About This Role
This is an outstanding opportunity for an inspirational educationalist and school leader to become the head of an exceptional, residential UWC college, beautifully located on Italy’s Adriatic coast.
UWC Adriatic is home to almost 200 students aged 16–19 and representing 78 nationalities.
UWC (United World Colleges) is a global educational movement of 18 schools and colleges joined by a common mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. UWC Adriatic was founded in 1982 and has a proud history as the first United World College in mainland Europe.
UWC Adriatic forms an integral part of the picturesque village of Duino, a short distance from the historic port city of Trieste. It is a private, non-profit institution but receives a significant proportion of its funding from public sources, reflecting the esteem in which the College is held regionally and nationally and opening opportunities to make an impact. UWC Adriatic is committed to the idea of a holistic education that brings together the academic rigour of the IB Diploma, an extensive extracurricular programme and a strong emphasis on service, compassion and personal responsibility. More than 70% of the College’s students are on full scholarships, resulting in a truly diverse school community both culturally and socio-economically, in line with UWC’s approach of placing deliberate diversity at the heart of its transformative educational model. Since its foundation, the College has taken many students from Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe and now has a wider Mediterranean and Middle Eastern emphasis; a significant number of students are refugees or from crisis-affected communities.
The Role
The UWC Adriatic President and Board now seek a talented and highly motivated Rettore (Head) to succeed Dr Khalid El-Metaal, who has successfully led and served for four years, leading the College out of the Covid-19 pandemic and building foundations for exciting future initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Have a track record of effective senior leadership.
- Possess a sound understanding of the nature of leadership in a residential school context.
- Manage complexity and understand the balance of leading with authority whilst also genuinely seeking consensus.
- Be a compelling ambassador for the College, able to work with a wide range of stakeholders and supporters.
- Exhibit empathy, composure, vision, and courage in challenging times globally.
Qualifications
- Authentic and demonstrable commitment to UWC’s mission and values.
- Knowledge of Italian is desirable.
What We Offer
Apply exclusively via the WhatSchool platform.
Closing date: Thursday, 2nd April 2026 at 10:00 UK / 11:00 Italy.
Preliminary interviews may commence before the application deadline; early applications are therefore encouraged.
UWC Adriatic is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and to uphold the highest standards of professional and personal conduct in line with our safeguarding policies.
The safeguarding responsibilities of the role are indicated in the candidate information brochure.