The Catholic Diocese of Townsville covers more than 435,000 km2 across North and North West Queensland. It spans an area from Proserpine in the south through to Ingham in the north and extends west to the Northern Territory border. The Diocese includes the major commercial centres of Townsville and Mount Isa and many rural and remote communities including Palm Island.
The Diocese is led by the Bishop of Townsville, Most Reverend Timothy Harris DD.
The Townsville Catholic Education Office (TCEO) operates under the direction of the Bishop of Townsville. TCEO is a service organisation supporting 30 Catholic schools and employing more than 2,400 staff throughout the Diocese who cater to the learning of almost 12,000 students.
The thirty schools are comprised of:
- Primary schools: 18
- Secondary colleges: 6 including 2 boarding colleges
- Prep to Year 12 schools: 5
- Prep to Year 9 schools: 1
In addition there is responsibility for:
- Early Learning Centres: 6
- Kindergartens: 8
The TCEO is based in Townsville and employs more than 90 staff members.
Living in Townsville
Providing a laid back tropical lifestyle that is complemented by capital city comforts, no other Australian city boasts the resilience, diversity, lifestyle and economic potential that the Townsville North Queensland Region enjoys.
Known as the Second Capital of Queensland and with a population of approximately 190,000 people, Townsville offers a wonderful lifestyle coupled with strong economic prosperity. Townsville is a thriving precinct with access to a variety of world class education facilities, leading edge health care, affordable housing, spectacular events and entertainment, dining precincts and a wide range of outdoor recreation options.
Further Information
A range of additional information, including the strategic direction 2017-2021, can be viewed by visiting the TCEO website at https://www.tsv.catholic.edu.au/
Position Overview
Position Title: Executive Director of Catholic Education – Diocese of Townsville
Reports to: The Bishop of Townsville, Most Reverend Timothy Harris DD
Position Purpose
The role of the Executive Director is to ensure the provision of educational services of a high quality which are faithful to the Catholic educational mission within the Diocese of Townsville.
The Executive Director is expected to demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and accountability to the Bishop for what is undertaken on behalf of Catholic education, how it is undertaken and the results achieved.
Statement of Responsibility
In serving the interests of the Diocese of Townsville, the Executive Director exercises leadership of the Catholic education community through the shaping of an educational vision and enacting its spirit and intent in the day-to-day fulfilment of the Diocesan mission for Catholic schooling.
The Executive Director’s responsibility extends also to a range of initiatives beyond Catholic schools. Responsibilities include membership of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, the Queensland Director’s Forum, other committees as requested by the Bishop such as Bishop’s Advisory Council and Diocesan Finance Council.
The Executive Director will be responsible for the management and leadership of the Catholic systemic schools within the Diocese, including employment of staff. Curriculum offerings in those schools will be based on sound educational principles and student learning outcomes will be monitored and revised/reviewed at system and school levels.
The Executive Director is responsible for the nurturing and maintenance of the Catholic ethos of systemic schools and other educational services. The Executive Director also supports other educational leaders in their efforts to create authentic Christian communities permeated by the gospel spirit of freedom and love.
The Executive Director is the Executive Officer of the Diocesan Education Council. The Education Council is the Bishop’s policy making and advisory body for Catholic Education in the Diocese. The Executive Officer provides administrative and secretarial support to the Council and its members as well as the necessary professional advice to inform and assist its decision making. Enactment of Council’s decisions is also a responsibility of the Executive Officer.
A full position description will be provided as we step through this process.
Key Relationships
The Executive Director is accountable to the Bishop.
The Executive Director has a functional reporting relationship to the Diocesan Education Council on matters of policy and operations and to the Catholic Education Office Finance Committee in financial management matters. For accounting of government subsidies, a functional reporting relationship exists with the Queensland Catholic Education Commission. The Executive Director is also expected to play a significant role in the Commission’s activities and to work collaboratively with other Catholic school authorities in Queensland within the framework of the Commission.
Significant peer relationships exist with the members of the TCEO Leadership Team, principals of the Catholic systemic schools, congregational school authorities, the clergy, Directors of other diocesan agencies, Directors of Catholic education in other dioceses and senior staff in other educational bodies (e.g. Education Queensland, the Association of Independent Schools, and other Christian churches involved in education).
The TCEO organisation structure can be viewed by clicking here
Reason for Vacancy
After more than 10 years as the Executive Director, Dr Cathy Day is stepping down from the position at the end of Term 1 of 2018.
Commencement
It is anticipated that the successful person will be able to commence in the final weeks of term 1 2018 to allow an appropriate handover and smooth transition of leadership. The final day of Term 1 2018 for Queensland schools is Thursday 29 March.
Location and Travel
The TCEO office is located at 2 Gardenia Avenue, Kirwan, which is a suburb of Townsville. Given the nature of the role, there is a significant amount of travel required throughout the Diocese as well as outside the Diocese to accommodate the breadth of a Director’s role.
Conditions of Employment
- The remuneration package reflects the seniority of the appointment and will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
- The initial contract period is for five (5) years, with further contract periods subject to Appraisal according to policy.
- Reasonable relocation assistance (if required) will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
- 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 https://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
- Applicants will require a current “C” Class Driver’s Licence.
Selection Criteria
The Bishop of Townsville invites expressions of interest from people who align with the following:
- A genuine, deeply embedded Catholic faith and an active member of a Catholic Eucharistic Community;
- The capacity to articulate a contemporary understanding of the Catholic Church’s mission in education;
- A career immersed in Catholic education with senior leadership experience;
- The personal attributes and leadership skills required to thrive while supporting a large education community to meet the emerging needs and future challenges of an ever-changing environment;
- Life-long learning through ongoing personal and professional inquiry.
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 TS1365. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number.
We do NOT ask you to address the selection criteria or provide an application document – just complete the panel on this page or send a one-line email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘Townsville Executive Director TS1365’; and providing your brief resume and contact telephone number.
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 | Fri 1st / Sat 2nd Sept |
Trak Search discussions commence | From Mon 18th Sept |
Latest anticipated date for applications | Fri 6th Oct |
Initial reference checks by Trak Search | From week commencing Mon 9th Oct |
Review meeting & short listing | Week commencing Mon 30th Oct |
Anticipated date for client interviews | From mid-November, date TBC |
Final references; psychological assessment | 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:
- 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 as we progress through this process;
- At the outset you will not be required to: complete an application form; provide a lengthy document to address the selection criteria; or supply 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 complete one work-related reference and a faith-related reference (with a Catholic Priest) prior to shortlisting, 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 shortlisting, in confidence, to the Bishop or his 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.