Our client, a newly established and highly selective secondary school in Western Kenya, is seeking an exceptional Founding Principal to lead the establishment and development of the school. The institution is fully endowed and entirely free to attend, with a mission to identify and educate academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The successful candidate will establish the school’s culture, academic standards, systems and traditions from inception, creating a high-performance environment with a strong emphasis on STEM, leadership, research, community engagement and academic excellence. Set on a 41-acre campus, the school will also incorporate food production, agriculture and a conservation forest as part of its broader commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and launch of the school, developing its academic culture, systems, policies, standards and traditions in partnership with the Board.
• Deliver an academically rigorous and highly selective education programme, with particular emphasis on STEM, research, writing, critical thinking and preparation for admission to leading universities in Kenya and internationally.
• Lead student outreach, identification and recruitment, building strong relationships with neighboring junior secondary schools and communities to identify academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Recruit, mentor and manage outstanding teachers and school leaders, building a high-performing faculty committed to academic excellence, student development and the school’s mission.
• Oversee student welfare, safeguarding, pastoral care and residential life, ensuring that students are supported academically, socially and personally throughout their time at the school.
• Develop strong relationships with parents, local communities and other stakeholders, ensuring that community engagement and service are central to the culture and long-term success of the institution.
• Provide strategic oversight of school operations, finances, compliance and campus development, including the integration of agriculture, food production and conservation initiatives across the school’s 41-acre campus.
• Build strategic partnerships with universities, educational institutions, research organisations and other stakeholders, creating pathways for students and strengthening the school’s academic, leadership and community impact.

Key Qualifications

• First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline from a recognized university. A Master’s degree or PhD in STEM Education is an added advantage.
• 5+ years of leadership experience within a high-performing secondary school or similarly rigorous academic institution.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving outstanding academic outcomes, particularly in STEM subjects, and preparing high-achieving students for competitive university admission.
• Proven experience in student recruitment, academic outreach and talent identification, with the ability to engage schools and communities to identify academically gifted students.
• Strong experience in curriculum leadership, teacher development, school operations, safeguarding and stakeholder engagement, with the ability to establish effective systems from the ground up.
• Exceptional leadership, strategic planning and communication skills, with high integrity and a strong commitment to educational access, community development, agriculture, and conservation.

• Lead the establishment and launch of the school, developing its academic culture, systems, policies, standards and traditions in partnership with the Board.
• Deliver an academically rigorous and highly selective education programme, with particular emphasis on STEM, research, writing, critical thinking and preparation for admission to leading universities in Kenya and internationally.
• Lead student outreach, identification and recruitment, building strong relationships with neighboring junior secondary schools and communities to identify academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Recruit, mentor and manage outstanding teachers and school leaders, building a high-performing faculty committed to academic excellence, student development and the school’s mission.
• Oversee student welfare, safeguarding, pastoral care and residential life, ensuring that students are supported academically, socially and personally throughout their time at the school.
• Develop strong relationships with parents, local communities and other stakeholders, ensuring that community engagement and service are central to the culture and long-term success of the institution.
• Provide strategic oversight of school operations, finances, compliance and campus development, including the integration of agriculture, food production and conservation initiatives across the school’s 41-acre campus.
• Build strategic partnerships with universities, educational institutions, research organisations and other stakeholders, creating pathways for students and strengthening the school’s academic, leadership and community impact.

• STEM
• leadership
• research
• community engagement
• academic excellence
• curriculum leadership
• teacher development
• school operations
• safeguarding
• stakeholder engagement
• strategic planning
• communication skills
• integrity
• educational access
• community development
• agriculture
• conservation

• First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline from a recognized university.
• A Master’s degree or PhD in STEM Education is an added advantage.
• 5+ years of leadership experience within a high-performing secondary school or similarly rigorous academic institution.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving outstanding academic outcomes, particularly in STEM subjects, and preparing high-achieving students for competitive university admission.
• Proven experience in student recruitment, academic outreach and talent identification, with the ability to engage schools and communities to identify academically gifted students.
• Strong experience in curriculum leadership, teacher development, school operations, safeguarding and stakeholder engagement, with the ability to establish effective systems from the ground up.
• Exceptional leadership, strategic planning and communication skills, with high integrity and a strong commitment to educational access, community development, agriculture, and conservation.