Academic Director
About This Role
JOB TITLE
Academic Director
DEPARTMENT
The Bridge Team
LOCATION
Shanghai
SUPERVISOR
Director of the Bridge
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Academic Director role within The Bridge represents a strategic leadership opportunity designed to elevate educational quality across the organization. This position will concentrate on four primary areas: Curriculum Innovation, Professional Learning, Quality Assurance and Accreditation, and Data Diagnostics and Insights.
Candidates are not required to have complete proficiency in all domains but should demonstrate strong skills in one or more core areas and a readiness to develop in areas where they may be less experienced.
These roles are structured to foster continuous improvement, encourage collaborative innovation, and maintain high standards while respecting the unique identities of each institution within the Wellington College Education (China) network.
Each academic year, the specific responsibilities for each Director will be tailored according to the team's expertise and structure. Directors will work together on a defined scope of work across the four pillars, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives that leverage their strengths. This approach ensures that individual talents are utilized effectively while remaining aligned with the organization's broader objectives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum Innovation
- Drive curriculum innovation by identifying emerging skills and research-informed trends, aiding in the articulation of the group’s distinctive educational offerings. Initiate projects that differentiate the group and reduce redundant research at the school level.
- Provide clear direction to ensure that school development plans align with group strategies, sharing relevant policies, trends, and expectations for future curriculum and academic development.
- Encourage a collaborative approach to innovation by facilitating the sharing of research-based practices, connecting teams facing similar challenges for joint development, and promoting collaboration at all levels from leadership to faculty.
- Act as a change agent by offering customized guidance to both established and new schools, inspiring them to challenge conventional practices, embrace new tools, and explore innovative methods in curriculum and operations.
- Provide counsel on program decisions to assist schools in navigating common challenges and minimizing risks, especially for those in the early stages or experiencing growth.
- Coordinate vibrant cycles of curriculum renewal, pilot innovative projects, and forge strategic partnerships with external organizations—such as leading universities—to enhance educational excellence across the group.
Professional Learning
- Establish cohesive, group-wide policies, systems, and processes for professional development in close collaboration with school-based professional development coordinators to ensure a unified approach.
- Oversee the evaluation and monitoring of teaching standards, appraisal systems, and leadership development initiatives to guarantee ongoing growth and adherence to best practices.
- Lead transformative training initiatives at the group level—including iPGCE, NPQs, and middle leadership development—empowering educators to excel and collectively improve their performance.
- Facilitate and oversee dynamic, group-wide job-alike and professional learning communities to enable effective sharing of knowledge and action research across all schools.
Quality Assurance and Accreditation
- Support schools in executing high-quality accreditation and annual review processes by providing strategic guidance and linking them to best practices, empowering them to excel without assuming the evaluator role.
- Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement by balancing high standards with collaborative support, fostering an environment where excellence and growth mutually reinforce one another.
- Develop and enhance quality assurance processes, offer
Apply via the WhatSchool platform.