Lower School Deputy Principal: Student Experience

**Lower School Deputy Principal: Student Experience (EC-Grade 5) August, 2026**

ZIS Mission: We surface and inspire each learner's curiosity, critical thinking, and high expectations for their learning so that they positively impact their family, community, and the world.

Zurich International School (ZIS) is a learning community of students, faculty, staff, and parents. We provide a caring environment for the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of our students. We value diversity and plurality of voices, and are committed to ensuring our students develop the intellect, skills and character to become caring individuals and adaptable and independent thinkers.

**Purpose and Scope**

This role provides strategic and relational leadership for the overall **student experience across Grades EC - 5,**fostering a culture of dignity, respect, and belonging consistent with the ZIS mission and values. The Deputy Principal for Student Experience partners closely with Team Leaders, counselors, and the Director of Inclusion & Challenge to ensure that every student feels known, supported, and empowered within a coherent EC-G5 community. Rooted in cultural fluency and empathy, this role models and nurtures the ability to navigate diverse perspectives with sensitivity and respect. It also champions a holistic approach to learning that balances academic challenge with well-being, personal passions, and community engagement—helping students cultivate purpose, confidence, and the capacity to make a positive impact within and beyond ZIS.

**Key Functions**

- **Culture and Climate Leadership**
Lead efforts to strengthen a culture of respect and dignity through restorative practices, clear behavioral expectations, and proactive relationship-building.

- **Student Life and Belonging**
Oversee and align programs that shape the daily lived experience of students — including homeroom structures, the house system, and student leadership initiatives — ensuring coherence and meaningful engagement.

- **Behavior and Restorative Systems**
Coordinate a consistent, restorative approach to behavior and discipline across EC-G5, supporting faculty in fair and developmental responses. Ensure clear documentation of accompanying school policies and practices to create transparency and consistency.

- **Service and Positive Impact**
In partnership with curriculum leaders, foster opportunities for students to make a positive difference through service-oriented and experiential learning, integrating these experiences into the broader culture of student life.

- **Beyond-the-Classroom Alignment**
Collaborate with those managing co-curricular and experiential programs (e.g., BTC weeks, service, clubs, and trips) to ensure alignment with student-life goals, without assuming clerical or logístical management of events.

- **Professional Growth and Evaluation**:Support and evaluate a defined group of teachers, fostering a culture of reflection, professional growth, and high expectations.
- **Visibility and Presence**
Model relational leadership through daily presence in common spaces, assemblies, and student events, reinforcing shared values and community standards.

**Required Skills and Qualifications**

- Demonstrated expertise in building well-being and belonging across Lower School contexts, with a proven ability to design systems that promote dignity, respect, and inclusion
- Deep understanding of research-based strategies to support child development and social-emotional learning
- Experience leading restorative practices and behavior systems that balance accountability, empathy, and growth.
- Adaptive and resourceful; able to navigate complexity and ambiguity with creativity and composure, mobilizing people and resources to achieve meaningful outcomes.
- Strong skills in relational leadership and systems thinking; able to align programs, policies, and practices across Lower School to ensure coherence and shared ownership.
- High level of cultural competency; demonstrates curiosity, empathy, and fluency in navigating diverse perspectives to strengthen belonging across a global community.
- A relevant advanced degree (or in progress).

**We will begin interviewing immmediately, and reserve the right to appoint ahead of the deadline should a strong applicant be found.