Head of Department - Spanish

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Salary range: Rs 2400000 - Rs 3500000 (ie INR 24-35 LPA)

Location: India

JobType: full-time

We are seeking an accomplished Head of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) with strong expertise in IBDP Spanish to lead the language department at one of India's most prestigious residential IB schools. This role is ideal for a visionary academic leader with demonstrated experience in curriculum leadership, faculty development, and student excellence within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The Head of Department will play a pivotal role in shaping learning strategy, driving academic innovation, and fostering a culture of multilingualism that nurtures global citizens.

The ideal candidate must bring extensive experience as an IBDP Spanish educator, proven leadership in managing language faculty, and a deep understanding of contemporary pedagogical practices suited for international schooling environments. The role requires someone who is passionate about language education, student empowerment, and continuous academic improvement.

Requirements
Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) department including Spanish and additional language offerings, ensuring alignment with IB philosophy and school vision.
• Oversee the design, delivery, and evaluation of the IBDP Spanish curriculum, ensuring academic excellence and strong student outcomes.
• Drive instructional leadership-mentor, support, and upskill language educators through professional development, lesson observations, and structured feedback cycles.
• Lead departmental planning, timetable scheduling, subject allocation, resource management, and annual academic reviews.
• Encourage innovative teaching methodologies, multilingual engagement, and integration of technology to enhance language acquisition and cultural learning.
• Establish and maintain robust systems for assessment, progress tracking, feedback mechanisms, internal standardization, and IB examination readiness.
• Provide effective leadership during IB inspections, authorization, and evaluation processes.
• Collaborate closely with the academic leadership team, college counseling, pastoral care, and residential life teams to deliver holistic student development.
• Foster strong student engagement through academic events, cultural festivals, Spanish club activities, competitions, exchange programs, and international collaborations.
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, and performance-driven departmental culture with high expectations for teaching standards and student achievement.
• Maintain strong communication with parents regarding academic progress, language proficiency goals, and future pathways.
• Serve as mentor and thought leader contributing to school-wide academic strategy and interdisciplinary learning initiatives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 8-15 years of teaching experience with a minimum of 3-5 years in a leadership or HOD capacity within an IB environment.
• Mandatory IBDP Spanish teaching experience with proven results in student performance and curriculum delivery.
• Master's / Bachelor's degree in Spanish, Linguistics, Languages, Education, or equivalent relevant field.
• Strong understanding of IB philosophy, assessment frameworks, TOK integration, extended essay supervision, and international academic environments.
• Demonstrated excellence in teacher mentorship, academic process development, and strategic school leadership.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, decision-making, stakeholder management, and team-building skills.
• Experience working in a high-performing residential / international / IB school setting preferred.