Head of Year (Secondary - for August 2026)
Star International School MirdifTeaching
Status
Actively Hiring
Date Listed27 November 2025
ContractPermanent
PlatformW5_SYNC
About This Role
Lead the Star Mirdif Way
Embrace our core values. Lead with compassion. Go Beyond.
Do you view leadership as an act of bravery, clarity, and authentic connection?
Are you a leader who welcomes tough discussions, favors curiosity over judgment, and understands that being clear is a form of kindness while being unclear is not?
Do you foster trust through transparency, openness, and presence, even in challenging conversations?
If so, it's time to Go Beyond with Star International School, Mirdif.
Leadership at Star Mirdif
At Star International School Mirdif (Dubai), we believe leadership is defined by its impact rather than its hierarchy.
It requires the courage to speak the truth, the resilience to listen intently, and the humility to adapt based on feedback.
Our Leadership Playbook is inspired by Susan Scott’s belief that “the conversation is the relationship,” and Brené Brown’s insight that “clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
Leaders here exemplify emotional maturity, vulnerability, and courage, recognizing that psychological safety is essential for high performance.
Every leader adheres to The Star Mirdif Way:
● Uphold our STAR culture and values
● Foster accountability with kindness—clarity, care, and fairness
● Go Beyond for our students and one another
These principles are practiced daily, not merely posted on walls.
How We Lead
Informed by the works of Scott, Brown, Goleman, Lencioni, and your own Leadership Playbook, leaders at Star Mirdif:
● Create clarity—because everyone deserves to know what truly matters
● Build trust through openness, curiosity, and honesty
● Communicate with compassion and courage—even during tough discussions
● Exhibit vulnerability-based courage—engaging with authenticity rather than defensiveness
● Support others' development through coaching (GROW & ADAPT)
● Cultivate psychological safety while maintaining high expectations
● Promote consistency and unity across different phases and teams
● Take ownership of their areas while contributing to the broader school mission
● Maintain an unwavering focus on student learning and personal growth
Our rallying cry for 2025–26 remains:
Lead with clarity and consistency. Cultivate a cohesive culture.
Why Lead at Star Mirdif
● A leadership culture rooted in courage, clarity, and connection
● A team that thrives on vulnerability-based trust and emotionally intelligent leadership
● A school environment where leaders engage in Fierce Conversations—honest, kind, and courageous
● Professional development focused on coaching, inquiry, and self-awareness
● A community where well-being begins with you and flourishes collectively
● A flagship ISP Lab School, driving purposeful innovation in the region
This is a place where leadership is both an honor and a responsibility.
What’s Next - August 2026
Our new purpose-built Secondary School will feature:
● A contemporary auditorium
● Sixth Form Centre
● Enhanced sports facilities
● A cutting-edge library
● The flagship Go Beyond Hub—for STEAM, design, digital media, and innovation
A new facility—marking the beginning of a new era for courageous leadership.
Ready to Lead the Star Mirdif Way?
If you are prepared to lead with clarity, engage in honest discussions, build trust through kindness, and exemplify the courage to be fully present, we want to hear from you.
At Star Mirdif, we Go Beyond—creating the clarity, consistency, and cohesion that empower every member of our school community to reach their highest potential and positively impact our world.
How to apply: Please review the attached job description, ISP role profile, and leadership playbook before applying. To apply, submit a single document that includes a letter of application addressed to the principal (maximum one page) detailing why you are a strong candidate for this position, followed by an updated CV (maximum two pages) outlining your employment history with dates and references for current and previous employers. Ensure that all dates in the CV are formatted as mm/yyyy and account for any gaps in education and employment.
Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
Star International School and ISP are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders will undergo appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the last 10 years of employment history.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Star International School and ISP are focused on enhancing our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing team members regardless of age, disability status, socio-economic background, or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who align with our vision and principles and are eager to contribute to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.
Embrace our core values. Lead with compassion. Go Beyond.
Do you view leadership as an act of bravery, clarity, and authentic connection?
Are you a leader who welcomes tough discussions, favors curiosity over judgment, and understands that being clear is a form of kindness while being unclear is not?
Do you foster trust through transparency, openness, and presence, even in challenging conversations?
If so, it's time to Go Beyond with Star International School, Mirdif.
Leadership at Star Mirdif
At Star International School Mirdif (Dubai), we believe leadership is defined by its impact rather than its hierarchy.
It requires the courage to speak the truth, the resilience to listen intently, and the humility to adapt based on feedback.
Our Leadership Playbook is inspired by Susan Scott’s belief that “the conversation is the relationship,” and Brené Brown’s insight that “clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”
Leaders here exemplify emotional maturity, vulnerability, and courage, recognizing that psychological safety is essential for high performance.
Every leader adheres to The Star Mirdif Way:
● Uphold our STAR culture and values
● Foster accountability with kindness—clarity, care, and fairness
● Go Beyond for our students and one another
These principles are practiced daily, not merely posted on walls.
How We Lead
Informed by the works of Scott, Brown, Goleman, Lencioni, and your own Leadership Playbook, leaders at Star Mirdif:
● Create clarity—because everyone deserves to know what truly matters
● Build trust through openness, curiosity, and honesty
● Communicate with compassion and courage—even during tough discussions
● Exhibit vulnerability-based courage—engaging with authenticity rather than defensiveness
● Support others' development through coaching (GROW & ADAPT)
● Cultivate psychological safety while maintaining high expectations
● Promote consistency and unity across different phases and teams
● Take ownership of their areas while contributing to the broader school mission
● Maintain an unwavering focus on student learning and personal growth
Our rallying cry for 2025–26 remains:
Lead with clarity and consistency. Cultivate a cohesive culture.
Why Lead at Star Mirdif
● A leadership culture rooted in courage, clarity, and connection
● A team that thrives on vulnerability-based trust and emotionally intelligent leadership
● A school environment where leaders engage in Fierce Conversations—honest, kind, and courageous
● Professional development focused on coaching, inquiry, and self-awareness
● A community where well-being begins with you and flourishes collectively
● A flagship ISP Lab School, driving purposeful innovation in the region
This is a place where leadership is both an honor and a responsibility.
What’s Next - August 2026
Our new purpose-built Secondary School will feature:
● A contemporary auditorium
● Sixth Form Centre
● Enhanced sports facilities
● A cutting-edge library
● The flagship Go Beyond Hub—for STEAM, design, digital media, and innovation
A new facility—marking the beginning of a new era for courageous leadership.
Ready to Lead the Star Mirdif Way?
If you are prepared to lead with clarity, engage in honest discussions, build trust through kindness, and exemplify the courage to be fully present, we want to hear from you.
At Star Mirdif, we Go Beyond—creating the clarity, consistency, and cohesion that empower every member of our school community to reach their highest potential and positively impact our world.
How to apply: Please review the attached job description, ISP role profile, and leadership playbook before applying. To apply, submit a single document that includes a letter of application addressed to the principal (maximum one page) detailing why you are a strong candidate for this position, followed by an updated CV (maximum two pages) outlining your employment history with dates and references for current and previous employers. Ensure that all dates in the CV are formatted as mm/yyyy and account for any gaps in education and employment.
Commitment to Safeguarding Principles
Star International School and ISP are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders will undergo appropriate vetting procedures and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the last 10 years of employment history.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Star International School and ISP are focused on enhancing our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing team members regardless of age, disability status, socio-economic background, or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who align with our vision and principles and are eager to contribute to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.