Assistant Head of School - Junior School

Applications are now invited for the prominent position to lead our dynamic Junior School.  The Assistant Head of School – Junior School (Head of Junior School) has a strong commitment to boys’ education and ensures quality teaching and learning is a focus of all staff and students. This role fosters an exceptional and thriving learning community and provides strategic leadership and motivation to a large and vibrant junior school community.

This Executive Leadership is offered as an ongoing position commencing Monday, 20 July 2026.

Applications close at 12pm on Friday 24 April 2026.

The College 

Marist College Canberra is a Congregational Catholic school for boys (Year 4-12) operating as part of ‘Marist Schools Australia’. It enjoys an excellent reputation for its pastoral care of students, academic studies, cultural and sport pursuits. The College is driven by staff who are committed to making a difference in the education of boys. As a Catholic school in the Marist tradition, we work in the spirit of our founder St. Marcellin Champagnat.

Since 1968, Marist College has been a part of and had its footprints on the land of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. As a College, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand. We acknowledge the continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship they have to this land and commit ourselves to the challenge of Closing the Gap and the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.

As a Catholic school in the Marist tradition we work in the spirit of our founder St. Marcellin Champagnat. Our Middle Leaders must be people of faith who can promote, develop and uphold the vision, charism and Catholic and Marist ethos in every aspect of College life.

The Role

The Assistant Head of School - Junior School (Head of Junior School) has a strong commitment to boys’ education and ensures quality teaching and learning is a focus of all staff and students. This role fosters an exceptional and thriving learning community and provides strategic leadership and motivation to a large and vibrant junior School community.

The Head of Junior School is accountable to the Headmaster for the day-to-day leadership, management and administration of the Junior School (approximately 460 students in Years 4 – 6, and 30 staff). The Head of Junior School is pivotal in leading and managing change, inspiring innovation and promoting excellence in all areas of educational practice in the Junior School, ensuring that a seamless (inclusive of Years 4 to 12) whole College community is articulated and supported.

The Head of Junior School is a dynamic member of the College Executive. They will work lead the Junior School Coordinating Group, leading and developing policies and strategies that integrate effective pastoral care, ongoing faith formation, curriculum innovation, academic engagement, excellent classroom practice and innovative approaches to learning and teaching. The Head of Junior School promotes pastoral care of students, staff and families ensuring a learning environment with a focus on the Catholic and Marist mission.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead and sustain an authentic Catholic culture in the tradition of St. Marcellin Champagnat and the Marist Association, inspiring others to commit to a personal and shared mission.
2. Inspire and build collaboration and solidarity; developing a vision for leadership at Marist based on authentic relationships, empowering members of the College community to realise their potential as exemplified in the person of Jesus.
3. Impact and influence academic care in the College by building high functioning teams; modelling, stimulating and providing opportunities for creative thinking, innovation and best or next practice.
4. Articulate and lead a culture of evidence-based change and improvement, building capacity in staff and students and ensuring effective organisation, management and administration of the College to support excellence.
5. Lead, develop, implement and evaluate structures, policies, processes and systems to enable the College to bring to life its vision and strategic directions and to continually imagine new realities.

These key responsibilities are further expanded in the Position Description Booklet, or in text only format.

Prior to accepting any teaching position within the College, applicants need to have read the document “Teaching in Catholic Schools – A Statement of Principles”, and the “Marist Child Safe Adult Code of Conduct”, which will be sent to you should you be offered a position

Essential Criteria 

Applicants are invited to address the following selection criteria:

1. A commitment to Catholic education, preferably in the Marist tradition and a willingness to contribute to the life of the College.
2. Accreditation to ‘Work, Teach, Lead’ in an MSA school, preferably with Accreditation E or be working towards it.
3. An active commitment to their local Catholic parish.
4. A College-wide vision for learning and teaching with a capacity to motivate, enthuse and lead staff in fulfilling their duties and improve learning outcomes for all boys in the Junior School through the implementation of Explicit Instruction.
5. Exemplary innovative pedagogical skills, and an understanding and passion for boys’ education with an extensive knowledge of current learning theory and practice.
6. The ability to facilitate effective change and develop high-quality policies and procedures to support initiatives.
7. Skills to lead and manage in a consultative and collaborative way and to demonstrate high-level interpersonal skills in communication, liaison and negotiation.
8. Effective management and organisational skills and administrative experience.

Other requirements:

Applicants would have a minimum of ten years successful teaching experience and have significant leadership experience.

Applicants must provide the names of three referees, including their current Principal or supervisor.

The position involves a personal substantial participation in a co-curricular activity, and may include a small teaching load.

Employment Conditions

The Assistant Head of School - Junior School will be appointed on an ongoing basis, with the employment contract commencement date of Monday 20 July 2026. The Assistant Head of School - Junior school will undertake a performance review in the role in the second year, and then every four years, unless otherwise directed by the Headmaster.

Terms and conditions for this appointment will be per the Teachers (Daramalan College, Marist College Canberra, and St Edmund’s College, Canberra) Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025, with the salary at the rate of Assistant Principal.

The successful applicant will be expected to be prepared and ready to take up the appointment from the commencement of Semester 2, Monday 20 July 2026.

Application Process

External applications will be received through the ‘Apply’ link on the College website, and require completion of personal details, application questions and the upload of a cover letter outlining your skills and experience, resume and WWVP card.

Applications from current staff should contain a cover letter outlining your skills and experience and be emailed to hr@mcc.act.edu.au.

Applications should be addressed to the College Headmaster, Mr Matthew Hutchison and be received by 12pm Friday 24 April, 2026.

Enquiries regarding the duties and nature of the position, or progress of the selection process, should be directed to Assistant Head of School – Staff and Community, Mr Glenn Slater at hr@mcc.act.edu.au or by phoning the staff office on 02 62987262.

The College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage you to visit our website https://www.maristc.act.edu.au should you require further information about Marist College Canberra.