Selection Criteria
SC1. Demonstrated ability to lead with integrity, empathy, and respect, creating a workplace where staff feel valued, supported, and connected to the college¿s purpose and strategic priorities.
SC2. Demonstrated high level HR knowledge and experience, with the ability to provide expert advice across workforce planning, recruitment, employee relations, and performance. Proven capacity to interpret and apply the VGSA, DE policies, and relevant legislation in a school context.
SC3. Proven ability to lead and implement effective HR, wellbeing, and OHS policies and drive continuous improvement. Demonstrated capability in strategic thinking, data informed decision making, and leading change that strengthens organisational culture.
SC4. Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence, coach, and support leaders and staff. Demonstrated experience managing sensitive HR matters and fostering a positive, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture.
SC5. Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and interpret complex data to inform recommendations. Proven sound judgement, strong attention to detail, and an ability to anticipate issues and develop proactive HR solutions.
SC6. Proven capacity to lead and develop Education Support staff and work effectively as part of a leadership team. Demonstrated commitment to modelling college values and contributing to a collaborative, accountable, and high performing culture.
Role
The Human Resources (HR) Manager provides high level strategic and operational leadership in all aspects of staff and culture across the college. The role supports the Principal Team and Leadership Team in ensuring a safe, inclusive, and high performing workplace that aligns with the college¿s values and strategic priorities.
The HR Manager plays a key role in workforce planning, employee relations, staff wellbeing, and compliance with employment and occupational health and safety legislation. As a member of the Leadership Team, the HR Manager contributes to whole college planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
Responsibilities
Strategic and Operational Leadership
- Provide strategic HR advice and guidance to the Principal Team on workforce planning, staff wellbeing, and organisational culture.
- Develop, implement, and review HR and OHS policies, systems, and procedures to ensure compliance with Department of Education (DE), Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA), ministerial orders and legislation.
- Lead continuous improvement in HR processes and support a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and staff wellbeing.
- Interpret industrial agreements, awards, and policies relevant to Victorian Government school employees and ensure consistent and fair application across the college.
- Manage eduPay, Recruitment Online, and other HR systems to ensure productive and accurate data management.
Staff Recruitment, Onboarding, and Offboarding
- Coordinate end-to-end recruitment and selection processes ensuring compliance with DE policies and merit based selection principles.
- Develop position descriptions, selection criteria, interview documentation, and onboarding materials in consultation with relevant line managers.
- Oversee induction programs to ensure new staff are effectively welcomed and supported in their transition to the college.
- Manage offboarding processes, including exit documentation, debriefs, and record management.
Employee Relations and Staff Support
- Provide expert advice and coaching to leaders and staff on employment matters, performance and development, leave, and entitlements.
- Support the Principal Team with advice in managing staff grievances, conflict resolution, and disciplinary processes in accordance with DE procedures and industrial agreements.
- Promote staff wellbeing and coordinate access to the Employee Wellbeing Support Services and other wellbeing initiatives.
- Support the implementation of the college¿s Annual Staff Review and other initiatives that focus on staff and leadership development.
Workforce Management and Payroll
- Oversee payroll operations in conjunction with the Assistant Principal ¿ Staffing & Operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance with DE guidelines.
- Support the Principal with workforce planning, SRP staffing cost reviews and leave reimbursements.
- Provide reports and advice on workforce data, staffing trends, and HR analytics to inform decision making.
Occupational Health and Safety and Return to Work
- Act as the Principal¿s nominee on the Occupational Health and Safety Committee and serve as its Executive Officer.
- Ensure compliance with OHS and WorkCover legislation, DE policy, eduSafe Plus and college procedures.
Leadership and Collaboration
- Lead and support Education Support staff within the HR and general office functions, fostering a culture of respect, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Participate as an active member of the Leadership Team, contributing to strategic initiatives and college wide projects.
- Liaise with DE and other relevant bodies on HR and OHS matters.
- Act as Executive Officer to the Consultative Committee (AAC) and provide HR advice to support consultative processes.
Other
- Undertake other duties as directed by the Principal (or nominee), consistent with the scope and classification of the position. Where additional duties are required, these will focus on outcomes that support a collaborative culture and advance the strategic priorities of the college.
Who May Apply
Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.
Diversity and Inclusion
The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
Child Safe Standards
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child protected standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
DE Values
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
Other Information
Leaders at Bendigo Senior Secondary College (BSSC) are committed to the following shared expectations:
Value people
- Actively recognise the contributions, efforts and growth of staff.
- Foster a culture of respect, inclusion and support.
Build trust and collaboration
- Communicate clearly with compassion.
- Encourage teamwork and shared purpose.
- Create opportunities for open dialogue and shared problem-solving.
Lead with integrity and accountability
- Demonstrate professionalism in all actions and decisions.
- Uphold ethical decision making, transparency and fairness.
Prioritise wellbeing and connection
- Understand that a healthy and engaged workforce is essential to a thriving learning community.
- Promote balance, compassion and care in the way we work together.
Promote learning and growth
- Encourage professional reflection and openness to feedback.
- Foster continuous improvement and a culture of shared learning.
- Support others to achieve their potential.
Inspire purpose and optimism
- Celebrate achievement and progress.
- Embrace innovation and new ideas.
- Focus on what¿s best for students, staff and the broader BSSC community.
Conditions of Employment
- All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
- Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
- A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
- Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx
Location Profile
Bendigo Senior Secondary College (BSSC) is a Year 11 and 12 school located in one of Victoria's strongest and fastest growing regional areas. With an enrolment of 1870 students, we are the largest provider of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) delivered in schools in the state.
Our ROLE at BSSC is to empower learners for individual, community and global leadership, underpinned by the values of Respect, Optimism, Learning and Engagement. We are proud of the significant role we play supporting young people from the Greater Bendigo community to access high quality education programs, tailored to meet the individual needs and pathway goals of every student.
BSSC is located within the Rosalind Park precinct in the centre of Bendigo and has enjoyed an unrivalled picturesque location on this site for more than a century. The entire college site is on the Victorian Heritage Register. Staff, students and the broader community value the history of the college, and the contribution it has made to the city and to state education.
The college provides an inclusive learning environment which supports students to develop attributes and behaviours necessary to be respectful community members, independent and resourceful learners and to achieve success within and beyond school. We foster a strong study culture with high expectations around student effective use of private study time in the various study spaces around the college. Students are provided with free access to an extensive range of high quality learning support and exam revision opportunities.
Staff are committed to supporting the academic progress and wellbeing of students where strong, respectful relationships are the basis for all communication. Students are encouraged to interact closely with their teachers and seek help at any time.
The college has a reputation for exemplary use of ICT and delivery of online learning. Students have high level access to ICT and the college operates a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model where students provide their own laptop or other device to support their learning. There is an emphasis on the use of blended delivery, which allows students to access digital curriculum resources to support the classroom instruction provided by teachers. This is enhanced by access to digital content developed through the Victorian Virtual Learning Network, a BSSC initiative where the college provides VCE online to students in schools around the state in a range of VCE studies.
An online portal is available which allows parents to monitor attendance, work completion and achievement in real time and provides for the approval of absences. Teachers upload key assessment outcomes and comments in a progressive reporting model.
A strength of our college is the expertise and commitment of our dedicated staff. Teachers at BSSC play a leading role in state wide curriculum development, subject associations, VCAA assessment processes and in the professional learning of teachers across the state. All staff are expected to demonstrate the highest professional standards and a commitment to excellence. The college has a culture of self-reflection and continuous improvement which is supported by a rigorous performance and development process, allowing recognition of outstanding work and identification of areas for further improvement.
A wide range of VCE studies is offered and students can select units in Business and Information Technology, English, Health & Physical Education, Languages & EAL, Humanities, Mathematics, Performing Arts & Media, Science, Technology and Visual Arts. An accelerated learning program operates in conjunction with Bendigo¿s four government 7-10 colleges where students are able to undertake some VCE studies whilst in Year 10 and are then encouraged to undertake a Unit 3/4 study in their first year at the college.
Students have access to the VCE¿s Vocational Major offering and the Victorian Pathways Certificate and also to Head Start school based apprenticeships and traineeships.
Student programs are tailored to meet the learning, wellbeing and pathway goals of each student. Programs can include combinations of studies at Unit 1/2 and 3/4 level, completing the VCE over three years or negotiating a program to meet individual student health, school-based apprenticeship or elite sport training commitments. We have a close relationship with the four government Year 7-10 colleges in Bendigo and work together around orientation activities and pathways advice to support students in making informed program choices and a positive transition to our college.
The college is a Registered Training Organisation with many Vocational Education and Training (VET) programs on its scope of registration. Strong relationships with other training providers in Bendigo and our Trade Training Centre provide our students with access to excellent vocational training facilities and opportunities.
As a senior secondary education provider, we specialise in assisting students to make a positive transition to the next stage of their lives, whether that is to University or other study, apprenticeships or traineeships or directly on to employment. Extensive careers and pathways advice is available to students and is complemented by the individual support each student receives from their Advisor who closely monitors their wellbeing and progress. Additional support to assist students to stay engaged with their learning is provided through our Wellbeing Team. Students can access support from our Student Wellbeing Team and other visiting department staff.
NETschool is a second campus of the college, providing curriculum access for 15 to 18 year old students who have been outside mainstream schooling or training. NETschool provides access to VCE, VCE VM and VET subjects from its central city location.
The college provides outstanding facilities to support student learning in a combination of historic and up-to-date facilities. These include the Ulumbarra Performing Arts Centre which incorporates a 1000 seat theatre, café and foods/hospitality facilities. Other recent modernised or new building projects include the Student Services Centre, Library, Multimedia Centre, refurbishment of the historic Maths building and an outdoor recreation area. Other purpose-built facilities include our Language Centre and Trade Training Centre. Each of these areas contain casual student study spaces, kitchenettes and high-level access to ICT.
One of the features of the college for many years has been the presence of students from other countries who come to study as fee paying students or through exchange programs. International students are supported in homestay arrangements with local families who provide cultural and language enrichment experiences. We are proud of the work we do to support New Arrival and refugee students, including through our intensive EAL program.
The college highly values the presence and contribution of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student population. These students are assisted by a range of additional support services which are closely linked to families and Community.
The international focus of the college is wide ranging and includes sister school relationships in China, France, Germany and Indonesia. When travel conditions allow, students can participate in curriculum and intercultural learning exchanges to these countries, and also to Italy and Greece. College curriculum has also developed a focus on the building of student global perspectives.
The college runs a very successful Confucius Classroom program in partnership with a Chinese agency and a Chinese sister school. This program attracts high quality Chinese teachers to Bendigo who deliver Chinese language and culture programs into over twenty Bendigo primary and secondary schools, and evening classes for the broader Bendigo community. This program is supporting young people from around the region to access an additional language and build their intercultural competence.
At BSSC we believe that every child is capable of achieving and has a right to a high-quality education which will empower them with the attitude, knowledge and skills necessary for success in life and work beyond school.
For further information about the College visit www.bssc.edu.au