Director of Pastoral Care

**Job Purpose**:
As the Director of Pastoral Care at African Leadership Academy (ALA), you will be dedicated to fostering a nurturing and supportive environment where our students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. With a background deeply rooted in the ethos of education and a profound commitment to holistic development, you will bring to ALA extensive experience in guiding young minds towards personal growth and excellence.

At ALA, our mission extends beyond academic achievement. We recognize that nurturing the whole individual is paramount to shaping future leaders who are not only intellectually adept but also compassionate and socially responsible. In this role, you will oversee a comprehensive pastoral care program that addresses the diverse needs of our student body, ensuring their well-being and fostering a sense of belonging within our community.

Central to our approach is the cultivation of a supportive and inclusive community where students feel empowered to explore their identities, navigate challenges, and build meaningful connections with peers and mentors. Through personalized guidance, mentorship initiatives, and engaging programming, we provide a safe and nurturing space for students to develop the social and emotional skills essential for success in today's interconnected world. You will be responsible for the residential and co-curricular aspects of this programming.

As the Director of Pastoral Care, you will be committed to collaborating with students, faculty, and families to create a vibrant and inclusive community that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual to reach their full potential.

Together, we uphold the values of **integrity**, **excellence**, **compassion**, **curiosity**, **diversity**, and **humility**, fostering an environment where each student feels valued, supported, and inspired to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

**Key tasks and responsibilities**:
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and implement the pastoral strategic development plan, ensuring it reflects our context and the needs and aspirations of our students’ parents, and other major stakeholders.
- Coordinate the pastoral strategy, policy, and practice in the Academy in conjunction with the Dean of the Academy.
- Ensure that pastoral and academic matters align and are working with the Director of Teaching and Learning (DTL) in the best interests of students.
- Develop and promote a collegial working environment, where pastoral staffulty feel empowered through appropriate consultation and communication and prioritising their individual professional growth in the context of whole school improvement.
- Develop and maintain excellent parental relationships, ensuring a high level of communication and consultation, so that parents feel fully involved with the residential and co-curricular life of their child.
- Produce a regular detailed boarding report to the Dean, indicating successes, areas for improvement and provisions for ensuring financial efficiency.

Financial Management
- Prepare and manage the pastoral budgets effectively through good planning and resource management.
- Liaise with Operations and Finance, ensuring that pastoral budgets are effectively, efficiently, and rigorously managed.

Residential Experience***
- Lead the day-to-day operations of boarding; maintaining and enhancing the quality of provision, promoting boarding as a caring, nurturing, and supportive environment dedicated to the wellbeing and education of students.
- Maintain the highest standards for boarding in line with the international boarding schools’ best practices.
- Maintain positive relationships within and between the boarding houses, ensuring that students are supported academically, socially, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
- Ensure continuity and consistency of practice and policy across the Houses.
- Manage and liaise with house and academic staff in producing and managing boarding supervision rotas, holiday pick-up/drop-off arrangements, beginning and end-of-term programs, and other administrative requirements.
- Partner with Operations to ensure the safety and security of residents.

Co-curricular experience***
- Coach, mediate and supervise the student leadership groups.
- Collaborate with academic HODs on key community activities that engage the students.
- Identify, encourage and facilitate the organisation of spiritual activities and faith-based initiatives.

Safeguarding
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people by ensuring that all staff, and those connected to the school, share this commitment and responsibility.
- Take seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and to work together with others to ensure adequate arrangements within the School help to identify, assess, and support children who are suffering harm
- Work with House staff, ensuring that world-class safeguarding