www.maristc.act.edu.au
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL Junior School
(Head of Junior School)
Acting Appointment for Semester 1 2026
Executive Leadership Position
Position Description
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
Acknowledgement
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
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.
Be a person of faith, prayer and reflection, a practicing Catholic, who articulates and promotes Catholic and Marist Spirituality, and gives personal witness to the Mission of the Church. Nourish, promote and strengthen the Catholic ethos and Marist spirituality among the school community by leading, supporting and participating in the College’s prayer, sacramental, and liturgical life
Model Marist Pedagogy and Marist Spirituality as an effective witness of the College vision
In partnership with AHS Mission and Identity, lead staff in a manner consistent with the Marist pedagogy, spirituality and tradition of the College, building and fostering a sense of collaboration, high standards and transparency.
Nurture and develop personal, spiritual, professional and leadership skills in self and others to facilitate reflection, improvement, innovation and change and to meet Marist Schools Australia (MSA) Accreditation.
Be present at College functions when necessary and represent the Headmaster at these or other events as required.
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
In collaboration with the Executive, encourage and enable staff to contribute to decision-making processes and strategic directions of the College
Inspire, motivate and affirm staff, for example through support of their dealings with students and parents, regular visits to classrooms, interviews, consultation, mentoring, goal setting, formal and informal meetings, and being available
Communicate effectively with the parents, staff and students about the College’s vision, strategic directions and achievements, contributing to Enews and other publications
Develop sustainable and authentic partnerships with the College community, responding to and supporting all students, staff and families on their journey through the Junior School
Key Responsibilities
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
Be a leader in boys’ education, both pastoral and academic, ensuring wellbeing, behaviour and achievements continually reflect College values. Prioritise the quality of teaching and learning taking place in each Junior School classroom by engagement with teaching staff and pursuit of academic strategies designed to lift standards and deepen learning
In partnership with the AHS – Learning and Teaching, and the Head of Learning and Teaching – Junior School, work closely with individual teachers and teacher teams, offering constructive feedback and support to pursue deep learning, differentiation and understanding for each student in the Junior School, stressing the importance of aligning curriculum, instruction, assessment and reporting Demonstrate exemplary teaching practice including explicit instruction and data–informed differentiation in Literacy and Numeracy to meet a wide range of learning needs and achieve optimal outcomes for learners in the Junior School
Lead an evidence-based approach to learning innovation especially as it relates to the integration of digital learning technologies into the academic curriculum.
Oversee innovative teaching and learning practices, ensuring a diverse and flexible curriculum which meets statutory requirements (ACARA and the Australian Curriculum) and maximises boys’ learning outcomes. In partnership with the AHS – Learning and Teaching, and the Head of Learning and Teaching – Junior School oversee the College’s use of data as it relates to the Junior School academic program and ensure its use to improve the College’s response to the learning needs of boys Administer all areas of the Junior School’s academic program including staffing, resource allocation, reporting and assessment procedures
Key Responsibilities
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
Lead and manage with authority issues and decisions effecting the Junior School campus in consultation with the Headmaster and College Executive
Oversee the efficient operation and administrative functions of the day to day activities in the Junior School
Work collaboratively with the Head of Senior School in matters relating to student welfare, including liaising with the College Junior School Counsellor and allied health agencies
Work collaboratively with the Assistant Head of School - Staff and Community in matters relating to employment relations for staff in the Junior School; the recruitment process; probation reviews; resolution of disputes, grievances or conflicts; performance evaluation and contract renewal and professional learning opportunities
Work collaboratively with the Director of Business Services; establishing and managing the annual budget for capital expenditure and necessary works; risk assessment management; legal compliance; WHS regulations; and evacuation procedures
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
Collaborate with the College Executive in the continued development, execution and evaluation of Annual Implementation Plans (AIPs) and associated strategic projects particularly as they relate to the Junior School
Engage staff in the Junior School in developing processes and strategies to implement the vision and strategic directions of the College Network with external agencies, Marist Schools Australia, Catholic Education to promote and strengthen the reputation of the Junior School and Marist College in the wider community and to build leadership capacity
Take an active interest and participation in the co-curricular life of the College.
Undertake other duties as directed by the Headmaster.
Essential Criteria
Applicants will need to demonstrate:
A commitment to Catholic education, preferably in the Marist tradition and a willingness to contribute to the life of the College
Accreditation to ‘Work, Teach, Lead’ in an MSA school, preferably with Accreditation E or be working towards it
An active commitment to their local Catholic parish
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.
Exemplary innovative pedagogical skills, and an understanding and passion for boys’ education with an extensive knowledge of current learning theory and practice
The ability to facilitate effective change and develop high quality policies and procedures to support initiatives
Skills to lead and manage in a consultative and collaborative way and to demonstrate high-level interpersonal skills in communication, liaison and negotiation. 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 small teaching load and participation in the co-curricular life of the College
Length of Tenure and Remuneration
The Assistant Head of School - Junior School will be appointed as an Acting position for Semester 1 2026.
The allowance for this position will be set at Assistant Principal – Teachers (Daramalan College, Marist College Canberra, and St Edmund’s College, Canberra) Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025
The successful applicant will be expected to take up the appointment for the commencement of the 2026 academic year.
Application Process
This position is internally advertised and open to current teaching staff of the College Applicants (current staff) should submit an application outlining their skills and experience addressed to the Headmaster, Mr Matthew Hutchison and sent to hr@mcc act edu au
Applications should be received by 5pm Friday 7 November 2025 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.
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Street Address: 27 Marr Street, Pearce ACT 2607
Postal Address: PO Box 727, Mawson ACT 2607
Phone: Senior School +61 2 6298 7200
Junior School +61 2 6298 7271
Website: https://www.maristc.act.edu.au
Email: hr@mcc act edu au