This study explores the impact of principal competencies on the institutional excellence of Vocational High Schools (VHS) in Indonesia through three mediating organizational pathways: information management, industry partnerships, and human resource development. Recognizing the unique dual mission of VHS to deliver both academic excellence and industry-relevant training, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms by which school leaders translate their competencies into improved institutional performance. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze responses from 217 VHS educators in West Java. The study confirms that principal competencies significantly influence school performance both directly and indirectly. Notably, 66.85% of the total effect is mediated by the three organizational pathways, with information management emerging as the strongest mediator (40.26%), followed by human resource development (35.42%) and industry partnerships (24.31%). The model exhibited substantial predictive power for school performance (R² = 0.724), highlighting the effectiveness of the identified pathways. The results also reveal that strong managerial competencies support the development of data-driven cultures and strategic human capital investment, while industry collaborations, though more challenging, offer the greatest marginal impact on performance outcomes. This research contributes to educational leadership theory by shifting focus from individual leader attributes to systemic leadership functions within vocational institutions. The validated multiple mediation model provides a practical and theoretical framework for designing leadership development programs that emphasize the capacity to build and sustain strategic organizational processes. Ultimately, this study underscores the necessity of integrated leadership strategies to advance the quality and relevance of vocational education in developing contexts. © 2025, Cises srl. All rights reserved.
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