1. Boarding Master

2. Head Chef

3. School Driver/ Mechanic

3 Jobs at St. Philip Neri Primary School – Nairobi

A school depends on far more than teachers and classrooms to create an environment where students can learn, develop and feel secure. Behind the academic side of school life are professionals responsible for student welfare, meals, transport and the everyday systems that allow the institution to function smoothly. St. Philip Neri Primary School has opportunities for a Boarding Master, Head Chef and School Driver/Mechanic, bringing together three very different career paths within the school environment.

The positions require different forms of experience and professional preparation, but they share an important connection. Each person working in these roles contributes to the experience students have while at school. Whether the responsibility involves supporting children in a boarding environment, preparing meals or ensuring safe transportation and maintaining a school vehicle, reliability and professionalism are important.

The Boarding Master position is suited to an experienced education professional who can combine leadership with student mentorship. The Head Chef requires someone with strong culinary and kitchen management experience, while the School Driver/Mechanic is intended for a technically capable driver who understands both road safety and vehicle maintenance.

Supporting Students Beyond the Classroom

The Boarding Master role goes beyond simply supervising students after lessons. Boarding environments require adults who can provide guidance, maintain discipline and remain attentive to the wellbeing of the children under their care.

For this position, St. Philip Neri Primary School is looking for someone with a bachelor's degree in Education or a related field and at least three years of experience working in a reputable, high-performing boarding school. That experience matters because boarding work requires an understanding of the responsibilities involved when students spend significant amounts of their time within the school environment.

Leadership and organisation are therefore central to the opportunity. The successful candidate needs to be able to create an orderly environment while also communicating effectively with students and colleagues. Good communication can be particularly important when dealing with students who require guidance, encouragement or intervention.

Mentorship is another important part of the role. The person taking up the position should be capable of guiding students while remaining attentive to their wellbeing. This makes the role different from a position that focuses only on administration or discipline. The Boarding Master needs to be someone students can approach while also maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and standards.

The school also places strong emphasis on integrity, discipline and child safeguarding. These qualities are particularly important in a boarding setting because the responsibility involves working closely with children and helping maintain an environment where their safety and welfare are taken seriously.

Training in First Aid and child protection would be an added advantage for applicants. These additional skills can complement the broader responsibilities of a boarding professional and demonstrate preparation for responding appropriately to situations that may arise around student welfare.

The Kitchen Has Its Own Role in School Life

While the Boarding Master focuses on students and their welfare, the Head Chef works in a completely different part of the school environment. Yet the kitchen is also an important part of daily school operations, requiring organisation, consistency and the ability to work under pressure.

The Head Chef position calls for a Diploma or higher qualification in Culinary Arts or a related field, together with at least three years of experience as a Head Chef or in a comparable position. This is therefore an opportunity aimed at an experienced culinary professional rather than someone entering the kitchen industry for the first time.

Menu planning is one of the areas highlighted for the position. Creating and managing menus requires more than preparing individual meals because the chef must work with available resources while maintaining an organised kitchen operation. Food preparation remains central, but the position also requires the ability to manage the wider activities taking place within the kitchen.

Kitchen management is particularly important because a head chef must be able to keep different responsibilities moving at the same time. Planning, preparation and the management of available resources all require attention, especially when deadlines have to be met.

Budgeting and stock management also form part of the expected experience. The successful candidate should understand how to manage kitchen resources responsibly and monitor stock effectively. Good stock management can help ensure that available supplies are properly controlled while supporting the kitchen's daily requirements.

The ability to remain calm and productive under pressure is another important part of the position. A school kitchen operates around schedules, meaning meals and other food preparation responsibilities have to be completed within the required time. Someone who can maintain organisation and quality while working against deadlines will be better suited to this environment.

CPR and First Aid certification would be an added advantage. Although these are not presented as mandatory qualifications, they provide an additional area of preparation for someone working in a setting involving children.

A Driver's Responsibility Does Not End on the Road

The third opportunity takes a more technical direction. The School Driver/Mechanic position combines transportation responsibilities with mechanical knowledge, making it suitable for someone who is comfortable both behind the wheel and around motor vehicles.

Applicants are required to have a KCSE certificate as well as a valid Kenyan driving licence. The licence must be appropriate for the work, with Class BCE or PSV for school transport, and candidates should have a clean driving record.

The role also requires formal automotive training. A Certificate or Diploma in Automotive or Motor Vehicle Engineering is part of the required background, meaning the school is looking for more than a driver who has simply accumulated road experience.

At least three years of experience as a driver and mechanic is required, with experience in a school environment preferred. This combination is significant because the position brings together two areas of responsibility. The individual needs to be capable of carrying out driving duties while also possessing the technical understanding required for vehicle-related work.

Reliability is particularly important in this type of position. Transport responsibilities depend on punctuality, responsible driving and careful attention to the condition of the vehicle. Mechanical knowledge adds another dimension because the person needs to understand the vehicle beyond its basic operation.

The requirement for a valid Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations also forms part of the application requirements. Integrity and a commitment to child safeguarding are similarly emphasised.

For someone interested in strengthening their suitability for the position, First Aid and defensive driving training would be additional advantages. These areas complement the practical responsibilities associated with school transport.

Three Different Careers Within One School Environment

Although the three vacancies have different professional requirements, they demonstrate how many different forms of expertise are needed within a school.

The Boarding Master brings an education and student-welfare background. The position requires someone capable of leading, mentoring and guiding students while maintaining discipline and safeguarding standards. The Head Chef contributes through culinary expertise, menu planning, kitchen management, budgeting and stock control. The School Driver/Mechanic combines professional driving with automotive knowledge and a strong sense of responsibility around student safety.

The experience requirements also help distinguish the opportunities. Both the Boarding Master and Head Chef positions require at least three years of relevant experience, while the School Driver/Mechanic similarly requires three years as a driver/mechanic. This means the vacancies are largely directed towards people who already have practical workplace exposure.

For education professionals, the Boarding Master role provides a path that places considerable emphasis on student support and leadership. For culinary professionals, the Head Chef opportunity centres on managing food preparation and kitchen operations. For automotive professionals, the Driver/Mechanic role offers a combination of transport and technical work.

Professionalism Matters Across All Three Positions

One of the clearest similarities between the vacancies is the importance placed on personal conduct.

A school is an environment where employees work closely with children, colleagues and other members of the institution. The roles therefore require people who can be trusted to handle their responsibilities with maturity.

For the Boarding Master, this is reflected in the emphasis on integrity, discipline, communication and child safeguarding. For the Head Chef, professionalism appears through the ability to manage kitchen responsibilities, budgets, stock and deadlines. For the Driver/Mechanic, it is reflected in the clean driving record, Good Conduct Certificate, integrity and safeguarding expectations.

The three positions also require people who can work within established responsibilities without losing sight of the wider purpose of the school environment. Their individual tasks may be different, but each contributes to an organised setting in which students can learn and develop.

Choosing the Opportunity That Matches Your Experience

These vacancies offer three distinctly different ways to work within a school setting.

An education professional with boarding-school experience may find the Boarding Master position most closely aligned with their background, particularly if they enjoy mentoring and supporting students. A trained chef with experience managing a professional kitchen may be better suited to the Head Chef opportunity, where menu planning, food preparation, stock and budgeting are central. Someone with automotive training, a suitable Kenyan driving licence and experience combining driving with mechanical work may find the School Driver/Mechanic role the strongest match.

The qualifications should be considered carefully before applying. The Boarding Master requires a bachelor's degree in Education or a related area, while the Head Chef calls for a Diploma or higher qualification in Culinary Arts or a related field. The Driver/Mechanic position has a different academic route, requiring KCSE together with automotive training and the appropriate driving licence.

Additional training can strengthen an applicant's preparation, particularly where First Aid, CPR, child protection or defensive driving are concerned. However, the core requirements remain the relevant education, experience and professional qualities specified for each position.

St. Philip Neri Primary School describes its educational approach around developing students academically while also supporting leadership, mentorship, technology, research and innovation. Against that background, these three opportunities represent different but complementary responsibilities within the wider school environment. For professionals whose experience matches one of the positions, the vacancies provide an opportunity to apply their existing skills in a setting where day-to-day work is directly connected to the wellbeing and development of students.

Application

Interested and qualified candidates should send their application letter (stating the position applied for), detailed CV, copies of academic and professional certificates, and contact details of three referees to:
applications@stphilipnerischool.sc.ke 
DEADLINE: 15TH OCTOBER 2026