Assistant director of catholic schools - newcastle west

Assistant Director of Catholic Schools – Newcastle West

The Catholic Schools, Diocese of Maitland‐Newcastle, is seeking an exceptional and contemporary educational leader for the role of Assistant Director of Catholic Schools commencing in January 2027.

Supporting a thriving system of 58 schools, this significant executive leadership role will contribute to shaping the strategic direction, performance, and future growth of Catholic education across the Diocese.

Working closely with a portfolio of schools, the Assistant Director provides leadership, mentoring and strategic support to Principals and leadership teams, fostering strong partnerships and promoting excellence in teaching, learning, wellbeing and faith formation. The role also provides leadership within Catholic Schools, contributing to a collaborative and high‐performing executive leadership team.

Based at Catholic Schools in Newcastle West, the role involves regular engagement with schools and communities across the Diocese.

This opportunity is ideally suited to a highly accomplished Principal or senior educational leader with substantial leadership experience, preferably including a minimum of 10 years in school leadership.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• a deep commitment to the mission and teachings of the Catholic Church
• a strong understanding of contemporary Catholic education
• exceptional strategic and relational leadership capability
• a demonstrated ability to inspire excellence, innovation, and collaboration across a large and diverse educational system

Position Description

The Assistant Director of Catholic Schools provides instructional and operational leadership to school principals across the Catholic Diocese of Maitland‐Newcastle. The Assistant Director provides advice, mentoring and support to principals to ensure the efficient and effective operation of schools and the maximisation of student outcomes.

The role supports the continued growth of existing principals, and plays a pivotal role in the recruitment, induction and support of new principals. The role provides advice in relation to school operations, escalates matters to the Director of Catholic Schools, and provides emergency school Principal coverage when required. This role is also a key contact and CSO representative in transition and growth programmes relevant to primary and secondary schools.

Experience / Criteria

• Practising Catholic active in the life of a Eucharistic community, with an understanding of their baptismal call to share and witness the good news of Jesus Christ
• Experienced Principal with proven ability to develop staff, manage complex staffing issues, and manage response to organisational change
• Experience in an educational institution, showing understanding of the student lifecycle and associated measures
• Experience and understanding of educational governance and familiarity with the relevant statutory requirements
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, change management and partnership skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at varying levels of the organisation
• Demonstrated ability to assess and support schools in setting and achieving strategic priorities; initiating and driving improvement, innovation, and change; and embedding and applying new learning within a rapidly changing sector and global environment
• Demonstrated experience in interpreting analytics, with a strong understanding of business performance reporting metrics

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualifications in education, educational leadership combined with demonstrated teaching experience and experience as senior educator, or an equivalent combination of experience, training, and achievement
• Current paid NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) number
• Current NSW Driver's Licence
• Active NESA Teacher Accreditation
• Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead (level E)

Safeguarding and Compliance

The Diocese of Maitland‐Newcastle is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and preventing those in our care from suffering abuse or neglect. It is committed to implementing and maintaining compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and takes a zero‐tolerance approach to abuse of children or vulnerable persons. All who work in the name of the Diocese must comply with the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy and act in accordance with the Diocese's Code of Conduct which includes the Diocese's Safeguarding Commitment Statement. Employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and retain a valid NSW Working with Children Check where necessary, in accordance with legislation.