Founding Principal
Location: On-campus residence provided at Sirisia Leadership
Academy, Bungoma County, Western Kenya
Start Date: 4 January 2027
Reports to: Board of Directors and Founder
Compensation: Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses, on-campus housing, meals, and farm produce
About Sirisia Leadership Academy
Sirisia Leadership Academy (SLA) is a new, highly selective boarding school for academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Located on a 40-acre campus in the foothills of Mount Elgon in Western Kenya, SLA will open its doors to its first cohort of students on 19 April 2027.
SLA is fully endowed by the Amdur Family Fund and is entirely free to attend. Every aspect of a student’s education — tuition, boarding, meals, uniforms, and school supplies — is provided at no cost to the family. The endowment is sufficient to sustain the school in perpetuity; SLA does not depend on fundraising or external grants.
The school will serve approximately 200 students at full capacity, drawn from Sirisia and neighboring communities. Admission will be based on academic merit, assessed through entrance examinations including exemplary KJSEA results. Candidates must demonstrate both exceptional intellectual ability and financial need.
SLA’s curriculum combines rigorous preparation for university — with a strong emphasis on STEM — alongside a distinctive humanities and social sciences programme designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity about the world. The campus includes a working farm that will grow food for the school community and a conservation forest, reflecting SLA’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. SLA also serves as a cultural exchange hub, welcoming visiting students and researchers from Kenyan and international universities.
SLA graduates will be equipped with the academic mastery, leadership skills, and written communication ability to thrive at top-tier universities in Kenya, the United States, and Europe.
The Role
The Board of Directors is seeking an experienced, visionary educator to serve as the founding Principal of Sirisia Leadership Academy. This is a rare opportunity to build a world-class institution from the ground up — to recruit the first cohort of students, hire the founding faculty, establish school culture and traditions, and set the academic standards that will define SLA for generations.
The founding Principal will be responsible for ensuring that SLA is fully accredited and legally compliant to open on 19 April 2027. The successful candidate will oversee every dimension of the school’s launch: curriculum development, staffing, student admissions, facilities readiness, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of a safe, inclusive, and high-performing school environment.
This role demands an entrepreneurial leader — someone who combines academic excellence with the practical ability to build systems, inspire people, and solve problems in a start-up environment. The Principal will live on campus, take meals with students, and be an active presence in the daily life of the school.
Key Responsibilities
Accreditation and Compliance
Lead all efforts to secure the regulatory approvals, accreditations, and registrations required for SLA to operate as a secondary school in Kenya.
Ensure full compliance with Kenyan education law, TSC requirements, and all relevant health, safety, and child protection standards before the school opens.
Student Recruitment and Admissions
Design and administer a rigorous, merit-based admissions process to identify academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged families.
Conduct outreach to junior high schools within a 15 km radius of SLA to identify and recruit exceptional students.
Engage with parents, community leaders, and local officials to build trust and awareness of SLA’s mission.
Academic Leadership
Develop and implement a rigorous, globally competitive curriculum with a strong STEM foundation and a distinctive humanities and social sciences programme.
Inspire a culture of academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement among both students and staff.
Integrate agricultural science and ecological research into the academic programme, drawing on the campus farm and conservation forest.
Staff Recruitment and Development
Recruit, hire, and retain outstanding teachers and support staff for the school’s inaugural year and beyond.
Develop and administer performance objectives and bonus programmes that reward excellence.
Foster a collaborative, transparent, and professional work culture.
Campus and Residential Life
Ensure the safety, nutrition, health, and well-being of all students living on campus.
Oversee the operation of the school farm, which will supply food for the school community.
Create a vibrant residential community that develops students’ character, leadership, and life skills beyond the classroom.
Financial Stewardship
Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance.
Lead budget review meetings with the Board and ensure fiscal discipline in the use of school funds.
Establish and report on key performance indicators.
External Relations and Partnerships
Build and maintain relationships with local schools, community stakeholders, county education officials, and national bodies.
Cultivate partnerships with universities in Kenya, the United States, and Europe for student pathways, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration.
Represent SLA in national and international forums.
Governance
Work closely with the Board of Directors and the Founder on strategic direction and policy.
Lead regular board meetings and strategic planning sessions.
Provide the Board with clear, honest reporting on the school’s progress, challenges, and needs.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
First Class Honours degree in a STEM subject from a recognized university.
Master’s degree or PhD from a leading Kenyan or international university.
Exemplary personal KCSE results.
Valid TSC Registration Certificate.
A minimum of six years of progressive experience in education, including school leadership and administration.
Deep understanding of the Kenyan education system, curriculum, and regulatory environment.
Proven ability to lead in multicultural and international settings.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Commitment to full-time campus residency and active engagement in the daily life of the school.
Long-term commitment to SLA’s mission of transforming the lives of gifted, disadvantaged students through education.
Preferred
Experience in a start-up or founding role — building programmes, teams, or institutions from scratch.
Track record of community engagement and stakeholder management in rural or underserved communities.
Experience with agricultural or environmental education programmes.
Familiarity with international educational partnerships and university admissions processes.
Why Join SLA
Build and lead a world-class school from its founding — an opportunity to create something lasting.
Work within an institution that is fully endowed and permanently funded, allowing you to focus entirely on education.
Live and lead in an immersive residential academic community on a beautiful 40-acre campus.
Collaborate with top-tier institutions globally and open doors for students who would otherwise have none.
Make a transformative impact on education, sustainability, and community development in Western Kenya.
How to Apply
This search is being conducted exclusively by Summit Recruitment & Search on behalf of Sirisia Leadership Academy. Interested candidates should contact Fiona Kiilu at Summit Recruitment & Search to express their interest and submit the following:
A cover letter describing your vision for SLA and why you are the right person to lead this school.
Curriculum Vitae, including references and any published academic works.
Copies of KCSE results and university transcripts.
Valid TSC Registration Certificate.
Your earliest availability to assume the role.
Contact:
Fiona Kiilu, Recruitment Consultant
Summit Recruitment & Search Africa
Blixen Court, Offices 2, 3, 4, 5, Karen Road, Karen, Nairobi
Tel: +254 713 461 279 | +254 715 486 235
Email: fiona@summitrecruitment-search.com
Web: www.summitrecruitment-search.com
About Sirisia Leadership Academy
Sirisia Leadership Academy (SLA) is a new, highly selective boarding school for academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Located on a 40-acre campus in the foothills of Mount Elgon in Western Kenya, SLA will open its doors to its first cohort of students on 19 April 2027.
SLA is fully endowed by the Amdur Family Fund and is entirely free to attend. Every aspect of a student’s education — tuition, boarding, meals, uniforms, and school supplies — is provided at no cost to the family. The endowment is sufficient to sustain the school in perpetuity; SLA does not depend on fundraising or external grants.
The school will serve approximately 200 students at full capacity, drawn from Sirisia and neighboring communities. Admission will be based on academic merit, assessed through entrance examinations including exemplary KJSEA results. Candidates must demonstrate both exceptional intellectual ability and financial need.
SLA’s curriculum combines rigorous preparation for university — with a strong emphasis on STEM — alongside a distinctive humanities and social sciences programme designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity about the world. The campus includes a working farm that will grow food for the school community and a conservation forest, reflecting SLA’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. SLA also serves as a cultural exchange hub, welcoming visiting students and researchers from Kenyan and international universities.
SLA graduates will be equipped with the academic mastery, leadership skills, and written communication ability to thrive at top-tier universities in Kenya, the United States, and Europe.
The Role
The Board of Directors is seeking an experienced, visionary educator to serve as the founding Principal of Sirisia Leadership Academy. This is a rare opportunity to build a world-class institution from the ground up — to recruit the first cohort of students, hire the founding faculty, establish school culture and traditions, and set the academic standards that will define SLA for generations.
The founding Principal will be responsible for ensuring that SLA is fully accredited and legally compliant to open on 19 April 2027. The successful candidate will oversee every dimension of the school’s launch: curriculum development, staffing, student admissions, facilities readiness, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of a safe, inclusive, and high-performing school environment.
This role demands an entrepreneurial leader — someone who combines academic excellence with the practical ability to build systems, inspire people, and solve problems in a start-up environment. The Principal will live on campus, take meals with students, and be an active presence in the daily life of the school.
Key Responsibilities
Accreditation and Compliance
Lead all efforts to secure the regulatory approvals, accreditations, and registrations required for SLA to operate as a secondary school in Kenya.
Ensure full compliance with Kenyan education law, TSC requirements, and all relevant health, safety, and child protection standards before the school opens.
Student Recruitment and Admissions
Design and administer a rigorous, merit-based admissions process to identify academically gifted students from economically disadvantaged families.
Conduct outreach to junior high schools within a 15 km radius of SLA to identify and recruit exceptional students.
Engage with parents, community leaders, and local officials to build trust and awareness of SLA’s mission.
Academic Leadership
Develop and implement a rigorous, globally competitive curriculum with a strong STEM foundation and a distinctive humanities and social sciences programme.
Inspire a culture of academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement among both students and staff.
Integrate agricultural science and ecological research into the academic programme, drawing on the campus farm and conservation forest.
Staff Recruitment and Development
Recruit, hire, and retain outstanding teachers and support staff for the school’s inaugural year and beyond.
Develop and administer performance objectives and bonus programmes that reward excellence.
Foster a collaborative, transparent, and professional work culture.
Campus and Residential Life
Ensure the safety, nutrition, health, and well-being of all students living on campus.
Oversee the operation of the school farm, which will supply food for the school community.
Create a vibrant residential community that develops students’ character, leadership, and life skills beyond the classroom.
Financial Stewardship
Oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance.
Lead budget review meetings with the Board and ensure fiscal discipline in the use of school funds.
Establish and report on key performance indicators.
External Relations and Partnerships
Build and maintain relationships with local schools, community stakeholders, county education officials, and national bodies.
Cultivate partnerships with universities in Kenya, the United States, and Europe for student pathways, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration.
Represent SLA in national and international forums.
Governance
Work closely with the Board of Directors and the Founder on strategic direction and policy.
Lead regular board meetings and strategic planning sessions.
Provide the Board with clear, honest reporting on the school’s progress, challenges, and needs.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
First Class Honours degree in a STEM subject from a recognized university.
Master’s degree or PhD from a leading Kenyan or international university.
Exemplary personal KCSE results.
Valid TSC Registration Certificate.
A minimum of six years of progressive experience in education, including school leadership and administration.
Deep understanding of the Kenyan education system, curriculum, and regulatory environment.
Proven ability to lead in multicultural and international settings.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Commitment to full-time campus residency and active engagement in the daily life of the school.
Long-term commitment to SLA’s mission of transforming the lives of gifted, disadvantaged students through education.
Preferred
Experience in a start-up or founding role — building programmes, teams, or institutions from scratch.
Track record of community engagement and stakeholder management in rural or underserved communities.
Experience with agricultural or environmental education programmes.
Familiarity with international educational partnerships and university admissions processes.
Why Join SLA
Build and lead a world-class school from its founding — an opportunity to create something lasting.
Work within an institution that is fully endowed and permanently funded, allowing you to focus entirely on education.
Live and lead in an immersive residential academic community on a beautiful 40-acre campus.
Collaborate with top-tier institutions globally and open doors for students who would otherwise have none.
Make a transformative impact on education, sustainability, and community development in Western Kenya.
How to Apply
This search is being conducted exclusively by Summit Recruitment & Search on behalf of Sirisia Leadership Academy. Interested candidates should contact Fiona Kiilu at Summit Recruitment & Search to express their interest and submit the following:
A cover letter describing your vision for SLA and why you are the right person to lead this school.
Curriculum Vitae, including references and any published academic works.
Copies of KCSE results and university transcripts.
Valid TSC Registration Certificate.
Your earliest availability to assume the role.
Contact:
Fiona Kiilu, Recruitment Consultant
Summit Recruitment & Search Africa
Blixen Court, Offices 2, 3, 4, 5, Karen Road, Karen, Nairobi
Tel: +254 713 461 279 | +254 715 486 235
Email: fiona@summitrecruitment-search.com
Web: www.summitrecruitment-search.com