Safeguarding & Accreditation Manager

What is your next leadership role?

With six modern campuses, a large team of professional teachers, and experienced academic managers, Vietnam Australia School (VAS) offers a highly unique and integrated bilingual K-12 education system for nearly 7,500 predominantly Vietnamese students. With an increasing student base and curriculum offerings, we are excited to seek applications from qualified candidates to join our dynamic and professional leadership team.

5 reasons to work in Vietnam and at VAS

Working and living in Vietnam as an expat has many benefits. Vietnam is a tropical and cultural paradise that has one of the highest economic growth rates in Southeast Asia. It is an ideal destination for many international teachers due to its cheap cost of living, rich culture, fantastic food, friendly people, and wonderful students. Vietnam has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic in a strong position thanks to the swift action taken by the Government. Education professionals in Vietnam are highly respected and regarded, making teaching in Vietnam a great opportunity for teachers to bring value and feel valued.

1. One of the worlds' absolute best countries to work in – Vietnam is ranked as the 5th Best Destination for Expats in 2022 by Fortune and was the 10th Best in 2021 as ranked by InterNations.
2. Fantastic students – Vietnamese students are well-known for being highly motivated, well-behaved, and respectful of their teachers, making for a pleasant classroom environment in all grade levels.
3. Culturally diverse environment – VAS is one of the leading international bilingual schools in Vietnam. It has around 1,100 Local and International teachers supporting our highly successful integrated curriculum, consisting of Cambridge International and Vietnamese National Programs. Our teachers are truly an international group, bringing a mix of experiences, cultures, and skills to our school.
4. Salary & Benefits – due to the low cost of living in Vietnam, many people can save more compared to their home country. Expat benefits at VAS consist of a competitive salary, monthly housing allowance, relocation allowance for overseas hires, tuition waiver for up to two children, international health insurance, paid leave etc

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Central Academic Director – Safeguarding & Accreditation Manager is responsible to lead and coordinate safeguarding policies, procedures, and training across all VAS campuses, ensuring full compliance with local and international child protection standards. Additionally, to serve as the key driver for achieving and maintaining COBIS (Council of British International Schools) accreditation across all applicable campuses.

Accreditation

• Coordinate and manage the full COBIS accreditation process (with various VAS campuses and functional divisions) including initial application, documentation, staff engagement, stakeholder surveys, and inspection logistics.
• Act as the primary liaison with COBIS accreditation officers and ensure timely submission of self-evaluation reports and support campuses / functional divisions with evidence portfolios collection.
• Monitor progress and compliance against COBIS standards across key areas (e.g., governance, student welfare, learning and teaching, facilities).
• Coordinate continuous improvement plans post-inspection and maintain updated documentation to ensure re-accreditation readiness.
• Serve as the main contact for the Lead Improvement Partner and oversee visit logistics.
• Encourage staff participation in COBIS training and use the process to drive improvement.

Safeguarding

• Develop, implement, review, improve and maintain a comprehensive VAS-wide Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy in compliance with COBIS, CIE, and Vietnamese legal standards and best international practices.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for VAS and support the training and development of campus DSLs; Respond promptly and appropriately to safeguarding disclosures, concerns, or incidents in collaboration with campus-based DSLs and external agencies.
• Regularly audit and monitor safeguarding practices, reporting risks and non-compliance to senior leadership.
• Maintain accurate records of safeguarding incidents and actions taken, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with legal requirements.

Training & Capacity Building

• Design and deliver safeguarding training (basic, refresher, advanced) for teachers, staff, students, parents and/or any other stakeholders in alignment with the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Organise CPD opportunities on safeguarding, wellbeing, and COBIS expectations for school leaders and coordinators.
• Build a safeguarding culture that is proactive, embedded, and child-centered across all levels of VAS, both at central office and campuses.

Policy, Compliance & Reporting

• Review, improve and update all safeguarding-related policies annually or as required by regulatory changes.
• Prepare termly safeguarding reports for School Leaders and maintain accurate records of training, referrals, case management, and compliance reports.
• Work closely with HR to ensure alignment of safeguarding measures with child-friendly recruitment, whistleblowing, code of conduct, and risk assessment practices.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with parents, staff, students, and external safeguarding bodies to strengthen community-based protection practices.
• Support internal and external communications around COBIS and safeguarding priorities, ensuring transparency and trust.
• Work closely with campuses to foster a positive school culture that promotes student voice and wellbeing through policies that prioritize dignity, inclusivity, and safety.

Other Duties

• Collaborate with other team members and school leaders to support the overall strategic goals of the school.
• Participate in school events, meetings, and committees as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the school leadership.

Key Contacts

• Central Academic Team
• VAS Senior Management Team
• Executive School Directors and School Management Team

Your background and experience

Qualifications/Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Child Psychology, Social Work or a related field; Master’s degree preferred. Due to Work Permit regulations, if your degree is not in Education, you must either be able to demonstrate 3 years' in a similar role outside of Vietnam and/or be a certified teacher through another means such as PGCE.
• Certified Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or equivalent child protection qualification is a plus.
• COBIS / CIS / WASC Accreditation training (or willingness to complete within 3 months of hire).
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding practices and international best practices in child protection.

Experience

• Previous experience leading Safeguarding in a school setting and/or holding a senior leadership position with pastoral responsibilities.
• Previous experience of leading, or playing a key role, in the school accreditation process (COBIS, CIS, WASC) is a plus.
• Experience in multicultural school environments, preferably in Asia or similar international settings.

Skills/Personal Qualities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated with a flexible approach to work.
• Ability to work under pressure and as a positive team member; ability to prioritise and meet deadlines; commitment to continued improvement and development.
• Excellent problem-solving ability and analytical skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to train and inspire others.
• High sense of accountability and integrity
• Positive, flexible and solution focused
• Proactive, positive and resilient

Benefits

As a senior employee, our package will include a competitive base salary, monthly housing allowance, relocation allowance (for overseas hires), visa and work permit reimbursement, settling-in allowance (for overseas hires), tuition waiver for up to two children, medical insurance, numerous weeks of paid holidays, retention bonus, and more. In addition, you will have generous non-contact time for planning, preparation and professional growth.

Next steps

To apply for this role, please send your full application including your resume, cover letter, scans of all relevant documents/certifications, three references, and a copy of your passport.