Instructional Coach | Curriculum Coordinator Leadership Role

Job Overview

Instructional Coach | Curriculum Coordinator Leadership Role

Location: Hypha International School, Sintra, Portugal

Type: Full-time

About Hypha

Hypha International School is situated within the scenic Sintra Natural Park, offering an education that immerses students in nature. Our holistic approach nurtures children to become innovative thinkers and empathetic leaders who will contribute to a better world.

As we grow, we are seeking a forward-thinking educator and leader to take on the role of Instructional Coach and Curriculum Coordinator. The ideal candidate will possess a profound understanding of mastery learning, best practices in project-based learning (PBL), and a commitment to academic excellence. This leadership position is essential for enhancing teaching capabilities and ensuring that Hypha's curriculum remains both groundbreaking and robust throughout all grade levels.

Who You Are

You are a seasoned educator, coach, and leader with a solid grasp of core subjects (English, Math, Science), and you believe in an educational framework that prepares students not just for success, but for leadership. You think systematically, able to support individual teacher development while also coordinating a curriculum that resonates with real-world applications.

This position is an excellent fit for emerging school leaders, vice principals, assistant heads, or instructional leaders eager to amplify their impact while advancing towards comprehensive school leadership.

At Hypha, the Instructional Coach and Curriculum Coordinator collaborates closely with the leadership team, gaining practical experience in school development beyond classroom enhancement. You will have significant exposure to:

· School-wide curriculum development and strategic planning, including alignment with accreditation and long-term program growth

· Teacher leadership and adult learning, fostering coaching capacity, trust, and instructional excellence throughout the school

· Systems-level thinking, balancing innovation with rigor, structure, and sustainability in a developing educational environment

· Leadership in educational change, playing a role in the evolution of an expanding international school from its foundational stages

This position empowers you to lead through pedagogy, influencing excellence in teaching and learning.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Instructional Coaching and Teacher Mentoring

• Provide individualized and group coaching to enhance teachers' instructional practices.

• Deliver constructive, non-evaluative feedback that aligns with PBLWorks’ Gold Standard PBL and Hypha’s educational philosophy.

• Model or co-teach lessons as necessary and facilitate classroom-based professional development.

• Support subject-specific pedagogy in English, Math, and Science to ensure depth of understanding, academic rigor, and real-world relevance.

2. Project-Based Learning and Pedagogical Leadership

• Collaborate in planning interdisciplinary PBL units that are standards-aligned, student-centered, and rooted in real-world inquiry.

• Facilitate tuning protocols, feedback sessions, and planning cycles with teaching teams.

• Guide the application of PBL teaching practices across all grade levels, including scaffolding inquiry, reflection, critique, and collaboration.

• Ensure that outdoor learning is thoughtfully integrated into PBL units, core subject instruction, and assessment practices, rather than treated as an "add-on."

• Lead the creation of sustainability-focused learning experiences that address real-world environmental, social, and ethical challenges.

3. Curriculum Coordination and Alignment

• Supervise the development, coherence, and vertical alignment of Hypha’s curriculum from pre-primary to primary levels.

• Ensure a balanced and integrated program of study that fulfills accreditation requirements and internal standards while promoting authentic, experiential, and project-based exploration.

• Maintain and update scope and sequence documents, curriculum maps, and assessment plans.

• Conduct regular reviews of student work and learning data to foster ongoing improvement.

• Keep informed about curriculum innovations, research, and PBL trends to guide school-wide strategies.

4. Professional Learning and School Culture

• Design and deliver impactful professional development sessions and professional learning communities (PLCs).

• Cultivate a culture of inquiry, equity, and collaboration among staff.

• Assist in the onboarding and mentoring of new teachers.

• Contribute to school-wide strategic planning and innovation initiatives.

5. Champion a Culture of Inquiry, Wellbeing, and Equity

• Advocate for learner-centered, inclusive practices that prioritize student voice, wellbeing, and agency.

• Support teachers in utilizing data to inform instruction, reflection, and responsive support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education and qualified teacher status (or equivalent certification)

• A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in primary education (Year 1–6)

• Extensive expertise in at least two core subjects (English, Math, Science); capability to support all three

• Proven success in designing and leading PBL units

• Previous experience as an instructional coach, mentor, team leader, or curriculum coordinator

• Strong understanding of child development, formative assessment, differentiation, and personalized instruction

• Training with PBLWorks or similar high-quality PBL organizations is highly desirable

• Excellent interpersonal skills; strong written and verbal communication abilities

• Experience managing curriculum documents, standards alignment, and instructional planning tools

What We Offer

• A collaborative, mission-driven team of educators

• Professional development customized to support your growth as a coach and leader

• Daily immersion in one of Europe’s most breathtaking natural settings

• Competitive salary, relocation assistance, and benefits