An exciting opportunity for a Head of Education to support the Mercy Education Limited network of schools:
* Expand your educational leadership across 13 Catholic schools
* Join a fantastic National Office team, located in East Melbourne, in a large mission-focused organisation
* Competitive salary and benefits, including salary packaging available
* Full-time but consideration will be given to 0.8 FTE
Core Responsibilities
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you'll be responsible for supporting member schools in delivering excellence in education, student performance reporting, school registrations and engagement with regulatory authorities. You will also support the CEO and Principals with school leader selection, appointments, professional development and appraisals. Other responsibilities include:
* Oversee the development, implementation and continuous evolution of Mercy Colleges Review Framework, ensuring that all colleges within the Mercy community are delivering high quality, evidence‐based, student‐focused learning and formation in the Mercy Tradition.
* In collaboration with the CEO, ensure appropriate accountability, capability building and development are established and maintained for all Principals.
* Assist Principals appoint and appraise school senior leaders (e.g. deputy principals).
* In collaboration with the Mercy Education Human Resources Manager, support professional development programs for College Advisory Councils, senior school staff and student leaders to appropriately reflect and strengthen our mission and ethos.
* Develop and implement a program for engagement with, and appropriate support of, Mercy's affiliated schools.
* Lead and oversee Mercy Education's communications strategy, including communications with internal and external stakeholders.
* Liaise with school personnel on social justice programs such as Seeds of Justice and other ISMAPNG social action initiatives.
* Liaise with school personnel regarding Mercy Education's national student activities (Frayne Speech Festival, Seeds of Justice Seminars).
* Establish and maintain cooperative and collaborative working relationships with personnel from Mercy Ministry Companions; the Institute of Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG); Dublin Pilgrimage & Ethos Programs.
* Provide leadership, supervision and support to Mercy Education's Communications Officer.
* Act as Executive Officer for the Board's Mission and Education Committee.
* Deputise for the Chief Executive as appropriate.
Skills &Qualifications
This role is well suited for an experienced educational leader (ideally Principal or Deputy Principal) who has a strong understanding of Catholic education and looking to expand their leadership by inspiring innovative and excellent education across multiple schools. The successful candidate will also possess the following:
* Be able to demonstrate a commitment to the mission, vision and values of Mercy Education and the ministerial works of the Mercy Ministry Companions.
* Extensive experience in school leadership roles, including at Deputy Principal or Principal level.
* Demonstrated ability to inspire and lead the provision of innovative and excellent education.
* Demonstrates a firm commitment to Catholic Faith and Education in the Mercy tradition.
* Relevant professional and tertiary qualifications ideally at a post-graduate level in education.
* Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement which drives strategic planning.
* Demonstrated experience in personnel development, management and organisational leadership.
* Highly developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders.
Other Relevant Information
* All employees are required to adhere to Mercy Education policies and procedures as varied from time to time.
* This role will require a Working with Children Check and a National Police Records Check.
* This role will require occasional travel to Mercy Education schools.
* Under Victorian Workcover legislation, it is the applicant's duty to advise Mercy Education of any pre-existing medical conditions which could be aggravated by the type of role for which they are applying.
Application Requirements
To apply for the position, please submit the following items:
* A covering letter that includes your response to the key selection criteria (max 2 pages)
Applications close at 5:00pm Thursday 12 February 2026. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Mercy Education is committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and dignity of all young people.
The existence of the Mercy Education Limited gives strength, support and solidarity to each of the member Mercy schools - staff, students, College Councils and parents – as the work of Mercy Education continues into the future.
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