The Role
Following three years of successful and transformative leadership by the current Head of School, the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz seeks an exceptionally qualified candidate to step into the helm from August 2026 and further develop its leading role as an international boarding school.
Set in a spectacular alpine landscape near St. Moritz, Switzerland, the Lyceum campus occupies an extensive site with its own sports fields, ice rinks, tennis courts, golf driving range, theatre, media library and dedicated learning spaces for arts and music together with its six boarding houses. The campus enjoys breathtaking views overlooking the alpine village of Zuoz, which boasts five ski lifts and a golf course.
Welcoming 185 boarders and 120 day students between the ages of 12 and 19, from over 45 nations, the Lyceum has a strong focus on academics combined with a commitment to physical exercise and sports. Since its inception the school’s motto, which is equally valid today, has been “mens sana in corpore sano”.
Catering both to international boarding students and local Swiss families, the Lyceum offers the IGCSE and IBDP programmes in English, as well as the Swiss Matura in either German or bilingual options, and prepares students to enter universities both overseas and in Switzerland and to become responsible global citizens, who help shape the future.
The successful candidate will be someone with a strong educational background, an impressive track record in educational settings of quality, a commitment to boarding, and a deep passion for providing a holistic educational experience based on the school’s core values of Integrity, Excellence, Engagement, Fair Play and Positivity.
With spacious and well-appointed onsite accommodation provided, the Head of School is expected to be a visible and hands-on leader, who is prepared to immerse themselves fully in the life of the school, and role model the Spirit of Zuoz.
Key responsibilities
The Head of School will lead all aspects of the operation of the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, building on its existing strengths and taking the School to the next stage in its development. The Head of School will work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure that the School continues to flourish in line with its mission and strategic plan, and to do so in a way in which all members of the community feel motivated and supported. The Head of School is accountable to the Board of Directors for the daily management of the School, and for the delivery of an excellent, holistic and inclusive education and outstanding support for student welfare. More specifically, the key responsibilities of the Head of School can be outlined as follows:
Ensures that the educational and pastoral provision at the Lyceum is world class
- Role models and ensures implementation of the school’s philosophy, vision and mission, with a clear focus on student achievement, standards and quality of teaching and learning, and child safeguarding, across the school.
- Works collaboratively with the Heads of the International and Swiss Matura sections in curriculum and pedagogical development, entrance examinations (internal and external) and student admission.
- Embraces innovative and research-based approaches to effective learning and ensures the LAZ school community is actively engaged with these approaches, including leading the school’s approach to the smart adoption of Artificial Intelligence where it can benefit teaching, learning and operations.
- Ensures that high quality teaching and learning is at the heart of strategic planning, curriculum development and resource management.
- Fosters a culture which reflects both the school’s Swiss heritage – and related values such as reliability and punctuality – and the richness and diversity of the school community, whilst ensuring that the school remains free from the promotion of ideological positions which run counter to the school’s values.
- Builds an effective partnership with parents and the wider school community to enhance the achievements and personal development of the students.
- Utilises an approach to student learning which triangulates multiple data sources to monitor patterns of learning throughout the school, identifying areas of strength and working with Heads of Section and the Head of Boarding and Pastoral Care and other staff on appropriate learning interventions.
- Ensures LAZ students are well-prepared for their futures in college, careers and citizenship.
Leads all aspects of the operation to ensure the long term sustainability of the school
- Attends all standing committees of the Board of Directors as an ex officio member.
- Leads and manages the Senior Leadership Team of the school
- Represents the Board of Directors in its relations with the faculty, staff, students and parents.
- Contributes to the development of policies and procedures and ensures that policies and practices take into account the ethos and strategy of the school.
- Realises the long-term strategy and delivers the school’s business objectives of revenue, profit, and academic KPIs with all management levels.
- Leads, develops and is accountable for annual operational plans and budgets for the school in line with the school’s strategic plan.
- Manages the setting of annual performance targets and leads review of progress against the targets.
- Participates actively in the work of the Marketing and Admissions department, ensuring that the reputation and image of the school are professionally managed and that there is a strong pipeline of suitable student candidates to meet the school’s enrolment objectives.
- Supervises and/or assists with all other aspects of the school’s operation, including (but not limited to) HR, Facilities, Maintenance and Operation, Food Service, Transportation, Summer Programmes and Alumni relations.
Guarantees effective representation of the Lyceum with third party stakeholders
- Actively promotes the school by attending peer meetings with other schools in the region and internationally.
- Represents the school in its relations with Government Agencies, national educational organisations and accreditation agencies.
Recruits, coaches and develops a high performing faculty and operational team
- Manages and participates in the recruitment of outstanding staff and ongoing talent management.
- Directly supervises the faculty and staff and coordinates the activities of the entire organisation, including its business and financial operations.
- Holds regular meetings of the faculty and staff and ensures that the general policies of the Board of Directors are understood and followed.
- Leads, manages and develops staff to ensure highest possible standards of effective teaching and learning and pastoral care.
- Implements the appropriate management structure and delegates appropriately.
- Ensures that individual staff accountabilities and responsibilities are clearly defined, communicated, understood, and agreed and are subject to regular review and evaluation.
Qualifications and Experience
- Master of Arts in Education or Educational Leadership or Swiss/European equivalent.
- At least five years of leadership experience in a Boarding School, preferably in Europe or in boarding schools worldwide offering international programmes, and a demonstrated passion for boarding.
- Exceptionally skillful communicator, including being an active listener, cogent writer, and articulate presenter.
- Familiarity with a range of accreditation protocols.
- Proven ability to lead curriculum development and implementation of pedagogical best practice, including keeping abreast of innovations in educational practice.
- Exhibits a genuine commitment to working collaboratively with all stakeholders and understands the importance of meeting the social and emotional needs of the LAZ learning community.
- Demonstrates the ability to think creatively and embrace a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Experience in managing change/conflict.
- Strategic thinker and highly organized.
- Head of School experience preferred, but open to other relevant leadership experience in schools.
- Fluency in English and a desire to learn the German language if not already a German speaker.
- Ability to commit to an extended tenure of service.
Personal & Professional Attributes
- Mission, vision, values-driven leader
- Fair, caring, yet leads with a firm hand and has the courage to make and defend potentially unpopular decisions
- Visible, “seen in the school”, “people-person”
- High degree of integrity, “walks the talk”
- Open-minded, respects the diversity of views
- Motivational and inspirational
- Decisive, resolute, “can-do” mentality
- Internationally minded, committed to diversity
- “Hands-on” approach
Please consult the Candidate Pack for information on the application process.
