Director, Center for Environment & Humanity (CEH)
Kodaikanal International School, Mission, Kansas, United States
Head of Center for Environment & Humanity (CEH)
Kodaikanal International School is a 124-year-old dynamic international school with a rich history of holistic education, offering the IB continuum of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) to our learners. Our beautiful school and community are nestled in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India. At KIS, we empower our students to navigate through life’s challenges to achieve their true potential. We follow an inquiry-based approach that promotes critical thinking, learner agency and a dedication to serving others. We recognize the importance of a meaningful, relevant and engaging curriculum that connects students to real-world contexts for their learning. We are keenly aware of the need to adapt our teaching and learning model to respond to the needs of our students in a world of fast-paced change. Role:
This position bears overall responsibility for Leading the Center for Environment and Humanity's vision, strategy, and day-to-day execution, ensuring the Center delivers measurable environmental education programs and impact in the Palani Hills and beyond.
The Head is accountable for strategy, programs, partnerships, fundraising, team leadership, operations, and reporting.
The work spans climate resilience, waste management, biodiversity conservation, regenerative agriculture, and environmental education within the KIS community and with external partners. About Kodaikanal International School
Motto: A School the World Needs KIS Vision Statement:
We strive to be a school the world needs: Our graduates will be transformative leaders, caring humans and thoughtful ambassadors for a just, sustainable and peaceful world. KIS Mission Statement : Kodaikanal International School (KIS) is committed to empowering young people from diverse backgrounds with vision, knowledge, compassion and cross-cultural understanding. We are a community that welcomes everyone and seeks our purpose in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. KIS Values:
Accountability, Appreciation, Concern for Others, Consistency, Context, Cooperation, Integrity, Openness, Performance, and Reverence. We are seeking colleagues who are driven by: a strong belief in KIS’s guiding statements; the IB philosophy; ideas about how to bring these into actualization; opportunities to contribute to creating a more peaceful world; a focus on trust, relationships, and community. Safeguarding Statement
KIS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child-safe environment. We also support the rights and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants. Teachers at KIS must follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behavior policies and protocols, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees. Qualifications & Experiences
Preferred Qualifications: Experience in environmental education and experiential, place-based learning. Experience leading community-based conservation or waste management projects. Successful grant writing with external funding secured. Knowledge of ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management. Tamil language skills and familiarity with South Indian culture. Preferred Skills and Dispositions: Competency in use of computers: MS word / excel / power-point, database management programs and related software experiences Excellent command over the English language, demonstrate high level skills in verbal and written communication Capacity to identify strongly and unambiguously with the mission, goals and objectives of KIS Pleasant, polite, friendly and hospitable person Well-dressed in a manner appropriate for an office Able to work as a team member Commitment to multiculturalism and cultural diversity Capacity to support the goals and mission of KIS through his/her personal philosophy. Personal attributes: Collaborative and outcomes-oriented. Resourceful, proactive, and comfortable working in the field as well as in the office. Strong relationship builder with cultural sensitivity and integrity. Mentorship mindset for staff and students. Working conditions: Based in Kodaikanal with regular fieldwork in the Palani Hills and periodic travel. Frequent evening and weekend work for community events, workshops, and partnership visits. Reports to:
Principal Coordinates with:
Senior Management Team, Academic Departments, Estates Team, Communications and Marketing, Development, and the Alumni Office. Time Period:
Initial 2-year contract, with possibility to reapply for the position Responsibilities
Strategy and leadership Set and own CEH ’s multi-year strategy in line with Design 18 and school priorities. Translate strategy into annual plans with clear goals, budgets, timelines, and KPIs. Advise and collaborate with the Principal, Senior Management Team, Academic Departments, Estates Team, Communications and Marketing, Development, and the Alumni Office. Program design and delivery Design and launch new programs and improve existing programs in climate resilience, waste reduction, biodiversity, and regenerative agriculture. Ensure programs are evidence-based, place-based, and deliver student learning as well as community outcomes. Build student leadership opportunities through fieldwork, research, and hands-on learning. Partnerships and fundraising Build partnerships with local communities, government, NGOs, universities, and international organizations. Lead grant prospecting, proposals, donor stewardship, and sponsorships in coordination with the KIS Development Office. Represent CEH at events and with the media to build visibility and support. Operations and finance Lead a small, high-performing team: hire, mentor, set goals, and run reviews. Own CEH budgets and financial management in line with KIS policies. Oversee risk management, safety, safeguarding, and compliance. Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting Set up systems to track outputs, outcomes, and learning across programs. Produce timely reports for the Principal, Board, funders, and stakeholders. Share insights and results through communications and publications. Community and student engagement Co-create programs with local partners and community groups in and around Kodaikanal. Run workshops and trainings on sustainability, natural resource management, and environmental education. Collaborate with KIS academic departments to integrate CEH offerings into the course curriculum Oversee CEH’s waste management and recycling initiatives in partnership with KIS operations. Promote practical sustainability across campus and the wider school community. Required qualifications and experience Master’s degree in a relevant field (for example: Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Non-profit Management, Ecology) or equivalent experience. Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, including at least 7years of experience managing teams. Strong understanding of climate change, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and regenerative agriculture in both local and global contexts. Proven experience in strategic planning, project management, budgeting, and MEL. Track record in fundraising or resource mobilization: grants, donors, sponsorships. Excellent written and spoken communication skills for diverse audiences, including students, community partners, and donors. Other Support, promote, and enforce the ethos of KIS as defined in the Mission Statement, Guiding Principles, and strategic plans. Promotes a positive attitude about the school with all members of the school community Implement decisions made in department and school committee meetings, as relevant to the department. Follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behaviour policies and protocols and personal data protection policies and procedures, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees, and reporting any personal data breach. To respect the confidential nature of discussions at staff meetings and other contexts in which sensitive information is likely to be communicated – particularly in terms of interaction with students. Expected to perform other appropriate duties as assigned by the Principal/Vice Principal. Use the form below to submit your application along with your resume Please note that applications that do not include the application form and a resume will not be considered. * Required Name * required First Name Last Name Email Address * required Phone Number * required Must contain only letters, numbers and spaces Position you are applying for Please upload your resume and application form * required Attach up to 2 files with a maximum size of 10MB No file chosen Please use the space below to add a message with your application. Thank you. 0 / 2000
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Kodaikanal International School is a 124-year-old dynamic international school with a rich history of holistic education, offering the IB continuum of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) to our learners. Our beautiful school and community are nestled in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu, South India. At KIS, we empower our students to navigate through life’s challenges to achieve their true potential. We follow an inquiry-based approach that promotes critical thinking, learner agency and a dedication to serving others. We recognize the importance of a meaningful, relevant and engaging curriculum that connects students to real-world contexts for their learning. We are keenly aware of the need to adapt our teaching and learning model to respond to the needs of our students in a world of fast-paced change. Role:
This position bears overall responsibility for Leading the Center for Environment and Humanity's vision, strategy, and day-to-day execution, ensuring the Center delivers measurable environmental education programs and impact in the Palani Hills and beyond.
The Head is accountable for strategy, programs, partnerships, fundraising, team leadership, operations, and reporting.
The work spans climate resilience, waste management, biodiversity conservation, regenerative agriculture, and environmental education within the KIS community and with external partners. About Kodaikanal International School
Motto: A School the World Needs KIS Vision Statement:
We strive to be a school the world needs: Our graduates will be transformative leaders, caring humans and thoughtful ambassadors for a just, sustainable and peaceful world. KIS Mission Statement : Kodaikanal International School (KIS) is committed to empowering young people from diverse backgrounds with vision, knowledge, compassion and cross-cultural understanding. We are a community that welcomes everyone and seeks our purpose in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. KIS Values:
Accountability, Appreciation, Concern for Others, Consistency, Context, Cooperation, Integrity, Openness, Performance, and Reverence. We are seeking colleagues who are driven by: a strong belief in KIS’s guiding statements; the IB philosophy; ideas about how to bring these into actualization; opportunities to contribute to creating a more peaceful world; a focus on trust, relationships, and community. Safeguarding Statement
KIS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. We support the rights of the child and will act without hesitation to ensure a child-safe environment. We also support the rights and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers and encourage their active participation in building and maintaining a secure environment for all participants. Teachers at KIS must follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behavior policies and protocols, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees. Qualifications & Experiences
Preferred Qualifications: Experience in environmental education and experiential, place-based learning. Experience leading community-based conservation or waste management projects. Successful grant writing with external funding secured. Knowledge of ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management. Tamil language skills and familiarity with South Indian culture. Preferred Skills and Dispositions: Competency in use of computers: MS word / excel / power-point, database management programs and related software experiences Excellent command over the English language, demonstrate high level skills in verbal and written communication Capacity to identify strongly and unambiguously with the mission, goals and objectives of KIS Pleasant, polite, friendly and hospitable person Well-dressed in a manner appropriate for an office Able to work as a team member Commitment to multiculturalism and cultural diversity Capacity to support the goals and mission of KIS through his/her personal philosophy. Personal attributes: Collaborative and outcomes-oriented. Resourceful, proactive, and comfortable working in the field as well as in the office. Strong relationship builder with cultural sensitivity and integrity. Mentorship mindset for staff and students. Working conditions: Based in Kodaikanal with regular fieldwork in the Palani Hills and periodic travel. Frequent evening and weekend work for community events, workshops, and partnership visits. Reports to:
Principal Coordinates with:
Senior Management Team, Academic Departments, Estates Team, Communications and Marketing, Development, and the Alumni Office. Time Period:
Initial 2-year contract, with possibility to reapply for the position Responsibilities
Strategy and leadership Set and own CEH ’s multi-year strategy in line with Design 18 and school priorities. Translate strategy into annual plans with clear goals, budgets, timelines, and KPIs. Advise and collaborate with the Principal, Senior Management Team, Academic Departments, Estates Team, Communications and Marketing, Development, and the Alumni Office. Program design and delivery Design and launch new programs and improve existing programs in climate resilience, waste reduction, biodiversity, and regenerative agriculture. Ensure programs are evidence-based, place-based, and deliver student learning as well as community outcomes. Build student leadership opportunities through fieldwork, research, and hands-on learning. Partnerships and fundraising Build partnerships with local communities, government, NGOs, universities, and international organizations. Lead grant prospecting, proposals, donor stewardship, and sponsorships in coordination with the KIS Development Office. Represent CEH at events and with the media to build visibility and support. Operations and finance Lead a small, high-performing team: hire, mentor, set goals, and run reviews. Own CEH budgets and financial management in line with KIS policies. Oversee risk management, safety, safeguarding, and compliance. Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting Set up systems to track outputs, outcomes, and learning across programs. Produce timely reports for the Principal, Board, funders, and stakeholders. Share insights and results through communications and publications. Community and student engagement Co-create programs with local partners and community groups in and around Kodaikanal. Run workshops and trainings on sustainability, natural resource management, and environmental education. Collaborate with KIS academic departments to integrate CEH offerings into the course curriculum Oversee CEH’s waste management and recycling initiatives in partnership with KIS operations. Promote practical sustainability across campus and the wider school community. Required qualifications and experience Master’s degree in a relevant field (for example: Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Public Administration, Business Administration, Non-profit Management, Ecology) or equivalent experience. Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, including at least 7years of experience managing teams. Strong understanding of climate change, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and regenerative agriculture in both local and global contexts. Proven experience in strategic planning, project management, budgeting, and MEL. Track record in fundraising or resource mobilization: grants, donors, sponsorships. Excellent written and spoken communication skills for diverse audiences, including students, community partners, and donors. Other Support, promote, and enforce the ethos of KIS as defined in the Mission Statement, Guiding Principles, and strategic plans. Promotes a positive attitude about the school with all members of the school community Implement decisions made in department and school committee meetings, as relevant to the department. Follow the guidelines of the school’s protective behaviour policies and protocols and personal data protection policies and procedures, including reporting any situation that might constitute a health and/or safety hazard to students or school employees, and reporting any personal data breach. To respect the confidential nature of discussions at staff meetings and other contexts in which sensitive information is likely to be communicated – particularly in terms of interaction with students. Expected to perform other appropriate duties as assigned by the Principal/Vice Principal. Use the form below to submit your application along with your resume Please note that applications that do not include the application form and a resume will not be considered. * Required Name * required First Name Last Name Email Address * required Phone Number * required Must contain only letters, numbers and spaces Position you are applying for Please upload your resume and application form * required Attach up to 2 files with a maximum size of 10MB No file chosen Please use the space below to add a message with your application. Thank you. 0 / 2000
#J-18808-Ljbffr