Careers at SJK

St. John’s-Kilmarnock (SJK) School is an independent day and boarding school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens.

Current Administration Opportunities

List of 3 items.

  • Assistant Head of School, Community

    Assistant Head of School, Community

    Ask anyone what they love about SJK and they are likely to say, “the community”. We are proud of our welcoming, supportive environment that challenges and nurtures each student’s talents. Our talented teachers genuinely care about fostering each child’s authentic individual development with passion and commitment. Our new strategic plan puts our community front and center, detailing opportunities for the school to further develop our connections to each other and the wider community to support our mission.

    Position Summary:

    The Assistant Head, Community will oversee the day-to-day running of the school with a focus on community, student life and well-being. They should be highly organized, an adaptable and innovative leader, good motivator, communicator and administrator, and capable of managing key aspects of ongoing school improvement. The successful candidate will provide professional leadership and guidance across a range of areas to enable the effective development of the school, its faculty and its students. They will have a passion for creating a culture where everyone feels connected, respected and valued.

    The successful candidate will be a key member of the school’s Leadership Team. They will play a crucial role in developing and implementing whole-school strategy and development, ensuring a consistently positive experience for all students. 

    The Assistant Head of School, Community, will collaborate across the school to create, lead, and support opportunities for the systematic development of our community. Some of these high-level strategies will include: 

    • Build our focus on mental, emotional, social, spiritual and physical well-being.
    • Enhancing our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and social responsibility.
    • Providing enhanced opportunities for integration across our student population including creating a world-class boarding program.
    • Developing innovative and engaging co-curricular and summer enrichment programs.
    • Augmenting our experiential education including relaunching our 5 Worlds Program.
    • More details can be found in our Going Beyond! The SJK Strategic Plan 2022-2027

    Qualifications and Experience:
    • Minimum of ten years of teaching and/or administrative experience, preferably in an independent school environment.
    • Experience in a boarding school and knowledge of residential life programs is essential.
    • An educational background suited to the role, such as a bachelor's degree and a Bachelor of Education degree. A master’s degree and formal leadership qualifications, such as the CAIS Leadership Institute, would be an asset. 
    • A collaborative leader and team player with the ability to work collegially with multiple constituencies and foster collective leadership.
    • Excellent organizational leadership skills with experience using project management tools to ensure projects remain on schedule, communicate progress and meet agreed-upon goals.
    • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as an ability to promote new programs and initiatives to internal and external audiences.
    • Skills in team building, conflict resolution, consensus-building and decision-making with multiple constituents.
    • A systems thinker who understands how decisions impact the whole of an organization with demonstrated capacity for data-driven decision-making.
    • A high degree of emotional intelligence with the ability to problem solve complex situations.
    • Experience with managing budgets and creating business plans to ensure that new initiatives are viable and sustainable.
    • Demonstrated personal commitment to professional growth and to receiving and acting on constructive feedback.
    School Description:

    SJK is the leading co-educational independent school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The School, which was founded in 1972, is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus offering enriched educational programming for day students from JK-Grade 12 and international boarding students from Grades 9 - 12 through our accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. 
    SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, our students love to learn, and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens.
     
    As a community, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We strive to be a place where every student, faculty and staff member, parent and alumni feels that they are welcome and valued. We achieve this by living our core values and by appreciating that our learning community is enhanced by human differences. We value the unique experiences that each individual brings to our community and the myriad of perspectives that our diversity provides. We also recognize that it is our common humanity that binds us together as a community. We welcome applications from individuals who feel that they could make a positive contribution to our diverse community.
     
    Waterloo Region is an active, dynamic and thriving place to live and work. It has a thriving technology sector, convenient transport links, and is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Ontario. The Region includes the bustling cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, as well as four scenic rural townships: North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich. The Region is a popular and affordable alternative to living in Toronto and offers a pleasing mix of big-city benefits and small-town charm. Toronto, London, Brampton and Hamilton are only an hour away.
     
    Application Process with Pender & Howe:
     
    St. John's-Kilmarnock School has retained Pender & Howe to lead the recruitment initiative for the Assistant Head of School, Community position. Pender & Howe is a boutique retained executive search firm specializing in collaborating with human capital leaders, governing boards, and organizational leaders in identifying exceptional talent.
     
    The search is led by Travis Hann (he/him). For consideration, please email a copy of your CV in confidence to:
     
    Travis Hann (Partner) – travis.hann@penderhowe.com
     
    We thank all applicants in advance. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

  • Assistant Head of School, Teaching and Learning

    Assistant Head of School, Teaching and Learning

    As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, St. John’s-Kilmarnock School is proud to be a place where students love to learn. We take education beyond the classroom and help students discover their talents and passions through our global approach. We foster an environment of exploration and curiosity within a vibrant community of learners.

    Position Summary:

    The Assistant Head, Teaching and Learning will oversee the day-to-day running of the school with a focus on curriculum and the development of all aspects of teaching and learning from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, identifying and implementing strategies to develop an innovative and dynamic educational environment. The successful candidate will be a passionate leader, with a willingness to innovate and explore grounded by a clear educational philosophy rooted in best practices. The successful applicant will require flexibility, efficiency, organizational and interpersonal skills and leadership qualities together with a firm grasp of current educational issues, especially as they pertain to the International Baccalaureate Programme as well as education in Ontario.

    The successful candidate will be a key member of the school’s Leadership Team. They will play a crucial role in developing and implementing the whole-school strategy to ensure that SJK retains its position as a leading IB World School.

    This important role, whose scope is to ensure that SJK remains an outstanding, forward-thinking and leading academic school, would suit candidates with vision, creativity and energy and will be a key leader in the school community. The Assistant Head of School, Teaching and Learning, will develop and implement strategies to support our academic program through strategies articulated in our strategic plan. Some of these high-level strategies will include: 

    • Create exciting, flexible pathways to graduation which are rigorous and relevant.
    • Connect learning to the real world through enhanced experiential education.
    • Ensure we understand and support each student on their individual SJK journey of self-discovery.
    • Enhance our capacity to attract outstanding faculty and staff and provide an exceptional professional growth program.
    • More details can be found in our Going Beyond! The SJK Strategic Plan 2022-2027

    Qualifications and Experience:

    • Minimum of ten years of teaching and/or administrative experience, preferably in an independent school environment.
    • An educational background suited to the role, such as a bachelor's degree and a Bachelor of Education degree. A master’s degree and formal leadership qualifications, such as the CAIS Leadership Institute, would be an asset. 
    • A collaborative leader and team player with the ability to work collegially with multiple constituencies and foster collective leadership.
    • Excellent organizational leadership skills with experience using project management tools to ensure projects remain on schedule, communicate progress and meet agreed-upon goals.
    • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as an ability to promote new programs and initiatives to internal and external audiences.
    • Skills in team building, conflict resolution, consensus-building and decision-making with multiple constituents.
    • A systems thinker who understands how decisions impact the whole of an organization with demonstrated capacity for data-driven decision-making.
    • Experience with managing budgets and creating business plans to ensure that new initiatives are viable and sustainable.
    • Demonstrated personal commitment to professional growth and to receiving and acting on constructive feedback.

    School Description:

    SJK is the leading co-educational independent school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The School, which was founded in 1972, is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus offering enriched educational programming for day students from JK-Grade 12 and international boarding students from Grades 9 - 12 through our accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. 
    SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, our students love to learn, and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens.
     
    As a community, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We strive to be a place where every student, faculty and staff member, parent and alumni feels that they are welcome and valued. We achieve this by living our core values and by appreciating that our learning community is enhanced by human differences. We value the unique experiences that each individual brings to our community and the myriad of perspectives that our diversity provides. We also recognize that it is our common humanity that binds us together as a community. We welcome applications from individuals who feel that they could make a positive contribution to our diverse community.
     
    Waterloo Region is an active, dynamic and thriving place to live and work. It has a thriving technology sector, convenient transport links, and is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Ontario. The Region includes the bustling cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, as well as four scenic rural townships: North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich. The Region is a popular and affordable alternative to living in Toronto and offers a pleasing mix of big-city benefits and small-town charm. Toronto, London, Brampton and Hamilton are only an hour away.
     
    Application Process with Pender & Howe:
     
    St. John's-Kilmarnock School has retained Pender & Howe to lead the recruitment initiative for the Assistant Head of School, Teaching and Learning position. Pender & Howe is a boutique retained executive search firm specializing in collaborating with human capital leaders, governing boards, and organizational leaders in identifying exceptional talent.
     
    The search is led by Travis Hann (he/him). For consideration, please email a copy of your CV in confidence to:
     
    Travis Hann (Partner) – travis.hann@penderhowe.com
     
    We thank all applicants in advance. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

  • Executive Assistant to the Head of School

    Job Title: Executive Assistant to the Head of School

    Location: St. John’s-Kilmarnock School (SJK)

    Start Date: May 1, 2023
    Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
     
    Position Summary: 
    The Executive Assistant to the Head of School is a passionate and driven individual—a self-starter with high levels of personal and professional organization, integrity, discretion and confidentiality. You will work closely alongside the Head of School to enable her to make the best use of her time and ensure that work is handled effectively and efficiently. You will be responsible for all day-to-day administrative duties, communication and operational duties related to the Head of School. The successful candidate will be a person who is flexible and proactive in their approach to work, is highly organized with strong communication skills, and has excellent technical skills in addition to experience in calendar management and coordination. You will work to build relationships across the organization and have the confidence and competence to make the best use of the Head of School’s time.

    Beyond working directly with the Head of School, this position offers the opportunity to support the work of SJK’s Board of Governors as the recording secretary. This involves managing all the key documentation related to the Board, including agenda, minutes and supporting documents, and setting the annual calendar for Board and Committee meetings. Knowledge of governance practices and document management would be helpful skills for the successful candidate.

    Additionally, the Executive Assistant to the Head of School also plays a key role in managing and coordinating important whole school events such as welcome back faculty and staff events, employee recognition events, our graduation dinner, and retirement celebrations. This aspect of the role gives the successful candidate the opportunity to make an impact on the School’s culture and the broader community.

    If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to build relationships, take on complex work, be part of a supportive team and make a difference, we hope you will apply for the role. We look forward to hearing from you.

    Qualifications and Experience:
    • Experience working as an Executive Assistant to senior leaders in a fast-paced setting.
    • Enthusiasm for calendar management and the organizational and diplomatic skills required to do this well.
    • Highly computer literate, with experience in data handling and necessary IT systems.
    • Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
    • Strong attention to detail and confidence in dealing with verbal and numerical content.
    • Highly organized and adaptable, with the ability to work with minimum supervision.
    • Passion for and ability to work in a fast-paced environment and remain calm under pressure.
    Key Responsibilities:
    • Manage and coordinate the Head of School’s calendar, liaising with internal and external individuals, ensuring any associated travel and meeting rooms/venues are appropriate for the nature of each meeting.
    • Exercise wise judgment to manage and prioritize competing demands on the Head’s time.
    • Proactively schedule and facilitate meetings on a daily basis to ensure effective prioritization and a manageable programme of meetings.
    • Provide administrative support to the Head of School, compiling information and drafting well-written documents consistent with the tone and style of the Head of School and the wider organization.
    • Ensure the Head of School is fully prepared ahead of major school events and that the needs of the Head are known and in place well in advance.
    • Make reservations and organize travel arrangements as required.
    • Ensure that all enquiries and correspondence are dealt with promptly and effectively.
    • Assist in drafting letters, reports and documents (including confidential items).
    • Use a variety of software to produce and maintain text documents, presentations, spreadsheets, etc.
    • Provide support to the main school reception including answering the telephone, greeting visitors and directing general enquiries.
    • Managing the records related to the Board, including agendas, minutes and other related documents.
    • Plan, coordinate and implement events, including managing invitations, guest lists, and budgets. 
    • Problem-solve as appropriate to ensure that daily and strategic goals are reached.
    • Communicate on behalf of the Head of School at all times, using discretion and tact to ensure telephone callers, students, faculty, staff, parents, and visitors receive a professional response and are dealt with by the most appropriate person.

    School Description    : 
    SJK is the leading co-educational independent school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The School, which was founded in 1972, is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus offering enriched educational programming for day students from JK-Grade 12 and international boarding students from Grades 9 - 12 through our accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. 

    SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, our students love to learn and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens. 

    As a community, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We strive to be a place where every student, faculty and staff member, parent and alumni feel that they are welcome and valued. We achieve this by living our core values and by appreciating that our learning community is enhanced by human differences. We value the unique experiences that each individual brings to our community and the myriad of perspectives that our diversity provides. We also recognize that it is our common humanity that binds us together as a community. We welcome applications from individuals who feel that they could make a positive contribution to our diverse community.
     
    To Apply:
    Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward by email a letter of application and a résumé to Cheryl Boughton, Head of School by March 31, 2023 to: employment@sjkschool.org. 

    The School reserves the right to make an appointment prior to the closing date. Candidates are encouraged to submit an application at their earliest convenience. Please be aware that the successful candidate will need to submit a vulnerable sector check.

    SJK is an equal opportunity employer, offering a competitive salary and benefits package, including participation in the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan if eligible, and opportunities for professional development in a vibrant, collegial work environment. 

    Thank you for taking the time to read our job posting and considering whether applying to SJK is the next step in your career journey. While we appreciate all applications, we can only contact those individuals selected for interviews.

Current Faculty Opportunities

List of 1 items.

  • Lower School and Upper School Supply Teachers

    Position Summary: 
    SJK is seeking highly motivated and committed supply teachers to be added to our Supply Teacher List. The successful candidates will be enthusiastic and innovative teachers who appreciate working in a collaborative environment, dedicated to the highest standards of teaching and learning. 
     
    Start Date:
    Available to work from September 7, 2022   

    Contract:
    Temporary Supply Teaching    
     
    Qualifications and Experience:
    • A Bachelor of Education Degree
    • Primary, Junior, Intermediate and/or Senior Divisional Qualifications
    • An Ontario College of Teachers Certificate, or eligibility for teacher certification in Ontario
    • OCT Membership in good standing
    • Experience teaching in the Primary, Junior, Intermediate and/or Senior Divisions is an asset
    • Experience teaching the International Baccalaureate PYP, MYP, DP is an asset
    • Independent school experience is an asset

    Competencies:
    • A positive, enthusiastic, and encouraging approach to learning and all aspects of school life
    • Collaborative and solution-focused, with a passion for teaching
    • Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
    • A proven ability to build a caring rapport with students 
    • Effective communication with students, parents, and colleagues
    • An ability to instruct using a range of differentiated teaching strategies and technology
    • A dynamic, dedicated team player with a strong work ethic
    • Capacity to contribute to SJK’s co-curricular program
    • Willingness to learn, and commitment to personal growth and development

    To Apply:
    Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward by email a letter of application and a résumé to Cheryl Boughton, Head of School as soon as possible to: employment@sjkschool.org. 
     
    SJK is an equal opportunity employer, offering a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development in a vibrant, collegial work environment.

    While we appreciate all applications, we can only contact those individuals selected for interviews. As a condition of employment, a vulnerable sector screening will be required.

St. John's-Kilmarnock School

©2018 St John’s-Kilmarnock School. All Rights Reserved.
2201 Shantz Station Road, Breslau Ontario
(Waterloo Region), NOB 1M0
519-648-2183 | info@sjkschool.org