About the School
Peony-Bloom Ventures (Education) is establishing a new international K–12 school in Ibex Meanwood, Lusaka.
This is a founding leadership opportunity to build a high-standard, disciplined, and academically strong international school from the ground up.
We are seeking an experienced and execution-driven Founding Deputy Head of School to join the core leadership team during the establishment phase.
Role Overview
This role is designed for a leader who can combine academic oversight with operational execution.
The Founding Deputy Head will work closely with the CEO to:
• Build school systems from zero
• Recruit and manage academic staff
• Establish discipline and operational standards
• Prepare the school for opening and sustainable growth
This is not a ceremonial or purely academic position — it requires hands-on leadership.
Key Responsibilities
1️⃣ School Establishment & Systems Building
• Develop school operational frameworks (attendance, discipline, reporting, safeguarding)
• Assist in policy development and staff handbook creation
• Lead school readiness for inspection and registration
• Oversee setup of academic and administrative structures
2️⃣ Academic & Staff Leadership
• Lead teacher recruitment and onboarding
• Supervise Heads of Department and teaching staff
• Establish performance evaluation systems
• Ensure alignment with international curriculum standards (Cambridge / IGCSE / A-Level preferred)
3️⃣ Discipline & Culture Building
• Implement a strong student discipline framework
• Build a high-performance, accountable staff culture
• Enforce professional standards among teachers and staff
• Support character education and student development
4️⃣ Operational Execution
• Oversee timetabling, term planning, academic calendars
• Support enrollment preparation and parent engagement
• Ensure smooth daily operations during pre-opening phase
• Work cross-functionally with HR, finance, and administration
Candidate Profile
• Master’s Degree or higher in Education or related field
• 8–15 years of teaching experience
• 3–7 years in senior school leadership role
• Experience in school start-up or expansion phase strongly preferred
• Familiarity with Cambridge / IGCSE / A-Level or international curriculum
• Strong operational and organizational skills
• High discipline, strong authority, and decisive leadership style
• Ability to work in dynamic, developing environments
• Entrepreneurial mindset — able to build systems, not only maintain them
What We Are Looking For
We are not looking for a ceremonial academic figure.
We are looking for a leader who:
• Can build a school from foundation stage
• Is comfortable making difficult personnel decisions
• Understands both academic excellence and operational realities
• Is willing to work intensively during establishment phase
