Job Description

A different kind of challenge and a huge opportunity

St George’s School in Gondar, Ethiopia, a small education charity , aims to provide an education to the highest standards.  The school currently employs 29 academic and 22 ancillary staff and educates 350 children aged 5-11 completely free of charge. Pupils are for the most part orphans and come from a background of extreme poverty and deprivation. A new intake of 50 5-year-olds will start in October 2019 and over the next five years the plan is to build up to 700 children, aged 5-18.

We are looking for a Director of Education to succeed Nicky Williams, who is stepping down at the end of this academic year. Based in Ethiopia during term times, the post holder’s principal job is to ensure the school remains true to the ideals and teaching methods of Northwood Schools, while also playing an active part in its management, running and future development.

The Director of Education’s wide-ranging responsibilities include:  

• Leadership development and coaching

• Staff recruitment, training and overseeing staff management

• Child recruitment
• Curriculum management

• Financial management of the school

• Regular reporting to the Trustees

• Liaison with government officials

• Compliance with Ethiopian government regulations, particularly on anti-corruption
• Supporting the school’s ongoing development

The St George’s project is very special and the person we appoint will need to be very special too, someone who appreciates the scale of both the opportunity and challenge. Previous experience of teaching at a senior level either in the UK or overseas, needs to be supported by a relevant teaching qualification. Candidates should relish the idea of stepping off the treadmill for a period to accept this challenge, embrace another culture and make a real difference to the lives of those much less fortunate than ourselves. Resilience, commitment, diplomacy and a caring approach will ideally be combined with a taste for travel and adventure. If you believe you are that person, we very much want to hear from you. 


As a charity we are offering a modest salary that will form part of a flexible package. There will also be many opportunities for travel, both in Ethiopia and the surrounding countries.