Commence January 2021
Are you ready ‘to be different’ as the Foundation Principal for the first Catholic secondary college in Australia to be co-located on a university campus?
Under the leadership of the Bishop of Cairns, James Foley, the Catholic Diocese of Cairns encompasses 377,000 km2 from Cardwell in the south, west to the Northern Territory Border including the Atherton Tablelands, and north to the Torres Strait Islands and Gulf of Carpentaria.
Catholic Education Services – Diocese of Cairns (CES), consists of twenty-nine schools which provide a quality education to almost 11,200 students.
Cairns Catholic Education is partnering with James Cook University to open its 30th school in the Diocese. In June 2019 James Cook University and Catholic Education in Cairns announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a new co-educational secondary college, to be located at the University’s Cairns Campus at Smithfield. The college will function as an autonomous and separate school, located on JCU land.
Catholic Education Services said the Year 7 to 12 college would serve the fast-growing Cairns northern beaches communities, but also, through the partnership with JCU, offer enormous opportunities for teacher training, professional development and educational research.
Bishop of Cairns James Foley said Catholic Education was keen to be part of Cairns’ key emerging education hub at Smithfield with much to be gained from the secondary and tertiary education sectors working together. Bishop Foley said the MOU also provided for a separate childcare centre at the Smithfield JCU campus to be operated by Catholic Early Learning and Care.
To be called Newman Catholic College, construction will take place in 2021 for a 2022 opening for Year 7. The college will progressively add a year level until Year 12 is reached in 2027. It is expected the school, when fully developed, will have 700-800 students.
Further Information
You can access a series of videos on Newman Catholic College by clicking here.
Additional information for Catholic Education Services can be viewed at address https://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/
Position Overview
Position Title: Principal
Reports to: Director School Effectiveness through to the Executive Director
Position Context and Purpose
Leadership and strategic management of the system of schools is the responsibility of the Executive Director of Catholic Education. Cairns Catholic Education Service sets strategic directions and develops system priorities, policies, procedures and guidelines supporting effective, ethical and safe practices at Newman Catholic College.
The Principal is the religious and educational leader of a Catholic school within the Diocese of Cairns.
A full Position Description will be provided at a later stage in the recruitment process.
Education Brief Overview
Through its particular Franciscan charism, spirituality, location and curriculum offerings, Newman Catholic College will strive to be a contemporary and relevant example to families, young people and the community of how the life of Jesus Christ can inspire people of all faith and non-faith traditions, to enrich their lives bound by a moral responsibility for the common good for all people and the world in which they live. As a Catholic College co-located with a secular university on Djabugay and Yirrganydji land, at the heart of everything is a dialogical way of operating that honours right relationships.
Newman Catholic College’s education and design briefs have been influenced by the imperative to DO and BE different because across the globe there is growing consensus that contemporary education demands radical transformation if we want students to become future ready in the face of a more digitally enabled, uncertain and fast changing world.
The compact site for the College provides a unique opportunity for a multi-level school which will be an exemplar of world class, contemporary, twenty-first century education design.
A full copy of the Draft Education Brief will be provided at a later stage in the recruitment process.
Initial Priority
Work with committees such as the JCU/Cairns Catholic Education Task Group, the Newman Catholic College Community Consultative Committee and Cairns CE Reference Groups to provide information on the imperative for Newman Catholic College to DO and BE different.
Commencement
It is anticipated the successful applicant will be able to start in this role for the commencement of the 2021 school year.
Conditions of Employment
- Remuneration is negotiable and will be discussed as we progress through the process.
- Appointment: 5-year initial period contract; with an option for a further 5 years
- The appointee to this position will be required to complete a period of 6-month probation, in accordance with The Fair Work Act 2010
- A non-smoking policy is effective in Catholic Education Services buildings, offices, and motor vehicles.
- The Diocese has a relocation policy to assist, if required
- Applicants will require a current “C” Class Drivers Licence
- 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 by accessing the web site of the Public Safety Business Agency at the following internet address: https://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au
Selection Criteria
We invite expressions of interest from people who align with the following:
- A commitment to the objectives, vision and ethos of Catholic Education.
- An active participant in and committed to the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
- A successful teaching career with senior leadership experience in secondary education.
- The passion, enthusiasm and creativity to ‘DO and BE different’.
- Skills in interpersonal relationships and the capacity for building community.
- Written and verbal communication skills of a high order.
- Qualifications in Education and Religion with a personal focus on continual professional learning.
Are You Interested in this Opportunity?
If you are interested in this role, simply complete the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this page; or email jobs@traksearch.com quoting ref number TS1439. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number (mobile preferred).
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Questions can be directed to either (a) Director John Chesher (0417 068 220) or (b) email to 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 as follows:
Date of project launch/advertising | By Friday 4th Sept. |
Latest anticipated date for applications | Wed 23 Sept |
Review meeting & short listing | Week commencing Mon 5th Oct |
Anticipated date for client interviews | Week of Monday 12th or 19th Oct |
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:
- Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for your confidential enquiries. They will also provide a range of additional information to allow you to explore how this opportunity aligns with your expectations and interests.
- Closing is 5.00pm (AEST) on the date shown above. However, a late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the employers schedule.
- We expect to contact one work-related referee and a Catholic Priest referee prior to shortlisting, with additional references completed later in the process.
- All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to shortlisting, in confidence, to the Executive Director or his nominee unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.
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