Are you Seeking:
- The opportunity to lead a successful Catholic school for girls on the Northern Beaches that is part of the Good Samaritan Education community, working with an incorporated Board?
- A College with a high-functioning senior leadership team and a healthy school community, poised for the ‘next step’?
- The opportunity to work with a highly effective pedagogy of academic excellence, spiritual development and student wellbeing?
Stella Maris College is a Good Samaritan Education (GSE) Catholic Secondary School for Girls. The College is an incorporated entity and governed by a Board of Directors which is accountable through the Company Members to GSE.
GSE is responsible for ten incorporated schools in Australia. Each school is marked by its own distinctive spirit and character, and its strong connection to the local Church. At the same time, each school identifies with and is enlivened by its membership of Good Samaritan Education. GSE schools share a common vision which is uniquely expressed in each school community to serve local needs and aspirations. Experiencing a unique combination of independence and cooperation, each of the GSE schools ensure an educational culture where all are safe, valued and welcomed.
Established in 1931 by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, Stella Maris College is a Catholic school for girls from Years 7 to 12. The current enrolment is 1,005 students. The College is in Manly and has two campuses. The Main Campus is located at 52 Eurobin Avenue, Manly and the Benedict Campus, which opened in 2012, is located at 270 Pittwater Road, Manly.
As an all-girls College, the learning experiences, opportunities, and resources are structured so girls can grow into confident young women. The lived Stella Maris motto is “strong minds, open hearts”.
Further Information
Additional information can be viewed by visiting the Stella Maris College website located at https://stellamaris.nsw.edu.au/ and the Good Samaritan Education website located at https://goodsameducation.org.au/
Trak Search has also been instructed to provide a range of information to people as they progress through this process, to assist in your due diligence/discernment.
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: Principal
Reports to: College Board
Position Purpose
Each GSE school is an incorporated entity with its own Board. Each school forms part of a network of Catholic Schools in the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition and the Principal is required to actively contribute to strengthening the broader GSE community in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
As a Leader within a GSE school, the Principal is responsible for ensuring that young people remain at the heart of the mission, and that the school enlivens the GSE Philosophy of Education by focusing on quality curriculum and right relationships through effective teaching and learning that develop life-long learners and active global citizens.
The Principal is appointed by the Board with the approval of GSE.
At a later stage in this project, you will be provided with key documents, including the GSE ‘Philosophy of Education’, ‘Welcome Statement’ and ‘Statement on Leadership’; a full position description; and the success criteria/priorities for the first 12 months in the role.
School Structure
The Principal leads the College executive comprising the Director Business Services; Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning; Assistant Principal Wellbeing; Director of HR, Risk & Compliance; Director of Professional Learning & Pedagogy; Director of Mission, Identity & Culture; Director of Innovation and Learning Technologies; Director of Students; and Director of Studies.
The College organisation chart will be provided at a later stage in this project.
Commencement
After 10 years of outstanding leadership, Elizabeth Carnegie will retire at the end of the 2024 school year. The appointed person is anticipated to commence for the start of term 1 2025, although availability during term 4 of 2024 would allow for a smooth transition of leadership.
Location
The Main Campus is located at 52 Eurobin Avenue, Manly. There are additional buildings located within a 5-minute walk of the school, referred to as the Benedictine campus.
Conditions of Employment
- The details and terms and conditions of appointment will be discussed as we progress through this process.
- Employer superannuation contribution is in accordance with the SGC, with several options of additional employer contributions as part of the College’s co-contribution scheme.
- The salary package component is adjusted annually in line with movements in the general market and in light of performance.
- An annual appraisal process exists. The Board may determine that a formative appraisal mid-way through the contract period takes place.
- The initial contract period of 5 years with the expectation of renewal for a further 5-year period on the successful completion of a major performance review in the 4th year of the contract. There is the usual 6-month probation period.
- Portability of benefits will be negotiated with the successful applicant, however as an indicator, portability of LSL earned with another Catholic education employer will be in accord with the agreements in place.
- Enrichment Leave – 2 weeks enrichment leave per year of service (in accordance with GSE policy) to be used in a way to support personal and professional development and to contribute positively to the leadership of the College.
- A relocation allowance (if required) will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
- Prior to appointment the successful applicant will possess a current, approved Working With Children Check and complete a successful National Criminal History Check.
Selection Criteria
The Board of Stella Maris College seeks expressions of interest from leaders who are:
- Confident in leading a community of faith, and personal commitment to the teachings and practice of the Catholic faith.
- Authentic in their commitment to the vision and values of a GSE school and personal alignment with the culture of Stella Maris.
- Committed to engaging in and sustaining the Good Samaritan Benedictine charism in the life of Stella Maris College, and contribute to the life of the Good Samaritan Education network of schools.
- Able to demonstrate experience as a senior educational leader and commitment to Catholic education, including:
- A deep understanding of and passion for girls’ education; with a commitment to empowering and enabling young women for an ever-changing future.
- A deep knowledge of contemporary pedagogy with a capacity to build an evidence-based culture of learning growth and achievement.
- A track record of innovation and creativity, with a vision for the future of education.
- Ability to manage a high achieving teaching staff.
- Engagement with a school community, focused on listening and discernment as a demonstrable leadership style.
- An understanding of the business aspects of running a school.
- Relational, visible, and inclusive leadership style with the energy and desire to engage with staff and students, so as to engender trust within the school community.
- Able to fully commit to GSE’s ‘Safeguarding Children and Young People’ statement.
- Committed to ongoing personal and professional learning, including postgraduate learning.
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 TS1539. 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:
Date of project launch/advertising | By Friday 3rd May |
Latest date for applications | Wednesday 22nd May |
Selection committee short listing | Week of Monday 3rd June |
Anticipated date for Stella Maris interviews | Week of Monday 17th June |
Follow up meeting/discussion | Likely within 7 days of client interviews |
We have been instructed to provide a process that is transparent and welcoming.
- We have conducted a community consultation (students, parents, teachers) on behalf of the Board of Stella Maris and through that process have been exposed to the culture of the school community.
- 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 College schedule.
- We expect to complete a work-related reference; and a faith-based reference (for example from 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 an online 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 employment history verification; National Police Check; and academic qualifications and professional memberships verification.
- Prior to the shortlisting process, all information provided to Trak Search will be made available, in confidence, to the Board Chair, or his nominee, unless you instruct otherwise.
- Only people with the unrestricted right to work in Australia may apply for this role.
- Note that discussions commence soon after applications are received. We do not wait until after the closing date. There are advantages in 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.