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Ready to lead our world’s future leaders? We can help you find roles like Head of School, Director, Superintendent, Principal, Assistant Principal, and other leadership positions in teaching and learning and development and advancement. We conduct searches for many different types of leadership roles in international schools Join our network today!

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Pursuing a leadership position is both exciting and overwhelming. Beyond identifying if you are ready for the role, you’ll want to assess if the role aligns with what you are seeking, in terms of challenges, educational philosophy, vision, infrastructure, culture, community, and a host of other factors. ISS ensures that every candidate’s experiences in the application process is positive through clear communication, guidance, and support at every stage.

A Transparent Process, with Clear Communication and Personal Attention Throughout

We answer emails, talk to you, and help you understand what to expect. You are valued and respected throughout the entire process. Whether the current posting is the right one for you, or a future one is a better fit, we treat every candidate as a relationship that will last for years to come. We believe in honest, clear communication, and strive to make your experience an exceptionally positive one.

Understanding Your Unique Background and the World of International Education

We get to know you, your strengths, and your style. We spend time asking thought-provoking questions about you, your career goals, and what is important to you. We look to understand your competencies and outcomes, as much as your credentials, and appreciate both traditional and nontraditional paths to leadership. We deeply value and advocate for diversity. As an organization that works with more than 800 international schools each year, conducts professional development sessions, and has supported more than 80,000 educators in their professional journeys, we know there is no one-size-fits-all leader or school formula for success. Instead, success grows from an effective pairing of school and leader.

Preparation and Great Schools

ISS wants to see you succeed! We work with both start up and well-regarded schools in the international school community. We give you insights into the school’s dynamics, unique needs, and reputation so you can assess whether it will be a good fit for you.

We also get you ready for the process ahead. We help you assemble your portfolio and offer constructive feedback on whether or not it is presenting you accurately and holistically and ways to improve. In addition, as you progress through the selection process, we provide coaching to help you have more productive conversations with the school about your vision—and theirs.

Screening and Child Protection

Extensive background checks are carried out on candidates. You should expect a multi-phased screening process of credentials, deep reference interviews, and more. Our process is thorough to help safeguard students, schools, and the international community. See ISS’s efforts on child protection.

To find the right opportunity, you need the right organization with the right values supporting you. ISS is the right organization. – K.G, Candidate

ISS is an organization that is professional and personal. They combine the best of the job world where you feel valued and you are treated with respect. That can often be hard to find, but they have perfected these skills. I would work with the ISS Administrative Search team again and again. – C.B, Candidate

[The ISS Lead] … took the time to understand a unique career path that led to my school leadership positions. I’m thankful for her insights and caring stewardship of the application and interview process. – J.H, Candidate

Materials You’ll Need

When applying for a leadership position, you will receive guidance on how to assemble your portfolio. Here is a list of the types of documentation you will need to provide:

References

ISS requires that your references be submitted via our online confidential evaluation form. The importance of your confidential references cannot be underestimated. As soon as you submit your application, your referees will be contacted. Let them know to expect our email.

You must provide contact information for at least three supervisors:

At least one supervisor from your current position.
The remaining two references can be from positions you’ve held within the past seven years. These people should have supervised you while you were in an administrative role. To create a well-rounded profile, we encourage all candidates to add as many references as possible. While three supervisory references is the minimum, recruiters appreciate reading a larger selection of references if possible.

Transcripts

Copies of official transcripts can be scanned and uploaded. We request official transcripts of your highest degree earned.

Certification or Equivalent

All educator/administrator certifications from the Department of Education or government office in your State/Province/Country.

Partner Statement

If you have a spouse/partner who is not an educator, we require a Partner Statement. This document serves as your spouse/partner’s introduction to international school recruiters. It is not a cover letter or resume. This document should be completed whether or not your spouse/partner will accompany you to your new school.

Supplemental Documents

While these materials are optional, recruiters appreciate viewing them to get a multifaceted sense of who you are:

Philosophy of education
Open letters of reference
List of specialized achievements and/or published works
At least one writing sample (maximum two pages, double spaced) and/or links to newsletters or other materials you have published.

The personal attention and feedback received from [the ISS staff] made the experience like a professional matchmaking, rather than ISS was working for the school alone. I felt nurtured and listened to through the whole experience. The interviews were like deep conversations that flowed easily which enabled me to understand what I wanted in my next job and areas of importance for my search. I also appreciated the feedback on ways to improve my CV and application process. – J.H, Candidate