Job ID: 298198

School Leader

Kamal Vidya Niketan

Location: Katthiwada, Madhya Pradesh

Apply by: 01 Aug 2026

Relevant Sectors

Social, Gender, Education, Youth, Child

School Leader

Location: Katthiwada, Madhya Pradesh
Organisation: Kamal Vidya Niketan School
Run by: Kathiwada Foundation
Reports to: Board of Trustees

About Kathiwada Foundation

Kathiwada Foundation is committed to expanding access to high-quality, holistic
education in remote rural and tribal regions of India. We believe that geography
should not determine destiny. Through Kamal Vidya Niketan School, the Foundation
is building a model of education rooted in dignity, community partnership, and
long-term opportunity—where children grow not only academically, but socially,
emotionally, and as future leaders of their communities.

About Kamal Vidya Niketan
Kamal Vidya Niketan (KVN) is a growing rural school grounded in three core pillars:
Experience, Exposure, and Belonging. We believe children learn best when they
actively engage with the world around them, are exposed to ideas beyond their
immediate surroundings, and feel deeply connected to their school community.
Our classrooms are designed to be joyful, rigorous, and rooted in relationships. As
we continue to grow, we are seeking a School Leader who will deepen instructional
excellence, strengthen systems, and steward a culture where both children and
adults thrive.
https://www.kamalvidyaniketan.com

The Role

The School Leader will serve as the chief steward of KVN’s vision. This is not only a
management role, but a deeply mission-driven leadership opportunity. The School
Leader will shape the academic direction of the school, nurture teacher growth,
build strong community partnerships, and ensure that our philosophy translates into
everyday classroom practice.
This role requires someone who can combine instructional clarity with emotional
intelligence, operational discipline with warmth, and ambition with humility.

Key Areas of Leadership

Academic & Instructional Leadership
The School Leader will champion excellence in teaching and learning across the
school. They will ensure that lesson planning, classroom execution, and
assessments reflect our philosophy of Experience, Exposure, and Belonging.
Through regular observation, feedback, and coaching, they will build teacher
capacity and ensure that every classroom is purposeful, engaging, and rigorous.
They will establish clear academic goals for the school and design systems to
monitor student progress consistently. A strong focus will be placed on mastery,
foundational learning, and joyful engagement in early years and primary education.

Monitoring, Evaluation & School Goals
The School Leader will be responsible for defining, tracking, and evaluating the
school’s annual goals across academic achievement, culture, operations, and team
development. They will build and maintain clear monitoring systems that allow the
school to measure progress meaningfully and respond proactively to challenges.
This includes establishing data routines, conducting regular reviews, and presenting
progress reports to Trustees. The leader will ensure that decision-making is
grounded in evidence while remaining sensitive to the lived realities of the
community we serve.

School Culture & Student Development
The School Leader will cultivate a culture where every child feels seen, safe, and
valued. They will embed structures that promote belonging, dignity, and respect,
ensuring that classrooms are emotionally secure spaces for learning.
Beyond academics, the leader will shape the character and values of the
school—strengthening circle time, collaborative practices, and inclusive rituals that
build community. Child protection, student wellbeing, and a joyful learning
environment will remain central priorities.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building
The School Leader will lead and inspire a team of approximately 20 staff members.
They will foster a culture of professional growth, high expectations, and shared
ownership. Through structured goal-setting, feedback cycles, and leadership
development opportunities, the leader will build a strong internal leadership
pipeline.

The ideal candidate will understand that great schools are built through empowered
teachers and aligned teams.

Parent & Community Partnership
In a rural context, trust is foundational. The School Leader will strengthen
relationships with parents and caregivers, ensuring that families understand and
feel connected to the school’s philosophy and aspirations.
Working closely with the social work team, the leader will represent the school
within the community and ensure that the school remains rooted in local context
while expanding children’s exposure to the world beyond.

Operations & Stewardship
The School Leader will oversee the day-to-day functioning of the school, ensuring
smooth operations, compliance, and responsible resource management. They will
collaborate with finance and operations teams to align budgeting with strategic
priorities and maintain a safe, welcoming campus environment.
Operational strength will serve as the backbone that allows the school’s mission to
flourish.

Accounts & Financial Stewardship
The School Leader will oversee the financial discipline of the school in close
coordination with the Foundation and accounts team. This includes managing
vendor relationships, reviewing and approving expenses, monitoring payments, and
ensuring timely and transparent financial processes. The School Leader will be
responsible for tracking the school budget against annual plans, anticipating
financial needs, and aligning spending with strategic priorities.

They will ensure that resources are utilised responsibly, systems for documentation
and compliance are followed diligently, and financial decision-making reflects both
prudence and long-term sustainability.

Talent Acquisition & Admissions Leadership
The School Leader will play a central role in building the human and student
community of the school. This includes leading the hiring process for teaching and
non-teaching staff—identifying talent aligned with the school’s philosophy,
conducting interviews, assessing fit, and ensuring strong onboarding and induction
systems. The leader will be responsible for maintaining a high bar for recruitment
while nurturing a culture that attracts mission-aligned educators.
In addition, the School Leader will oversee the admissions process for students.
This includes managing admissions timelines, engaging with prospective families,
ensuring transparent and equitable processes, and aligning enrolment growth with
the school’s long-term vision and capacity. The leader will ensure that admissions
conversations reflect the values of Experience, Exposure, and Belonging while
building strong trust with families from the outset.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications (Required)
? A Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree (preferably in Education or a
related field).
? Minimum 5 years of professional experience directly working with children
and teachers.
? Demonstrated experience working in under-resourced and/or rural school
contexts.

? At least 2 years of experience managing and leading a team of 10 or more
individuals.
? Strong instructional understanding and the ability to coach and develop
teachers.
? Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with
parents, trustees, and external stakeholders.
? High ownership, integrity, and willingness to be fully immersed in a rural
setting.

Preferred Qualifications
? Formal training or demonstrated experience in Educational Leadership or School Leadership.
? Experience building or strengthening school systems (academic monitoring, teacher evaluation, culture systems, etc.).
? Prior experience supporting fundraising, donor engagement, or external stakeholder communication.
? Experience leading growth-stage schools or expanding student enrolment and team size.

Compensation
Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and
qualifications (up to 12 lakhs per annum). The role offers the opportunity to lead a
growing, mission-driven school with long-term leadership scope within the
Foundation.
In addition to salary, the Foundation will provide accommodation support and the
opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping a high-impact rural education model.

Additional Information

This is a full-time, on-site leadership role based in Katthiwada, District Alirajpur,
Madhya Pradesh. The School Leader is expected to live in Katthiwada and be fully
immersed in the school and community.
Katthiwada is located in a remote rural region. The nearest airports are Vadodara
(Gujarat) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh), both requiring onward road travel.
The Foundation will support the School Leader with accommodation in Katthiwada
to ensure a smooth relocation and comfortable stay.

How to Apply
If you are inspired by the opportunity to build and lead a high-quality, joyful school
in a rural community — and are ready to take on a role of deep responsibility and
impact — we would love to hear from you.
Please fill out the application below
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvQF_4HBiCUhKTvXbUrteo55B-BNF5T7WhTLrw6caJCej9lg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101064523783248579997

Selection Process
The selection process will involve:
1. A short pre-work assignment
2. A technical interview focused on instructional and leadership competencies
3. A final personal interaction

We are seeking a leader who sees this as more than a position — but as a long-term commitment to building something meaningful, rigorous, and deeply rooted in the community.