Team Leader Pastoral Care Secondary School

Are you a passionate and experienced pastoral leader who believes that students thrive when they feel safe, supported and connected? ESH Secondary is seeking a Team Leader for Pastoral Care to provide strategic leadership for student wellbeing, behaviour, inclusion and pastoral support across the school. As a key member of the Secondary leadership team, you will lead the development and implementation of our vision for student wellbeing and belonging, foster a positive and inclusive school culture, and ensure that every student is known, supported and empowered to succeed. Working closely with staff, students and families, you will combine strategic leadership with a visible and approachable presence, helping shape an environment where all members of the community can flourish.

Team Leader Pastoral Care Secondary School

• Working pattern: 1 FTE
• Salary indication: A minimum 3703€ and maximum of 7401€ based on scale 12 OOP
• Start date: 01.01.2027
• Deadline for application: 25.10.2026

Located in the international heart of the Netherlands, The European School The Hague offers a rich and dynamic learning environment. We provide complete Early Years, Primary, and Secondary education, guiding our students toward the prestigious European Baccalaureate.

With a dedicated team of qualified professionals, we are committed to delivering high-quality education that nurtures both academic achievement and personal growth. Here, students from diverse backgrounds come together to learn, grow, and thrive in an inclusive and inspiring community. Our Primary and Secondary schools are situated on two spacious campuses in The Hague's International Zone, working closely together with a shared vision and mission as part of the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation.

The Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation is a school community with three primary schools and five secondary schools with an international character. The Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation is a diverse educational organization with decades of experience and a strong reputation.

As Team Leader (Pastoral Care), you will:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for pastoral care across the Secondary School, representing pastoral priorities within the school's management structure.
• Lead the development and implementation of the school's wellbeing, behaviour and inclusion strategies, ensuring consistency across all cycles and language sections.
• Coordinate and evaluate pastoral programmes, including mentor provision, social-emotional learning and wellbeing initiatives.
• Oversee behaviour management systems, supporting staff in promoting positive behaviour and restorative approaches.
• Work closely with the Student Support Team, mentors, Year Leaders and families to coordinate effective support for students.
• Monitor pastoral, behaviour and attendance data to identify trends, inform interventions and support continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop members of the Support and Attendance teams through coaching, guidance and performance management.
• Support safeguarding processes, student reintegration and responses to critical incidents in accordance with school policies.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and other Team Leaders to ensure a coherent whole-school approach to student wellbeing and success.

What we're looking for:

• University degree (Masters Degree preferred) in Education, Educational or Developmental Psychology or a related field.
• Substantial experience in a pastoral role including experience at a leadership level.
• Sound knowledge of child-protection frameworks, social-emotional learning, inclusive education, attendance strategies and restorative practices.
• Experience of working in an international, multicultural or European School environment (desirable).
• Professional working proficiency in English; additional European School languages an advantage.
• Professional working proficiency in Dutch is preferable
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• A commitment to student wellbeing, inclusion and safeguarding.
• Understanding of the European and Dutch education systems is desirable.

Recommendations

• Knows how to inspire people; is supportive, empathetic and collaborative.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, resilience and professionalism.
• Maintains high expectations for students and staff.
• Has a strong commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and student success.
• Is reflective, proactive and committed to continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

• Be Part of Something Special: Shape the creative minds of our diverse student body in an international setting.
• Experience the World: Work in The Hague, a city rich in culture and international connections.
• We offer a salary aligned with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement (CAO VO). The salary is a minimum of €3703 and a maximum of €7401 for a full-time contract on scale 12 OOP and the step offered will depend on your level of experience.
  • 8% holiday allowance (May)
  • 8.33% year-end bonus (December)
  • Monthly contribution towards travel expenses (if applicable)
  • ABP pension scheme
  • Number of options for tax benefits regarding, e.g. trade union dues, the costs of sports (for instance, fitness membership fees and the purchase of a bicycle (for commuting purposes)
  • Collective/group occupational disability insurance IPAP (Loyalis)
  • Discount on various insurances (additional insurance on the health care package, home content, legal aid, liability insurance policies and more)
• An attractive relocation package with the support of our HR department to help you move to The Hague.
• Grow and Learn: Enjoy ongoing professional development in a supportive and innovative environment. Every teacher has a personal budget for professional development.

How to apply

Candidates meeting the criteria’s are invited to submit the required documents by clicking on the apply/solliciteren button at the end of the page. Internal candidates can submit their CV and motivation letter via AFAS.

• CV in English
• A motivation letter in English
• A completed application form. If this form is missing, we will not proceed further with your application.

Please address your letter to the attention of Ms. Juliet Palmer; Head of Secondary school.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, either in person or via Microsoft Teams. In case of equal suitability, internal candidates are preferred. Applicants are eligible to claim reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses. Further information will be provided by the Recruitment Officer upon invitation.?

Contact Us

For any questions, please reach out to our recruitment officer, Ming En Li, at recruitment@eshthehague.nl.

Our recruitment procedure is subject to the Recruitment code. The purpose of the code is to provide a standard for a transparent and fair recruitment and selection procedure. ESH requests all applicants to read the code before applying carefully.

Information about the European School can be found on www.europeanschoolthehague.nl and www.rijnlandslyceum.nl.The website of the European Schools www.eursc.eu explains the European Schools' system and regulations.