Director: Catholic Identity & Outreach – Catholic Education, Cairns QLD

Catholic Education Services (CES) in the Diocese of Cairns is a dynamic and growing organisation that is actively working with our community to co-create, with us, schools that are places of rich learning for now and into the 22nd Century.

Our vision is to offer every student in every school a world class education enriched by their lived encounter with the Catholic Faith.

CES is committed to this vision through Co-Leadership with schools to build communities of learning that provide a safe, nurturing and academically challenging environment. Our schools are places where we create opportunities for every student and every staff member so that they are inspired to contribute to our society, innovate, explore possibilities, and achieve excellence.

Catholic Education in the Diocese of Cairns embraces 30 schools including 20 primary schools, 2 Prep to Year 12 colleges and 8 secondary colleges.  One of these colleges is a Special Assistance College with campuses in Cairns, Cooktown, and Edmonton. This community also includes Catholic Education Services located in Cairns itself.  Over the next five years there are two new schools planned. In total, there are 12,000 students and 1,500 staff.

Leadership and strategic management of Catholic Education is the responsibility of the Executive Director of Catholic Education. Through a team of professionals, and in Co-Leadership with principals, the Executive Director manages and facilitates a number of significant delegations which include:

• Support of the mission of the Church as delivered through Catholic Education
• Support of schools by providing services that strengthen school capacity
• Provision of leadership and forward planning to develop organisational capability
• Distribution to schools of government allocated funds and their accountability
• Monitoring quality of schools and compliance/accountability with requirements of governments, Church, and parents
• Within limits, provision of some centralised, specialised student services, where this is the most effective and efficient approach

Living in Cairns

With a population of nearly 160,000, Cairns offers many lifestyle opportunities that can be found in few other places and is surrounded by World Heritage listed areas including the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, all within an hour’s journey from the growing city of Cairns.

It is the gateway to our Asian neighbours with direct flights to China, Japan and Singapore, as well as direct flights to all east coast capital cities, Darwin, and Queensland’s Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed by visiting the CES website located at https://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/

We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia, the traditional custodians of the land, seas, skies and waterways on which we reside, work, travel and meet. We pay our respect to First Nations elders past, present, and emerging, and support the Uluru Statement From The Heart.

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of deceased persons in photographs, video or audio recordings. 

Position Overview

Position Title: Director: Identity & Outreach

Reports to: Deputy Executive Director

Position Purpose

The Vision of the Catholic Education Community is ‘to offer every student in every school a world class education enriched by their lived encounter with the Catholic faith, through professional roles of service and ministry to students, families, and schools within a spirit of subsidiarity and co-responsibility.

In this context, the Director: Identity and Outreach:

• Inspires the engagement and empowerment of families in the identity and mission of the Catholic school within the Parish, and the spiritual development of their children through Co-Leadership with CES and School Leadership Teams.
• Engages leaders and staff in a deeper understanding of Catholic identity and expression of Faith through varied and life-giving formation opportunities.
• Ensures the quality and relevance of the Religious Education Curriculum as key to the educational program of the schools in partnership with the Strategic Leadership Team, Principals, APREs and staff.
• Leads the continued research into the Enhancing Catholic School Identity project and monitoring its impact and future directions through the School Effectiveness processes.
• Encourages outreach to the poor and marginalised especially engaging young people inspired by the Gospel actively making a difference in the world particularly in our indigenous communities.
• Oversees the Accreditation to Teach in a Catholic School and Accreditation to Teach Religious Education and compliance in accord with Diocesan Policy.

At a later stage in this project, you will be provided a full position description; and the success criteria for the first 12 months in the role.

Essential Responsibilities

• Work alongside schools to use the Encounter Matrix to intentionally enhance the Catholic Identity of each school and curate evidence to be shared with the whole Cairns Catholic Education Community.
• Develop faith formation plans for the Cairns Catholic Education Community which is meaningful and life giving.
• Oversee, and collaborate with the Assistant Executive Director – Governance and Strategy, to ensure that every school is implementing an engaging, contemporary, and approved religious education curriculum; and intentionally developing strategies to improve their Catholic Identity.
• Support school-based staff to develop Religious Education Programs and Staff Formation Plans that are engaging and contemporary.
• Develop different forms of data to ensure the implementation, effectiveness and development of Religious Education programs, formation programs and Catholic identity of our schools.
• Work in such a way that uses a shared wisdom model and striving to reach consensus through respect, connecting, reflecting, and embracing.
• Ensure members of the Identity and Outreach directorate are engaged appropriately in the school improvement processes.
• Develop approved Annual Operational Plans for the directorate.
• Actively participating in the CES Strategic Leadership Team and with the other Directors.
• Oversee the compliance with accreditation to teach in a Catholic school and Accreditation to teach Religious Education in accord with Diocesan Policy.

Key Relationships

The position reports to the Deputy Executive Director and leads a team of 5 people. The position also has a collegial relationship with the Executive Director, The Vicar for Education, The Bishop of Cairns, and the Clergy of the Diocese.

The role holder is a member of the Strategic Leadership Team and the Directors Team of CES and as such has a collegial and professional relationship with other directors.

The role holder will also from time to time be a member of various Diocesan committees, QLD Directors Forum committees, National committees and represent the Diocese at QCEC level as approved by the Executive Director and the Catholic bodies listed above.

An organisation chart will be provided at a later stage in this project.

Commencement

While negotiable, it is anticipated the successful person will commence by the start of term 3, 2023.

Location and Travel

The Main Office is located at 130 Lake St., Cairns. The nature of the role means considerable travel within the Diocese; as well as time spent working with staff in office and school environments.

The position is a full-time executive position, which involves extended hours, evening meetings, overnight absence and interstate travel ranging over seven days.

Conditions of Employment

• The remuneration package will be discussed as we move through this process.
• Five-year contract with annual review and a biennial 360-degree performance review. The precise nature and range of duties will similarly evolve and develop during the contract and be determined in consultation with the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director.
• The standard 6-month probation period applies.
• The Diocese has a relocation policy to assist, if required
• Registered or be eligible to register with the Queensland College of Teachers.
• Unless an exemption applies, all staff are required to hold a current Working with Children Blue Card or be eligible to apply
• Applicants will require a current Drivers Licence.
• Able to promote child safety at all times
• A non-smoking policy is effective in Catholic Education Services buildings, offices, and motor vehicles.

Selection Criteria

We invite expressions of interest from people who align with the following:

• Participates in the sacramental life of the Catholic Church with a commitment to the role of the Catholic school as part of the mission of the Catholic Church.
• A career in Catholic education with significant leadership experience as a member of a School or System Leadership Team.
• Evidence of participation, innovation, and research in the disciplines of Theology, Faith and/or Religious Education.
• The capacity to build and maintain effective, collaborative relationships within a System based upon Co-Leadership with schools.
• Post Graduate qualification in Religious Education, Theology or related discipline and have or be working towards a master’s degree in theology or related disciplines.

Are You Interested?

If you are interested in this role, please use the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this webpage; or email jobs@traksearch.com quoting ref number TS1499. All we require at the outset is a resume,  email address and mobile telephone number. No other documentation is required from you to express your interest. All emails and resumes are acknowledged within 48 hours. Please contact us again if this does not occur.

Questions can be directed to John Chesher (0417 068 220) or by email to jobs@traksearch.com

If you are NOT interested in this role but would like to be advised of future leadership positions, click here to register for our weekly email alerts.

The Selection Process

The timeline for this project is as follows:

We have been instructed to provide a process that is transparent and welcoming.

• We are available for your confidential enquiries. We will also provide additional information to allow you to explore how the role aligns with your expectations and interests.
• Closing is 5.00pm on the date shown above. However, a late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the CES schedule.
• We expect to complete a work-related reference; and a faith-based reference with a Catholic priest; both prior to shortlisting. We anticipate speaking with another work-related referee between shortlisting and interviews; with final references completed in the final stages of the process. No referee will be contacted without your express consent.
• The selection committee will provide an option of a video interview in circumstances where a person is unable to attend for a face-to-face meeting.
• Please be aware our standard practice utilises the services of an external specialist in pre-employment screening. This service includes a National Police Check; and academic qualifications and professional memberships verification.
• All information provided to Trak Search will be made available, in confidence, to the Deputy Executive Director, or his nominee, unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.
• For more information on our process click here to access the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
• Only people with the unrestricted right to work in Australia may apply for this role.
• Please note: people are contacted and discussions commence soon after applications are received. We do not wait until the close date. There are advantages in you applying immediately.

Trak Search strongly supports the principles of equal employment opportunities in the workplace. We support our clients in recruiting a diverse range of people and a diverse range of talents.

 Trak Search is committed to working with client organisations in the safeguarding of children and young people. Applicants should be aware that in addition to the Working with Children and National Police History Checks required by our client, Trak Search screening processes, interview questions and reference checking will also reflect this commitment.

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.