The Pharo Foundation is a mission-driven organisation working to build a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. Founded and fully funded by Pharo Management, an emerging markets hedge fund, the Foundation applies private sector rigour and operational discipline to maximise impact.
We invest in economic development programmes and ventures to deliver sustainable impact, meaningful outcomes that continue long after the initial investment, rather than gains that require constant external funding to maintain. Thus, our model links two engines together: ventures create jobs and economic activity, while their profits help fund the development programmes that strengthen the conditions for future growth.
Over the next decade, the Foundation’s ambition is to deliver lasting impact across three interdependent missions:
Empowering the next generation through affordable, high-quality education
Solving water scarcity through sustainable infrastructure
Driving economic productivity by unlocking jobs, investment, and innovation through both non-profit and for-profit ventures
The Foundation operates in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Rwanda, employing more than 800 people across three divisions: Pharo Schools, Pharo Development, and Pharo Ventures.
Pharo Foundation’s education mission is implemented through the Pharo-brand schools, ranging from kindergarten, primary and secondary. The Foundation operates three Pharo schools in Somaliland. Pharo School Sheik is one of these schools.
Located in the town of Sheikh in the Sahil Region of Somaliland, Pharo School Sheikh, is a secondary school is a renowned boarding school that was established in British Somaliland in 1958. The school offers a blended curriculum and teaches both, the national curriculum of Somaliland as well as the British Pearson curriculum and prepares the student for the national grade 12 exam, Edexcel iGCSE, and iA examination. The school has always been one of the top schools in the country. Many of the prominent northern Somali politicians and other key officials are graduates of this school.
Position Summary:
We are seeking an exceptional, committed School Principal who has a proven track record in leading a Secondary School to academic excellence and delivery of the British Curriculum. The incumbent should have extensive school management experience, particularly within a developing country setting. The principal will be residing on campus and will be accountable for offering effective leadership and overseeing the daily operations of the entire school, emphasizing the school's academics. The successful candidate will be closely aligned with the Pharo Foundation's core values and ethos. We believe this is a unique school and context and we are looking for a candidate who has the ideal competence for this senior role to be part of our team.
Key summary:
Position: School Principal
Location: Sheikh, Somaliland
Reporting to: Head of Education
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Direct reports: Vice Principal, School Accountant, Head of Administration and General Services, School Secretary and all relevant school management.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Academic Leadership & Innovation
- Curriculum Development: Provide day-to-day leadership in developing progressive curricula that integrate computer technology, surpassing national and regional standards.
- Faculty Support: Collaborate with staff to identify curriculum needs regarding teaching materials, faculty resource allocation, and program support.
- 21st Century Pedagogy: Guide the teaching faculty to adopt project-based learning, equipping students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills.
- Academic Alignment: Support faculty in designing and administering academic programs that align with the school’s vision, mission, and values.
- Performance Evaluation: Implement a rigorous teacher evaluation and professional development framework to build the most competent teaching faculty in Somaliland.
- Language & Tech Integration: Cultivate a campus-wide culture of English language proficiency and champion the central role of computer technology in the learning environment.
- Holistic Education: Direct elective offerings, cultural exposures, and athletic programs to complement academic learning and promote a well-rounded student experience.
- Character Development: Implement formal and informal programs that foster kindness, courtesy, respect, integrity, and a lifelong love of learning.
2. Enrollment & Student Onboarding
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with relevant schools, Foundation stakeholders, and government authorities to establish standards and procedures for admission testing and enrollment.
- Strategic Enrollment: Recommend and execute initiatives to meet enrollment objectives concerning student numbers, character, equity, and potential for academic success.
- Onboarding Management: Oversee the seamless annual onboarding process for new students and their parents on campus.
3. Student Supervision, Welfare & Pastoral Care
- Policy Management: Work alongside the Head of Education and faculty to design and execute policies that address comprehensive student needs.
- Student Tracking: Establish systems to track student progress early, allowing for timely academic or behavioral interventions.
- Progress Assessment: Oversee continuous student evaluations, addressing areas of concern swiftly and constructively.
- Safeguarding: Operationalize and strictly enforce the school's child safety and protection policies.
- Community Engagement: Develop robust communication channels with parents and the wider community, including regular parents' campus events.
4. Human Resources & Talent Management
- Workforce Planning: Clearly define teaching and non-teaching positions required to execute the school’s strategic programs.
- Recruitment & Retention: Build a talent pipeline to attract and retain highly skilled educators, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared best practices.
- Performance Standards: Maintain high professional growth and performance standards among direct reports and the broader staff.
- Workplace Culture: Cultivate a harmonious, safe, and productive working environment for all professional staff.
5. Institutional Management & Compliance
- Operational Leadership: Collaborate closely with the SLT to ensure efficient daily school operations.
- Quality Framework: Ensure full compliance with the ‘Pharo School Hallmark’ quality framework.
- Strategic Networking: Engage with other educational institutions in Somaliland and the wider Pharo Schools network to anticipate educational trends and foster continuous learning.
- Financial Oversight: Lead the annual budgeting process for the school, ensure compliance, and partner with the finance team and parent community to achieve 100% collection of school fees.
- Community Relations: Cultivate strong partnerships with the local community, engaging parents as active stakeholders in the school's success.
