Director School Services (2 roles): Brisbane Catholic Education

Brisbane Catholic Education is committed to high quality teaching and learning for more than 71,000 young people enrolled in our schools and colleges from Prep to Year 12.

Our community of 139 schools within the Archdiocese of Brisbane is founded on Christ and is at the service of our students, families, society and the Church – teaching, challenging and transforming.

Structure

In the Archdiocese of Brisbane, the Archbishop has responsibility for development, regulation and oversight of policies regarding Catholic education,

The Catholic Education Council assists the Archbishop in planning and making recommendations about educational policies and priorities. The delivery of services, programs and resources in schools is the responsibility of Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE).

BCE is led by the Executive Director, who is supported by the Leadership Team. The relationship between the Brisbane Catholic Education Office and Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Brisbane respects the principles of subsidiarity and collaboration.

The role of the Brisbane Catholic Education Office staff is to serve, support and lead those involved in the mission of Catholic schooling in the Archdiocese. The Archdiocesan Vision of Jesus Communion Mission and the Archdiocesan Vision Statement for Catholic Education, provide the framework for the direction of the Brisbane Catholic Education Office.

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed on the Brisbane Catholic Education website located at www.bne.catholic.edu.au

Position Overview

Position Title:    Director School Services – 2 roles

Reports to:        Deputy Executive Director

Locations:          Springwood, Brisbane; and North Lakes, Brisbane

Primary Objective

The Director School Services leads a team in providing educational leadership, services and support to principals and Catholic school communities in a consistent and coherent manner to support the needs and goals identified by the school communities.

Organisational Setting and Role Context

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) has a proud history and tradition of providing quality Catholic education and supporting schools within the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Some 71,000 students attending 139 schools are under the jurisdiction of the Executive Director and the Leadership Team, and are supported by over 400 staff working in various office locations within BCE.

The Executive Director’s intent to ensure schools have a strong Catholic Identity and are able to deliver quality educational outcomes led to a recent review of BCE’s service and support to schools. An evolving outcome of this Organisational Review has been an increased focus on providing a more tailored and coherent level of support to enable schools to address the needs and goals they have identified for their school community.

The imminent release of the 2017 to 2020 strategic plan will also demonstrate this commitment for School Services to lead learning and learning growth within schools. The ever-changing educational environment will translate to the continuing evolution of these two leadership roles to meet the emerging needs of the 139 school communities.

It is within this context that BCE now seeks to appoint these two senior leadership roles.

Purpose & Scope of Position

This leadership position is delegated by the Executive Director, reporting to the Deputy Executive Director as a member of the Learning Services Executive, to lead and manage, serve and support the delivery of authentic Catholic Education in schools through the implementation of key system wide strategies and priorities in the areas of Catholic Identity and excellent learning and teaching.

The role holder is also a member of the BCE Leadership Team and as such works with others on the Leadership Team to ensure cultural alignment and service coordination in schools to promote the educational ministry of the Church in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Key Result Areas

• Contribute to and promote the development, alignment, attainment and review of the vision, mission and strategic plan for Brisbane Catholic Education
• Ensures the work and operations of school service centres integrate with and contribute to the overall strategic direction of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Brisbane as articulated in the BCE Strategic Plan.
• Ensures School Services provides leadership to schools in their development of an authentic Catholic identity aligned with the strategic direction of BCE.
• Ensures Schools Services provides educative leadership and promotes and supports excellent learning and teaching in schools aligned with the strategic direction of BCE.
• Ensures leaders in schools reflect the expectations and aspirations in the Leadership Framework and BCE strategic plan
• Ensures schools have a culture of reflection, self-review and continuous improvement
• Provides leadership to school service centre staff located at designated work location
• Develops, supports, monitors and evaluates operational processes

Reporting & Other Relationships

The role holder is responsible to the Executive Director, through the Deputy Executive Director.

The relationships with all members of the Leadership Team, Learning Services Directorate and senior staff are important for ensuring the integration of services to schools and the development of a unified culture across BCE.

Other significant relationships need to be developed with the Area Supervisors, Senior Staff and all staff in School Services; Principals of schools served by School Services; and with parishes, deaneries and Archdiocesan Agencies.

Locations

These positions are located at 12 Endeavour Blvd, North Lakes, Brisbane; and 5-7 Laurinda Crescent, Springwood, Brisbane.

Commencement

The commencement date is negotiable, although it is anticipated the latest date would be early in January 2017.

Conditions of Employment

• The remuneration package reflects the seniority of these appointments and will be negotiated with the successful applicants
• The initial contract period is for five (5) years, with further contract periods subject to Appraisal according to BCE policy.
• Reasonable relocation assistance (if required) will be negotiated with the successful applicants.
• The appointment will be subject to satisfactory employment screening for child related employment in accordance with the law

Selection Criteria

We anticipate that people interested in this role will be able to demonstrate:

• A genuine, deeply embedded Catholic faith and clear commitment to the values and teachings of the Catholic Church
• An active engagement in the life of their Parish and be able to provide a priest as a referee
• A career immersed in Catholic education with senior leadership experience
• A collaborative leadership style with the capacity to build and maintain effective, cohesive relationships within a team as well as engender cooperation across wider stakeholder groups
• Skills in strategic thinking and planning with the ability to identify emerging needs and future challenges and the agility to provide advice and support which is not wedded to past practice
• Life-long learning through ongoing personal and professional inquiry

Are you Interested in this Opportunity?

If you are interested in this role, there are two options for you to proceed:

1. If interested, but have questions requiring a response before deciding whether to progress, then either (a) telephone our Director John Chesher (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website with your questions.
2. If and when you have enough information to start this process, then simply email us at mail@traksearch.com or from this page of our website stating your interest in this role and nominating ref number TS1344; also providing a contact telephone number.

At this stage we do NOT ask you to labour over selection criteria, provide a resume or any application document – just a one-line email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘BCE Director School Services TS1344’ and providing your contact telephone number. The timeline and details for this project are outlined below. All emails and applications are acknowledged within 48 hours.

The Selection Process

Key dates are as follows:

Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:

• Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for confidential discussions and to provide information to allow you to explore this opportunity and determine your interest in the role.
• A range of additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
• At the outset you will not be required to: complete an application form; provide a resume or lengthy, comprehensive document to address the selection criteria; or provide any referee details. However, you will be invited to supply us with additional information (verbally and in writing) as you progress through the process.
• A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule. Please be aware however that any application received after close of business on the date noted above is more likely to be returned to you.
• At the appropriate time (refer above) we will seek written consent to speak with referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent.
• We expect to contact one work related referee and a Priest referee prior to short listing, with additional references completed later in the process.  You should always expect that prior to reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least one person who has: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant time period.
• All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to short listing, in confidence, to BCE Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director (or nominee) unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.

You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.