Are you an education leader with a vision for next generation learning and teaching? Do you have the knowledge, skills, presence and passion to lead transformation on a large scale? Are you prepared to think outside of the box and challenge traditional thinking and test the boundaries so that our students are ready for a world that is changing fast?
Led by Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, the Diocese of Parramatta is located in one of the fastest growing areas of New South Wales. Located in the heart of Western Sydney, the Diocese of Parramatta comprises 80 vibrant and dynamic school communities that stretch from Dundas Valley, north to Richmond, west to Katoomba and south to Luddenham.
There are 58 primary schools and 22 secondary schools, two Catholic Trade Training Centres, four Catholic Early Learning Centres and 23 Catholic Out of School Hours Care Centres. There are approx. 43,000 students and almost 5,000 staff.
Looking for Information?
Visit the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) website to access more information: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/About-Us
You can obtain an overview of the CEDP’s ‘Your Child’s Learning Journey’ by clicking here.
Visit the bluyonder blog of the Executive Director, Greg Whitby AM, to view articles to demonstrate how he has continually challenged accepted thinking about learning and teaching. Greg’s mission is to transform schooling for every child and young person and is driven by his strong commitment to justice and equity.
Position Overview
Position Title: Director Learning
Reports to: Executive Director
Organisational Context
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) has, for some time, been moving away from an improvement model of schooling to a transformation model. Improvement is about enhancing an old model and building on existing structures of schooling. This model is well past its use-by date. ‘Transformation is the continual reimagining of learning and teaching for today’s world and today’s learners.’ The transformation model puts the personal learning growth of each child at the heart of schooling. Our transformation model needs to be underpinned by a ‘Learning Framework’ that represents new thinking and articulates new language.
Our schools are formed out of and are shaped by our Catholic identity. Consequently, the learning framework has its foundations in the person and message of Jesus Christ and has a Catholic world view. This view, powerfully articulated by Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Bishop of Parramatta, challenges us to be counter-cultural, radically inclusive and serve those at the margins. We are called to recognise that diversity is the norm. It is in this context that we aim to transform the lives of each child by transforming learning and teaching.
Past thinking has been to separate learning into K-6 and 7-12 experiences. Our new thinking must integrate and extend beyond a primary and secondary schooling construct. This is why our understanding of a contemporary learning framework needs to include early years and post- school learning.
A pre-to-post schooling framework in the Diocese of Parramatta:
- witnesses a Catholic world view
- represents a pre-to-post learning continuum
- embraces leading as everyone’s work
- emphasises experiential learning through inquiry
- recognises different and new pedagogical approaches
- prioritises dispositions and capabilities
- incorporates mandatory and co-constructed curriculums
- implements key enablers
- engages teachers as learners
- includes intentional partnerships for learning
A pre-to-post schooling framework is not exclusively the work of the new CEDP schools. However you can gain a sense of the CEDP philosophy by visiting one of their new schools, St Luke’s Catholic College, by clicking here.
Role Purpose
As part of the mission of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Parramatta, the Director Learning uses a strong, internationally informed understanding of contemporary learning and teaching to lead, drive and transform CEDP’s learning agenda. This key leadership position informs and influences the organisation’s learning vision and strategy with the goal of improving learning for students.
Key Accountabilities
The Director Learning is accountable for:
- Working with school communities to drive a robust and contemporary learning agenda that is transformational, strives for continuous improvement and ensures that CEDP is a leader in best practice
- Using data to benchmark and measure success and inform decision-making
- Leading system responses to national and state issues that relate to learning, including curriculum development, teacher accreditation and professional standards and staff professional learning
- Initiating and driving programs that support leaders and teachers in developing and remodelling learning environments and pedagogies to meet current learning requirements
- Contributing to shaping and implementing the system’s strategic intent and Diocesan Pastoral Plan
- Collaborating with the Diocese, Mission, Performance, Enterprise and Data Intelligence directorates, as well as the Executive Office and external providers in the delivery of services to schools
- Identifying and initiating research projects that support the system learning agenda.
A full position description will be provided at a later stage of this recruitment project.
Reporting Relationships
This is one of seven Directors who comprise the Executive Team. This position reports to the Executive Director, together with Director Enterprise, Director Mission, Direct Performance (two roles) and Director Data Intelligence. The work of the Executive is supported by the Head of the Executive Office and the Chief Governance and Strategy Officer.
The CEDP Executive Team is responsible for the development and execution of the system strategy for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Parramatta
The Director Learning leads the Learning team which comprises approx. 260 people. An organisation chart for the Learning directorate will be provided at a later stage in this recruitment project.
Commencement
While the start date is negotiable, ideally the successful applicant will be able to commence in January 2020 in preparation for the new school year. If a January start date is not possible, there are some key and significant meetings in January which are important to attend.
Location
The office for Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta is located at 12 Victoria Road, Parramatta.
Conditions of Employment
- Remuneration will be discussed as we move through this recruitment project.
- Salary packaging is available.
- Further study and professional development opportunities.
- The successful candidate will hold a current driver’s license.
- The position is ongoing with a 6-month probation period.
- Reasonable relocation assistance (if required) will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
- Child Protection legislation requires people seeking child-related employment to provide a NSW Working with Children check prior to employment which must be valid and verified prior to the successful applicant commencing in the role.
Selection Criteria
The Executive Director invites expressions of interest from people who align with the following:
- The willingness to support CEDP’s intent of providing schooling as a work of the Catholic Church;
- Senior leadership experience with a deep knowledge of contemporary learning, combined with a vision for next generation learning and teaching;
- The knowledge, skills, presence and passion to lead transformation on a large scale;
- The project management skills and business acumen required to deliver outcomes in an ever-changing educational environment;
- The creativity and research skills to continually reimagine the possibilities in a pre-to-post learning continuum;
- The interpersonal and relational skills to work collaboratively as part of an executive team and influence a diverse range of stakeholders;
- Post graduate qualifications combined with a track record of ongoing personal and professional learning.
Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Bishop of Parramatta, challenges us all to be ‘radically inclusive’. If you have the passion and experience to drive and influence a transformation model of learning, we encourage you to explore this unique opportunity.
Are you interested in this opportunity?
If you are interested in this role, then simply complete the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this page; or email us at jobs@traksearch.com stating your interest and nominating ref number TS1419. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number (mobile preferred).
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 job alert.
Any questions can be directed to either (a) our Director John Chesher by telephone (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via jobs@traksearch.com. 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:
Date of project launch/advertising | Tues. 22nd Oct |
Latest anticipated date for applications | Wed. 13th Nov |
Review meeting & short listing | Week commencing Mon 18th Nov |
Anticipated date for client interviews | Week of Monday 25th Nov or 2nd December |
Final references; academic documents obtained | Following client interviews |
Follow up meeting/discussion | Likely within 7 days of client interviews |
Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:
- You are not required to: complete an application form; or provide a lengthy document to address any selection criteria.
- Additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
- At the appropriate time, we will invite people to provide a 350-word explanation of their vision for learning.
- A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule.
- At the appropriate time we will seek written consent to speak with your referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent to do so.
- We expect to contact two work-related referees prior to shortlisting, with additional references completed later in the process. You should always expect that before reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least two people who have: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant period of time.
- 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.
- All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to shortlisting, in confidence, to the Executive Director or his nominees unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.