Head of Department- Science

KOPILA VALLEY SCHOOL (KVS)

"A world where every child is educated, safe and loved"

KVS is a nonprofit school managed by the Kopila Valley Sewa Samaj, an NGO registered in Surkhet, Nepal, and funded by BlinkNow Foundation USA to provide world-class education to the neediest children who deserve the best education.  Our mission is to change the world by empowering Nepal’s children. We provide our students a free education, educational materials, health treatment and medicine, counseling, and a place to live. With our innovative future program, we strive to provide our children with career guidance, and scholarships for further studies.

The Blink Now Foundation is a 501(c)(3) based in New Jersey which, through its country office in Nepal, oversees these programs in rural Nepal. Every day we strive to create a sustainable organization working to educate all of Kopila’s children until they are ready to enter the world as happy, skilled, confident, self-sufficient adults. We believe we can serve as a model for quality education in Nepal. We will strive to provide our children with scholarships (should they choose to pursue higher education), the skills required to enter the world as global citizens, and ambassadors for change.

About the Role: Head of Department- Science

The Head of Department (Science) is responsible for leading the Science department to ensure high-quality teaching and learning in line with school expectations. This role involves overseeing the development of the subject area, enhancing teaching practices, monitoring student progress, managing department resources effectively, and fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment.

Kopila Valley School (KVS) is seeking creative thinkers who embrace new approaches to teaching and learning for lower secondary and secondary level. This is an opportunity for you to work with a forward-thinking school that is integrating technology and Science Lab-Based practices into classrooms to enhance the understanding of lessons that are engaging and fun. The school provides excellent benefits and a supportive work environment that encourages teamwork and personal growth.

Application Deadline: Rolling basis.

Requirements

Education: Master’s degree in a relevant subject.

Experience: 5 years of experience in teaching, and 2 years of experience in working as an HOD or in any leadership position.

Language: Fluent in English and Nepali would be an added advantage.

Other Qualifications: Team player, good presentation skill, initiator, ability to use computer tools, and passionate about working with children and vulnerable populations.

Core Responsibilities

1.Leadership, Management, and Development of the Subject Area.

1. Development and Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.
2. Leadership and Management of the Department as a Team.

Detailed Areas of Responsibilities

The Head of Department will be mainly responsible for overseeing the following areas of responsibility:

Leadership, Management, and Development of the Subject Area.

• Direct and supervise the work of Science department colleagues, ensuring adherence to recent brain-based research and best practices.
• Take a reflective and evaluative approach to enhance the department's effectiveness, utilizing data and evidence to inform school management.
• Set challenging targets for the department and individual staff members, contributing positively to curriculum development.
• Assess teaching standards and student learning through lesson observations, summative and formative assessments and other feedback mechanisms.
• Lead professional development initiatives for Science department staff, serving as a role model and providing support as needed.

Development and Enhancement of Teaching and Learning

• Lead by example in delivering engaging and effective English language instruction.
• Create a conducive learning environment that fosters enthusiasm and confidence among staff and students.
• Design, implement, and review curricula and schemes of work, ensuring alignment with school objectives and standards.
• Provide guidance on appropriate hands-on, inquiry-based, teaching methods and resource utilization to meet diverse student needs.
• Ensure all students, including those with special educational needs, achieve high standards in Science.
• Evaluate the impact of teaching practices on student progress through various measures, including student and parent feedback.
• Implement interventions as needed to support student learning and attainment, in alignment with school reporting policies.

Leadership and Management of the Department as a Team

• Conduct regular meetings with Science department staff, facilitating communication and collaboration.
• Foster a culture of collective responsibility, shared aims, and consistent expectations within the department.
• Provide mentorship, motivation, and support to colleagues, delegating responsibilities as appropriate.
• In collaboration with others, identify, purchase, maintain, inventory, and expand supplies and resources for the Science Lab and the Science department, ensuring materials and resources are ready for inquiry-based learning in a safe and efficient manner.
• Prepare and submit annual budget proposals to meet departmental needs.

Additional expectations

The HOD- Science is also expected to:

• Build positive working relationships and environment in the organization by bringing solutions to the discussion table.

• Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions and execution of duties.

• Report to the line manager every week, and as needed in case of urgent issues.

• Ensure and enforce confidentiality in collected information/data as per school codes.

• Embrace and support the values of gender equity, social inclusion, and sustainability.Plan and utilize computer-based resources.

• Demonstrate  ability to engage and extend student learning.

• Mentor department staff in patience, creativity, and adaptability in addressing diverse student needs.

• Foster positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues.

• Demonstrate respect for diversity and commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment.

• Participate actively in training, workshops, and seminars to enhance professional growth and contribute to the school's overall improvement.

• Accept performance suggestions by KVS administrators to provide feedback and improvement.

• Adhere to all school rules, regulations, and practices, and always uphold professional standards.

The above list of responsibilities is not comprehensive, and the HOD- Science may be required to take on additional responsibilities, as determined by his/her manager.

Note:

This job description is subject to change based on the evolving needs and requirements of the Science department and Kopila Valley School.

Key Characteristics

• You believe that we can change the world in the blink of an eye.
• You believe in making decisions that put children first.
• You are self-motivated, organized, and approachable.
• You enjoy creating systems, keeping records, and increasing efficiency.
• You are always looking for new ways for our team to work smarter instead of harder.
• You are detail-oriented and conscientious. You make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
• You have a strong work ethic and a willingness to pick up new skills. You are comfortable multi-tasking.
• You are experienced and comfortable talking with a wide range of people from nursery children to government ministers.
• You are positive, patient, and a clear communicator who is comfortable working with both Kopila Valley staff in Nepal and the BlinkNow staff in the United States.
• You are an empathetic person, with a knack for putting out fires before they start and soothing conflicts brewing beneath the surface.
• You require little supervision and are flexible. You understand that you will be wearing many hats in this role, many of which are not explicitly included in this job description.

Keywords

Head of DepartmentScienceTeachingLeadershipManagementDevelopmentCurriculumProfessional DevelopmentStudent ProgressCollaborationBudgetSustainability