Assistant Principal-Range 2

Government schools; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ngurraga School in Melbourne is seeking an Assistant Principal to lead educational leadership across a growing school serving Prep to Year 12. The role includes strategic planning, policy implementation, budget oversight and fostering a collaborative, inclusive learning environment.

The successful candidate will drive high-quality teaching and learning, mentor staff, and partner with families and the community to support student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capacity for visionary and exemplary educational leadership.
• Outstanding financial, organisational and resource management skills.
• Ability to implement Department policies with high proficiency.
• Ability to motivate staff and build an effective team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in diverse contexts.
• Ability to work with parents and community to enhance learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation and evaluation of cohesive curriculum across the school.
• Mentor and coach middle leaders to develop leadership capacity.
• Oversee budget, staffing and program delivery within designated areas.
• Advance teaching and learning through evidence-based practices.
• Contribute to policy development and school improvement planning.

Skills

Educational leadership

Financial management

Policy & planning

Staff leadership

Interpersonal skills

Community engagement

Job description

Location Profile

Ngurraga School is a new, purpose-built specialist school located in Werribee South, within Melbourne’s rapidly growing western suburbs. Established in 2026, the school will expand to provide education for students from Prep to Year 12 in 2027, catering for students with mild to profound intellectual disabilities.

Our school is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and engaging learning environment where every student is supported to achieve their individual potential. Through personalised, evidence-based teaching, a strong focus on communication, wellbeing and independence, and a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, we strive to deliver meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for life beyond school.

At Ngurraga School, we are committed to challenging the status quo, striving for excellence and continuously improving the way we teach, lead and support our students. Our school values underpin our decisions, relationships and daily practices, fostering a culture of high expectations, inclusion, respect and collaboration.

As a growing school, Ngurraga offers an exciting opportunity for passionate and dedicated professionals to help shape an innovative and forward-thinking school community. We are equally committed to supporting our staff, recognising that professional excellence is built on a foundation of wellbeing, work-life balance, collaboration and meaningful professional growth.

Join our growing team and be part of a school that challenges thinking, values its people and strives to make a genuine difference in the lives of every student.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Educational leadership

(a) Outstanding capacity for visionary and exemplary educational leadership of a school or college.

(b) Highly developed skills in leading and managing change including the leadership of others in the process of change.

SC2 Financial, managerial and administrative ability

(a) Outstanding financial, organisational and resource management skills.

SC3 Planning, policy and program development and review

(a) Exemplary values appropriate to the development of student learning with a demonstrated capacity to achieve high quality student outcomes.

(b) Demonstrated ability to implement Department policies to a high level.

(c) An understanding of, and a commitment to, the use of learning technologies to improve teaching and learning.

SC4 Leadership of staff and students

(a) A highly developed capacity to motivate staff, develop their talents and build an effective team.

(b) A clear capacity to foster a learning environment that takes account of the individual needs of students and helps students to develop their special abilities and talents.

SC5 Interpersonal and communication skills

(a) Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills in individual, small group and community contexts.

(b) Exemplary values pertaining to personal qualities of objectivity, sensitivity and integrity.

(c) An ability to work with parents and the community to develop a strong learning environment.

SC6 School specific criteria

(a) Demonstrated capacity to lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of a cohesive and comprehensive curriculum, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based teaching and learning across the school.

(b) Proven ability to build Middle Leader capability by implementing a structured mentoring and coaching model, fostering leadership growth and driving sustained excellence in teaching and learning.

Role

The assistant principal reports directly to the principal.

Assistant principals have a primary responsibility for the management of significant areas or functions within the school to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program. In exercising the responsibility, assistant principals will have the authority to make all significant decisions relating to the program, budget and staff relating to their area of designated responsibility within the framework of the school's strategic plan, policies and budget. Assistant principals will contribute to the overall management of the school through involvement in policy formulation and decision making.

The management of significant school program or functional areas in schools involve assistant principals in the analysis of the needs of students and the translation of state educational policy and frameworks into appropriate education programs to meet the needs of all students.

Typically assistant principals will be responsible for the effective use of the teaching staff and program budget of a defined area of the school's operation and for the oversight and leadership of the educational programs provided utilising these resources.

Responsibilities

Typical, assistant principals perform one or more of the following functions:

• supervision and coordination of the work of senior curriculum or level coordinators;
• allocation of budgets, positions of responsibility and other resources within the area of responsibility;
• supervision of the delivery of teaching programs;
• management of programs to improve the knowledge and experience of staff;
• responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers and year level coordinators;
• contribute to the overall management of the school;

Who May Apply

Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

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 [e-mail]

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 safe 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

• 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

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 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal

Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class:

• The person must have provisional or full registration approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching; and
• if the person completed an Australian postgraduate level initial teaching program or course of study on or after 1 January 2024, they must demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed a postgraduate level accredited initial teacher education program that has been accredited by an Australian State or Territory Teacher Regulatory Authority as satisfying the requirements of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership 'Accreditation of initial teacher education programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures'; and
• a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) program after 1 July 2016 must also demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements (this condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian ITE program completed by the person).

Details of qualification requirements as updated from time to time can be found at Recruitment in Schools .