School Principal, Sheikh Somaliland

Pharo Foundation
Sheekh, Somalia
Management/leadership

Job Description

A new full time opportunity for a School Principal, Sheikh Somaliland has been announced by Pharo Foundation in Sheekh. The role requires a skilled individual with 5 - 6 years of experience in Management/leadership or a related field. Applications are open until Jul, 05. Don't miss this opportunity.

School Principal, Sheikh Somaliland

Organisation Overview

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

  1. 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

Pharo Secondary School, Sheikh, Somaliland www. pharofoundation.org

Direct reports: Vice Principal, School Accountant, Head of Administration and General Services, School Secretary

and all relevant school management.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

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.

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.

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.

Human Resources & Talent Management

  • Workforce Planning: Clearly define teaching and non-teaching positions required to execute the

school’s strategic programs.

Pharo Secondary School, Sheikh, Somaliland www. pharofoundation.org

  • 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.

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.

About Sheekh

Somalia is located in the Horn of Africa and has a growing job market, particularly in the humanitarian, development, and private sectors. Major employment hubs include Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Baidoa, and Kismayo, with opportunities from international NGOs, UN agencies, government institutions, and an expanding private sector.

Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Buuxda • Shaqo Cusub

Qualifications & Requirements

Qualification Requirements

Education & Experience

  • Academic Background: Graduate or Postgraduate degree (preferred) in Education Management or a

related discipline.

  • Leadership

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience as a School Principal, Vice-Principal,

Administrator, or Academic Dean, specifically within a boarding school environment.

  • Curriculum Expertise: Proven experience working with the Pearson (Edexcel) curriculum for IGCSEand A-levels.
  • Geographic Context: Relevant work experience in a developing country, with a strong preference for

experience within Africa.

  • Strategic & Financial Planning: Proven track record in setting 5–7 year strategic school plans and

managing annual boarding school budgets.

Specialized Knowledge & Track Record

  • Systems Management: Demonstrated ability to manage daily school routines, ensuring academic

performance, system efficiency, and campus safety.

  • Pastoral Care: Experience overseeing student welfare, including physical, emotional, and safeguarding

needs.

  • Compliance Background: An exemplary professional track record with zero history of performance

warnings or child safeguarding incidents.

  • Adaptability: Willingness to live and work in Sheikh.

Behavioural Competencies

  • Community Pillar: An exemplary leader with a strong, positive presence on campus and within the

local community.

  • Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in the

Somali language is a distinct asset.

  • Mission-Driven: A deep passion for girls' education, Africa's development, and alignment with the

Foundation’s values.

  • Role Model: Exemplary professional conduct in terms of punctuality, attendance, and positive staff

engagement.

Pharo Secondary School, Sheikh, Somaliland www. pharofoundation.org

  • Resilience & Drive: High energy, optimism, and determination to navigate challenges and see longterm initiatives through to completion.
  • Sound Judgment: Proven ability to make balanced, high-stakes decisions under pressure.
  • Collaborative Inclusivity: A natural ability to motivate, persuade, and bring the entire school

community along on a shared journey.

How to Apply

Application procedure

This position is open to both female and male candidates. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is July 5th, 2026

Review of applications will begin as soon as they are received, and only complete applications will be

considered.

Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we will only contact shortlisted candidates.

Application Requirement

  1. A detailed CV.

Cover letter. In your cover letter, please include the following

o State where you heard about this position or saw it advertised (e.g. through our website, job

boards etc.)

o Why you are the most qualified candidate.

o Three important points that would best define your leadership skills and experience.

o Three important strategies to improve academic excellence.

  1. Please click this link https://www.pharofoundation.org/current-opportunities to apply.

Apply on employer site

Job Details

Posted: June 18, 2026
Organization: Pharo Foundation
Location: Sheekh, Somalia
Sector: Management/leadership