Are you seeking a role:

• Leading a System-wide People & Culture strategy?
• To co-lead with principals and senior leaders in shaping culture across 30 schools, 11,500 students and 1,500 staff?
• That has system-level impact while enjoying a Cairns lifestyle?

Catholic Education – Diocese of Cairns (CEDC), is a partnership with Catholic Education Services (CES) and thirty schools including twenty primary schools, two Prep to Year 12 Colleges and eight secondary Colleges which includes a Flexible Learning College with campuses in Cairns and Cooktown.  All schools, except the dual campus Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Waiben (Thursday Island) and Kiriri (Hammond Island), Weipa and Holy Spirit College, Cooktown campus, are within a two-hour drive of Cairns.

Catholic Education-Diocese of Cairns includes schools and Catholic Education Services (CES).  Catholic Education Services work with schools to support and challenge schools, through connected autonomy, to work towards achieving the Vision of CEDC:

To offer every student in every school a world class education enriched by their lived encounter with the Catholic faith.

CEDC is committed to building communities of learning that provide a safe, nurturing and academically challenging environment for every student.

Our staff are supported to experience success and satisfaction in their vital role.

Living in Cairns

With a population of nearly 180,000, the Cairns region offers many lifestyle opportunities that can be found in few other places. It is surrounded by World Heritage listed sites 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 having direct flights to all the east coast capital cities, Darwin, and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed by visiting the CEDC 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: Executive Leader – People and Culture

Reports to: Executive Director

Position Purpose

This role provides strategic leadership in embedding student and staff safety into the organisational culture, ensuring that human resource, professional standards, WHS, and payroll practices are mission-aligned, progressive, and governed by principles of good governance to meet the diverse and evolving needs of staff and school communities across the Diocese.

The Executive Leader People and Culture is responsible for developing and leading a diocesan wide People and Culture strategy that reflects Gospel values, good governance, statutory and industrial compliances that supports staff wellbeing, and enables excellence in Catholic education.

At a later stage in this project, you will be provided a full position description and the organisation chart. You will also be briefed on the success criteria for the first 12 months in the role.

Reason for Vacancy

There are well established teams that cover aspects such as HR/Employee Services, WHS, Payroll and Workforce Capability. However, a recent strategic review and consultation with stakeholders have led to the creation of this Executive Leadership role.

Commencement

The commencement date is negotiable, however ideally it will be in January 2026.

Location and Travel

This role is based in the Catholic Education Services office, located at 232 Mulgrave Road, Cairns. The nature of the role requires regular travel to schools throughout the Diocese.

Conditions of Employment

• The remuneration package will be discussed as we move through this process.
• Various Leave Entitlements, including 5 weeks annual leave and 5 days professional renewal leave per year.
• This is a five-year contract with annual review with an option for a further 5 years. The standard 6-month probation period applies.
• The expectation is the person will live in Cairns and so relocation assistance is available.
• The position is a fulltime leadership position, which involves extended hours, evening meetings, overnight absence and interstate travel ranging over seven days.
• The Working with Children (Risk Management & Screening) Act 2000 requires the preferred applicant to be subject to “working with children check” as part of the employment screening process. Further details regarding this check may be obtained at bluecard.qld.gov.au
• Confirmation of employment is conditional upon the preferred applicant being issued with a suitability card from the Public Safety Business Agency.
• A non-smoking policy is effective in CES buildings, offices, and motor vehicles.
• A current drivers licence is required.

Selection Criteria

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

• An alignment with the mission, vision and ethos of Catholic Education combined with the desire and capacity to work within a large Catholic employer.
• Senior leadership experience across HR/People & Culture, preferably in a large education or faith-based organisation.
• Practical expertise in employment law, policy development, industrial relations, organisational development, safeguarding and governance frameworks.
• Proven track record leading cultural change and high-performing teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Law, Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration or related field.

We seek a person able to drive strategic workforce initiatives within a faith-filled, mission-driven environment where your leadership will shape culture, capability and safeguarding across our schools.

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 TS1577. 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 CEDC’s schedule.
• We expect to complete a work-related reference 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.
• It is possible that people will be invited to complete on-line psychometric testing and/or a video presentation
• The selection committee will provide an option of an online interview in circumstances where a person is unable to visit for the initial 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; Police Check; and academic qualifications and professional memberships verification.
• Prior to the shortlisting process, information provided to Trak Search will be made available, in confidence, to the Executive Director, or his nominee, unless you instruct 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.
• People are contacted and discussions commence soon after applications are received. We do not wait until the close 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.