Principal

THINK Global School•New York, NY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

THINK Global School (TGS) seeks an on-site Principal to travel with and lead its global community. TGS is a project-based and place-based school built on Global Immersion, Personal Pathways, and Wholebeing Development. Its mission is to support learners’ potential through self-discovery and global exploration, with learning that is real, relevant, and deeply relational. The school is deepening its competency-based learning and assessment practices, emphasizing authentic personal growth and mastery. The Principal is a values-driven, hands-on educational and operational leader responsible for the daily life, safety, and culture of the onsite school community. Serving on the Executive Leadership Team alongside the Director of Operations, the Principal leads school operations, academic design, student life, and staff support and mentorship. The role is not primarily focused on fundraising or external promotion; it requires direct involvement in operational execution, student behavior management, and culture-building. The Principal works collaboratively with the Onsite Leadership Team, with support and supervision from the Chief Vision Officer and TGS Board of Directors. The Principal creates and maintains the operational environment in which TGS’s vision can flourish. Responsibilities include managing schedules, academic routines, host-city logistics, and residential boarding life across rotating host countries; overseeing pastoral care, student safety, staff development, budgets, and regulatory compliance; and supporting student agency, restorative practices, and strong relationships with families and local communities. The Principal also collaborates on curriculum, individualized learning pathways, competency-based assessment, student projects, and post-secondary pathways. This is a traveling, residential, experiential role that requires frequent international relocation, communal living, resilience, and active participation in outdoor and all-weather activities. The Principal is expected to work non-traditional hours, including evening and weekend duty rotations and community events during term time, and to support safety and emergency-response protocols in each host country.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, International Education, Curriculum & Instruction (PBL focus), and/or Student Wellbeing/Counseling.
Proven leadership experience in a secondary, boarding, or experiential learning environment, such as Principal, Assistant Principal, or Program Director.
Demonstrated ability to lead dynamic, high-performing teams and take direct ownership of daily school operations, scheduling, and communal living dynamics.
High emotional and relational intelligence, including the ability to build trust, navigate conflict, and establish an environment where staff and students can thrive.
Skill in using warmth, humor, and strong communication as tools for community cohesion and restorative behavior management.
Strong alignment with project-based, place-based, and student-driven learning models.
Experience with competency-based assessment and mastery-based evaluation systems that prioritize student growth over conventional grading.
Direct experience overseeing student safety, child protection as a DSL or equivalent, crisis response, and country risk management in complex or international environments.
Ability to make swift, grounded decisions during emergency response scenarios.
Expertise leading diverse international cohorts across varied host-country contexts.
Ability to build culturally responsive partnerships with local representatives, community partners, and safety networks.
Strong organization, executive function, and delegation skills for managing schedules, budgets, and operational logistics across complex, rotating global locations.
Ability to prioritize competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills with diverse stakeholders.
Training or substantial experience in mediation, active listening, and conflict resolution.
Demonstrated ability and genuine enthusiasm for living and working alongside students and staff in a communal setting that is both workplace and home.
Adaptability, emotional maturity, and physical and mental stamina for frequent travel, communal living, and a mobile school structure.
Commitment to personal and professional growth and to staying current with global education, progressive pedagogy, and school-climate practices.
High stamina and adaptability for continuous international relocation across rotating host countries and time zones.
Emotional and physical resilience to maintain personal wellbeing, live in shared communal spaces, and navigate varying multinational infrastructures and accommodation standards.
Physical fitness and ability to participate in outdoor, all-weather activities; navigate terrain independently; carry gear; swim and move comfortably in open water; and adapt to high-altitude settings.
Willingness to work non-traditional hours, including evening and weekend duty rotations and community bonding events during term time.

Nice To Haves

Passionate commitment to educational innovation, intercultural understanding, and advocacy for progressive, non-traditional learning models.
Strong technology skills and ability to learn new systems and collaborate using tools such as Google Suite, Slack, Headrush, HubSpot, and digital record-keeping tools.
Proficiency with modern AI platforms for mobile coordination, operational efficiency, and learning support.
Deep understanding of adolescent development, mental health, and holistic wellness, with commitment to connection-first restorative student behavior practices.
Expertise designing and delivering educator professional development, especially in project-based learning facilitation, place-based curriculum integration, assessment design, and faculty coaching and evaluation.
Experience cultivating alliances with universities, cultural organizations, and educational networks to expand student project, internship, and global-learning opportunities.
Ability to represent THINK Global School in professional networks, at educational conferences, and on public platforms.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain the social, emotional, and operational framework that supports students and staff in pursuing TGS’s mission.
Manage daily scheduling, academic routines, host-city logistics, and residential boarding life across rotating host countries, and communicate expectations and changes to staff.
Oversee pastoral care and the advisory program in coordination with the onsite counselor and onsite leadership.
Manage student behavior and conflict resolution using restorative, connection-first practices.
Mentor, observe, and evaluate onsite faculty and pastoral staff in conjunction with Onsite Leadership; provide guidance and actionable feedback to the Director of Futures and educators.
Develop and monitor onsite operational and educational budgets with the Director of Operations.
Partner with the Director of Operations and Admissions team on interviews, student intake, orientation, and peer-to-peer mentorship.
Design and organize adult learning, mentorship, peer feedback, and professional development opportunities for staff.
Oversee contract reviews, self-study, site-visit preparation, and reporting to Board Members.
Foster a caring, collaborative, inclusive community in which staff and students can take risks and pursue projects that support individual and community growth.
Empower student leadership and agency, including student participation in community norms, project initiatives, and decision-making.
Promote joy, play, belonging, and restorative practices, and support active listening and constructive conflict resolution.
Maintain transparent communication and strong partnerships with parents and families.
Drive execution and continual improvement of TGS’s bespoke curriculum, ensuring academic rigor and authentic, experiential, host-country-connected learning.
Collaborate with the Director of Futures to support individualized student goals, student-led projects, and place-based modules.
Teach, advise, or co-lead community initiatives when needed.
Oversee implementation of a competency-based framework and alignment of curriculum and assessment with skill mastery and personal growth.
Partner with the Director of Futures on mentoring, milestone tracking, and quality assurance for Personal Pathway projects, Capstone/Mastery Projects, and Presentations of Learning.
Collaborate with the Director of Futures to develop and implement individualized international post-secondary pathways.
Co-lead with the Director of Operations and Chief Vision Officer to align onsite operations with organizational strategy and cross-departmental needs.
Build and maintain culturally sensitive relationships with host-country partners, Indigenous communities, local organizations, and emergency contacts, and guide ethical student engagement with local environments.
Partner with the Chief Vision Officer and Director of Operations to provide strategic reports, institutional data, and performance updates to the Board.
Manage change and stakeholder engagement, ensuring stakeholders are informed and included in continuous improvement.
Take responsibility for day-to-day operations, school performance, and leadership decisions, fostering accountability without blaming or shaming.
Serve as the onsite Designated Safeguarding Lead and enforce TGS’s Child Protection Policy, reporting protocols, and international compliance standards with support from the Director of Operations.
Oversee implementation of country risk assessments and promote active risk management among staff and students.
Lead onsite crisis operations, including local emergency response, risk assessments, and real-time communications in coordination with executive leadership.
Share on-duty responsibilities with the Onsite Leadership Team and maintain appropriate emergency action plans in each host country.
Coordinate with the Onsite Medical Lead/Director of Wholebeing on daily health systems, emergency medical preparedness, and incident documentation.
Participate in outdoor, all-weather activities and community life, including hiking, camping, water sports, games, and extended expeditions.
Maintain relevant safety certifications and actively support field emergency protocols.