Kivukoni is an International Primary and Secondary school of around 270 pupils, ages 2-14, and growing.  Following the Edexcel International curriculum with a strong emphasis on the environment, performing arts and sports, Kivukoni offers a holistic, engaging and responsible education. It is genuinely a place 'where children love to learn' - and teachers love to teach. 

Set within Kilifi Plantation alongside Takaungu Creek, Kivukoni School offers an inspiring learning environment with a progressive, dynamic curriculum. The learning journey runs from the Early Years (age 2) to lower secondary school up to Year10, and growing...Kivukoni is a school where children really do 'love to learn', in a warm and healthy natural environment. Appreciating our unique opportunities, Kivukoni aims to nurture young citizens who will have a positive impact on our society and our planet.  With its strong ethos of care and environmentally sound practise, Kivukoni students are already 'part of the solution'.

This opportunity sees the candidate being a key player in the senior management team of a dynamic, popular and progressive school. Kivukoni has grown organically every year since its inception in 2011, now with 270 pupils from ages 2-15. With further plans for expansion, an operations director is needed to develop and oversee all nonacademic aspects of school operations. They will optimize efficiency, effectivity and transparency in financial, procurement, HR and admissions departments, working in line with the clear vision and mission, to create an inspiring, progressive education to a diverse range of students.

The Operations Director will serve as the eyes and ears of the school at an operational level to ensure that school activities run smoothly each and every day, proactively problem solving, collaborating and developing systems where needed. Additionally, the right candidate will work alongside the director and school board to develop the strategic plans for growth and development of the evolving Kivukoni Secondary school plans (on an adjacent site), increasing the impact of the school as a uniquely stimulating and inclusive learning centre in the coast region, with a long term sustainable future.

The Operations Director will be an individual who embraces innovation and continuous improvement, is willing to get involved at various levels of school life and relishes the challenge of finding ways to work smarter and more efficiently, all in support of ensuring that staff and leaders can stay focused on teaching, learning and the holistic development of students, in line with the spirit of the school – ‘where children love to learn’.

The role of the Operations Director will include the following:

School Operations Leadership & Operations Team Management

• In partnership with the school director, develops the school-wide operations vision that supports and
• operationalizes the curricular and cultural vision of the school
• Plays a leadership role in the school’s strategic and annual planning and budgeting processes
• Hires, manages and develops school operations team members and holds them accountable to goals and
• outcomes
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the operations teams and collaborates with teammates to build
• sustainable systems, policies, and procedures for the growing institution

Finance & Purchasing

• Works closely with the school director to develop the school’s annual budget
• Manages the school budget throughout the year by participating in monthly budget meetings to review budget variances, actively monitoring school spending, and proactively seeking opportunities to ensure spending is always aligned to the school’s ethos and priorities
• Manages the school purchasing and procurement process by establishing clear systems for staff
• Develops and manages asset management system
• Develops Fund raising plans and explores and manages other relevant funding opportunities
• Enhances and oversees the school payment process and fee collection
• Approves school purchases and payments under a specific financial threshold
• Serves as the main point of contact regarding finance to ensure financial compliance and reporting, and to deliver projections and data for development purposes

Technology & Equipment

• Ensures that students and staff have access to appropriate technology and works with the management team
• and others to enhance ICT experiences and opportunities for all in the school.
• Leads and prepares the school opening process each year, ensuring that furniture, equipment, instructional supplies are ready ahead of time, and maintenance is well taken care of
• Manages the school’s supply and asset inventory

Facilities & Maintenance

• Works alongside infrastructure and development manager to enhance facility issues, including maintenance,
• aesthetics, shared spaces and campus safety
• Plans ahead of time to avoid obstacles to teaching and learning due to infrastructural or maintenance issues
• Thinks creatively to solve problems with limited resources

Food Service, Transportation, and Special Events

• Oversees all aspects of food service in collaboration with catering and purchasing department, including quality, procurement, managing staff/vendors, meal provision and compliance with school policies in catering department
• Oversees the logistics of meal delivery (lunch and snacks) including staff duty schedules
• Oversees catering and/or provision of outside catering for special events, with support as necessary

Student Recruitment & Enrollment

• Develops and manages student recruitment strategy to ensure that the school optimizes enrollment and actively recruits to fill open seats, maintaining socio-economic diversity as per school ethos
• Alongside SLT, ensures that parent information, school tours and enrollment process are well executed
• To promote the school in creative and novel ways in order to attract more pupils and engender more support and good will

Risk Management, Compliance, and Human Resources Administration

• Work with Health and Safety head to ensure that the school is prepared for emergencies by conducting all drills and training staff on emergency plans and responses
• Partners with SLT on new hire process (e.g. interviews, offer letters, onboarding and induction)
• Work with HR manager to ensure that school staff have complete, current, and accurate employee files and certifications
• Reviews data provided by HR manager to ensure accuracy and assess and respond to trends

Team Leadership

• To be committed to going over and above expectations to ensure the well- being of students and staff
• To provide leadership, support and motivation to create an inspired, mutually supportive and effective senior management and staff team
• To work with HR and SLT to ensure that all staff are growing professionally and have access to internal and
• external professional development as necessary/possible
• To ensure the principles and practices of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice are applied
• To help create opportunities that will enhance learning and teaching for both school staff and the wider communities

Strategic Growth and Development

• Review, support and develop school’s policies (non-academic) and procedures along with SLT
• Develop programs that will capitalise on extensive use of the facilities. This can include weekend and holiday programs, community workshops and trainings, amongst others
• To contribute to the School Improvement Plan for discussion with SLT and BOM for medium and long term visions
• Ensure the school is ‘investor ready’ with reports, protocols and projections as necessary
• Work with directors and development partners to project and plan for school growth into a new secondary and boarding facility
• Develop plans and budgets for full boarding on the potential new secondary school site
• Alongside SLT, develop marketing and operational plans for potential growth of current primary school as and when the existing secondary element has moved premises
• To support development of programs that will raise awareness of Kivukoni School as a centre of excellence for teaching and learning, physical and environmental education, holistic growth of children and environmental science. 

• Bachelor’s degree
• Extensive leadership and management experience in International schools in Kenya
• Successful team leadership and strong track record of results
• Experience working with disadvantaged communities, families and/or students
• Excellent organizational, financial and communication skills
• Friendly and able to work well with others in a busy environment, with emotional sensitivity and ability to balance professionalism, informality and humour
• Ability to work within a diverse and evolving environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions
• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities
• Excellent computer and financial literacy, including Google, Quick Books (online), Microsoft Word and Excel
• Commitment to the belief that committed, creative and supported school leaders, staff, and teachers can achieve the best possible outcomes for all students
• Commitment to the school ethos of promoting and celebrating inclusivity, cultural and socio-economic diversity and environmental sustainability

General Expectations:

• Candidates arrive at school by 7.45am and leave between 4.30-5.30pm
• Candidates have their own working tools/ devices and keen them in good working order, with support from the ICT department when possible
• Candidates work out of school hours as necessary in order to fulfil job requirements
• Candidates take part in some school events, and be keenly aware of team spirit and associated activities
• Further details will be shared should the candidate be offered a contract

Leave:

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, they are eligible to 6 weeks paid leave inclusive of public holidays (usually 2 weeks in December, 1 week at Easter, 3 weeks in July/August). Regular Saturdays may be required in school during term time in order to fulfill job requirements. Other leave allowance is as per Kenya law/ statutory requirements

Remenuration:

• Kivukoni has a unique banded fee structure, which has facilitated the diversity, high impact and good will that the school has developed. This also means however that salaries have been very modest, but with the recent growth, are now becoming more financially rewarding.This new SLT position will attract a gross salary of between 270-320,000 kes for the right candidate, dependent on relevant years of experience and previous levels of responsibility
• This salary will be subject to all statutory deductions
• An additional gratuity of 5% of the annual salary will be awarded at the end of each year when the school is in a position to pay (Please note - we are currently looking into retirement scheme options, (over and above NSSF) which may redirect these gratuity payments.)
• Salaries are paid regularly at the end of each calendar month

Benefits include:

• Staff school fee reduction of 70-75% of standard school fee for the duration of childrens’ schooling at Kivukoni, upon application for financial fee support and assuming availability
• Corporate health insurance with Britam for direct family (up to 5 members) – inpatient only
• Transport to and from school via school bus
• Lunch and tea at school daily when at work
• 50% staff reduction on membership or activities at the Creek Club for the immediate family
• Green and healthy working environment with rewarding work experiences daily

Kivukoni School, set within Kilifi Plantation  alongside Takaungu creek, offers an inspiring learning environment with a progressive, dynamic curriculum. The learning journey runs from the Early Years (age 2) to lower secondary school up to Year10, and growing... 

​Kivukoni is a school where children really do 'love to learn', in a warm and healthy natural environment. Appreciating our unique opportunities, Kivukoni aims to nurture young citizens who will have a positive impact on our society and our planet.  With its strong ethos of care and environmentally sound practise, Kivukoni students are already 'part of the solution'. With our open plan classes, spacious facilities and expansive grounds, we maintain a dynamic and inspiring learning environment.

Kivukoni has grown organically every year since its inception in 2011, now with 270 pupils from ages 2-15. With further plans for expansion, an operations director is needed to develop and oversee all nonacademic aspects of school operations. They will optimize efficiency, effectivity and transparency in financial, procurement, HR and admissions departments, working in line with the clear vision and mission, to create an inspiring, progressive education to a diverse range of students.