General

Job Start: as soon as possible
Location: Könneritzstraße 47, Leipzig, Germany
Contract: full-time (40 hours per week), initially fixed-term for 2 years followed by the option of a subsequent employment contract with an infinite duration

The Hort Leader is responsible for overseeing both the regular school-time Hort and the holiday Hort programme. This role focuses on fostering the positive development of primary students and ensuring a safe, secure, and inclusive environment for all. In collaboration with the Primary School Principal, the Hort Leader also supervises the Educator in Class (EiC) program.

The Hort Leader is the direct line manager for the Deputy Hort leader, and together they lead the Hort team. The Hort Leader is a member of the School Management team and, as such, shares responsibility for the school as a whole. The Hort Leader is accountable to the Head of School, with whom they meet regularly, keeping them informed about decisions and developments in the Hort. The Head of School may assign additional duties and responsibilities consistent with the qualifications and the position.

Your tasks and responsibilities

Leadership

Lead a team of educational staff, who provide care, learning opportunities and social emotional education to learners of the primary school
Empower Hort educational staff to effectively support the Primary School in contributing to the learning and development of students, with a focus on social and emotional development, potential development, and identifying students' interests and strengths
Ensure the creation of stimulating learning environments in Hort and during Holiday Hort
Ensure the school’s health and safety protocols are implemented consistently, including evacuation drills and risk assessments
Supervise, manage and provide together with Hort educational staff a quality Hort and Holiday Hort programme
Clearly communicate the role of Hort educational staff within the learning community, including communication with families
Be responsible for the ongoing development, implementation and revision of the Hort’s educational concept in alignment with LIS development goals and state requirements.
Responsible for the continuous implementation of the Professional Growth Program for all Hort educational staff, which includes conducting regular formal observations of Hort colleagues, providing feedback and holding self-assessment talks, and creating professional development plans with each individual team member
Plan and organise professional development days.
Be responsible for recruitment process including interviewing, hiring decisions as well as contract renewal decisions, and training of new colleagues.
Prepare and chair a weekly Hort team meeting.
Be responsible and keep up to date with the internal procedures for managing trainees, volunteers, interns and support staff (sign-out assistants)
Define and implement clear procedures and systems to promote appropriate student behaviour in various settings, including Hort time, playground, and classroom environments.

Support alignment

Work within Primary School Management team to ensure an effective, common approach to students and families
Develop and maintain a strong partnership between Hort and Primary School. Define the responsibilities of Hort educational staff in their roles as caregivers during Hort time and as educational supporters during class time.
Together with Primary School Management team continuously monitor, evaluate and evolve the Educator-in-Class programme by defining the role of the Hort education staff in the classroom
Collaborate with both the Hort and Primary teams, as well as the school counselling team, to identify and apply best practices for student behavior management
Define and implement clear procedures and systems to promote appropriate student behaviour in various settings, including Hort time, playground, and classroom environments.
Align student support systems between Hort and Primary School to ensure transparency and continuity for both staff and students
Oversee the implementation and evaluation of Primary School’s social programming in collaboration with the Primary leadership team

Managing relationships

Liaise with parents, students, educators, teachers, members of SSS and other school stakeholders as appropriate
Work closely with all Primary staff to identify students of concern and implement strategies for improving student development.
Work closely with all staff to resolve issues relating to student development in the Primary School.
Establish a clear communication system for parents wishing to approach Hort educational staff.

Administration

Overseeing annual Hort budget
Holiday Hort scheduling, daily rotas for Hort and Duty, Absence tracking and cover arrangements
Hort staff’s personal holiday planning
Inventory, and facility upkeep
Collaborate closely with colleagues in the Business Office in regards to personnel planning, recruitment, finances, purchasing, public relations, holiday Hort fee deductions and strategic planning

Exercise of Duties

Perform in accordance with any direction that may reasonably be given by the Head of School, such duties as may reasonably assigned in order to achieve all elements in this job description, or any other duties deemed to be in the interest of the students or the school in genera.
Maintain a personal, up-to-date knowledge of legal requirements concerning Hort programming as well as Saxony’s Educational Curriculum for Kindergarten.
Attend in-service courses to help achieve this knowledge

Set the Strategic Direction

Participate in meetings of the school’s management team
As part of Management team, work with the Head of School and Primary School Management team to develop the strategy and development plans for the Primary School
Work closely with the Primary Principal and Assistant Primary Principal for learning, take responsibility for the positive development of Primary School students.
Collaborate with the Primary School Management team in developing and agreeing to the Primary School development plan.
Guide Hort team development and professional development processes, which includes the creation and attainment of annual strategic development goals.

Plan and Organise

Ensure that policies and procedures required to support the Primary School students’ positive development are defined and implemented effectively.
Together with Kindergarten Principal and Primary School Management team plan, organise and manage the transition of students from EY3 into Hort and Primary.
Together with Secondary team, support the transition from grade 5 to grade 6
Liaise with SSS over behavioural support requirements, behavioural elements of IEPs, Behaviour Intervention Plans and potential access arrangements for Primary School students.

Deliver Results and Get Things Done

Together with the Primary Principal, maintain and develop an awareness of students’ changing personal circumstances and disseminate information to colleagues where appropriate
Monitor student’s development and identify areas of concern, working closely with the colleagues to ensure that the appropriate follow-up is carried out.
Complete regular learning walks in Primary School classrooms and the Hort areas to monitor that the programme delivery is in accordance with the educator’s role and students' developmental and learning needs, providing feedback as required

Your profile

Bachelor or Master level degree in related subject areas: Early Childhood Education, Child Care, Social Work or Social Pedagogy or degree as State Approved Educator or Childhood Pedagogue according to the qualification ordinance of the state of Saxony
Leadership experience in the educational area
Structured and self-dependent working style
The ability to challenge situations and to change things for the better
Strong communication and intercultural skills
Strong collaboration and team work skills
Enthusiasm and personal commitment to your job
Fluency in the English and German language

What we offer

A vibrant, diverse, and supportive school community.
Opportunities for professional growth in a globally connected environment.
A chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our learners as they grow into confident, internationally-minded individuals.
Wonderful students who are interested in learning
A dynamic and diverse workplace that continues to develop best teaching and learning practice
Company benefits such as company pension scheme, supplementary health insurance, moving allowance, JobRad Leasing, financial support for a German language course etc.

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About us

Leipzig International School GmbH (LIS) is a warm and vibrant non-profit educational community dedicated to fostering learning, growth, and global citizenship. Serving nearly 1,100 students from local and international families, our school offers an enriching experience from kindergarten through secondary school, including integrated before- and after-school care. Guided by our motto, "Learning to be a citizen of the world," we celebrate diversity, internationality, and inclusivity, providing a nurturing environment where students thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Supported by a dedicated team of 250 staff members from 37 nations, LIS ensures a stimulating and supportive learning journey for every child, from their first steps into education to achieving university entrance qualifications. Our symbol, the lion, reflects the courage, strength, and resilience we nurture in our students-qualities that empower them to embrace challenges and transform their lives. At LIS, we are proud to inspire a brighter future through education and to foster a community where every individual belongs and grows.

LIS is an inclusive learning community and does not discriminate on the basis of race, skin colour, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.

Hort Leader (m/f/d)