knowledge of employment and other legal requirements.
  • Extensive experience of computerized systems.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

    • APTITUDES

  • Strong people skills and experience of building productive and collaborative relationships with people from different cultures, industries and different levels of seniority.
  • Innovative and creative problem solver.
  • Strong emotional intelligence.
  • Flexible with the ability to work as a team leader and a team member.
  • Strong initiative, integrity and sound judgement.
  • Culturally sensitive, calm and patient.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with an even-handed approach, sensitive and empathetic and able to see things from the perspectives of others.
  • The willingness to confront difficult issues and have difficult conversations.
  • Demonstrating practice that represent the five core SPGS values at all times (Achievement, Community, Liberalism, Creativity and Possibility).

    • HOW TO APPLY

    Please apply on TES and your latest CV to hr.sisc@spgs-shengbo.com.

    References will be taken up including direct contact with your current, or most recent employer for a safeguarding reference check and to confirm clearance from contract commitment.

    SPGS International School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Safeguarding children is taken very seriously and all staff will be subject to rigorous checks and an interview process that will include a safeguarding panel. All new staff will be subject to enhanced pre-employment clearance, including identity checks, criminal background checks, qualification checks and employment checks, including an exploration of any gaps in employment. Two satisfactory professional references, which will be verified as part of the pre-employment process, will also be required.

    Please find more information here：

    https://spgs-international-school-chengdu.hirehive.com/

    Tel: (86) 028 8129 4217

    Click here to read more.

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