Head of Strings

Caulfield Grammar School; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & 12% Super

Professional development

Onsite parking

Health & Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Program

BENY discounts

Job summary

Caulfield Grammar School seeks an inspiring String Teacher and department leader to teach across campuses and guide string tuition from beginner through VCE. You will oversee ensembles, coordinate rehearsals and connect tuition with classroom music programs.

You will report to the Director of Music, lead a team of specialist string teachers, recruit students and shape performance pathways across Caulfield, Wheelers Hill, Malvern and Shelford campuses.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Music (performance and/or education).
• Teaching qualification and full VIT registration is required.
• String performance at a high standard with professional credibility.

Responsibilities

• Teach individual and group string lessons from beginner to VCE level including AMEB/VCE exam prep.
• Direct string ensembles, lead rehearsals, sections and performances across campuses.
• Lead, coach and develop the department's string teachers through professional growth checks.

Skills

Music education

Teaching qualification

VIT registration

String performance

Ensemble direction

Coaching & feedback

Data-driven scheduling

Work across campuses

Education

Bachelor/Master in Music Education

Postgraduate qualifications desirable

Job description

Caulfield Grammar School is aninternationally recognised, independent, co-educational schoolcommitted to providing exceptional educational opportunities fromEarly Learning through Year 12. With over 3700 students across 4campuses and our Student Experience Programs in Yarra Junction andKakadu, Caulfield Grammar passionately strives to deliverinnovative specialist educational programs enabling qualitylearning every day, in every experience, for every learner, forlife.

Music at Caulfield Grammar School isamong the largest school music programs in Australia, with around90 music staff and 100 ensembles across our campuses, thousands ofstudents in weekly instrumental and vocal tuition, and a fullcalendar of concerts and events, including the biennial SchoolConcert at Hamer Hall, Generations in Jazz and internationaltours.

TheRole

We are seeking an inspiring StringTeacher and leader while our Head of Strings is on long serviceleave. You will teach strings and lead the Strings departmentacross all campuses, from beginner lessons through to VCE, externalexaminations and the School's most advanced stringensembles.

Reporting to the Director of Music,you will lead a team of specialist string teachers, guarantee thequality and consistency of string tuition, and build thedepartment's ensembles, recruitment and student pathways so thatevery student has the opportunity to take part in a high-qualitystrings program. Working closely with Campus Heads of Music, Headsof Faculty (Music) and fellow Heads of Instrumental Music, you willconnect weekly tuition with the classroom music program and thecalendar of rehearsals, soirees, concerts, festivals andtours.

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), fixedterm position for Terms 1 to 3, 2027: 0.6 FTE teaching strings and0.4 FTE as Head of Strings, with a Position of Responsibilityallowance (POR3). It starts in January 2027, finishes on 19September 2027 and works across our Caulfield, Wheelers Hill,Malvern and Shelford campuses. We welcome applications from currentstaff and external candidates.

KeyDuties

• Teach individual and small-groupstring lessons from beginner to VCE level, including AMEB andVCE examination preparation
• Direct string ensembles, leadingrehearsals, sectionals andperformances
• Foster young talent and modelenergetic, innovative teaching practice that motivates aspiringmusicians
• Mark rolls on time, report onstudent progress and keep familiesinformed
• As Head of Strings (0.4 FTE),you will:
• Lead, develop and support thedepartment's string teachers through coaching conversations,Professional Growth check-ins and targeted professionallearning
• Uphold high standards of stringtuition from beginner to VCE, including repertoire, technicaldevelopment and preparation for VCE and AMEBexaminations
• Oversee the department'sensemble program, including auditions, placements and studentleadership roles
• Plan and deliver thedepartment's soirees, concerts, festival entries and eventsacross campuses, and contribute to the School's major musicevents
• Lead staff recruitment for thedepartment with People and Culture, and oversee timetables,leave, cover and make-up lessonarrangements
• Lead student recruitment andretention, using participation, retention and attendance dataeach term to plan and act early
• Allocate students to teachersacross campuses, balancing loads, continuity andspecialisation
• Ensure the department's rollsare marked accurately and on time, recognising that tuitionrecords drive both family billing and staffpay
• Manage the department's budget,instruments, instrument hire and musiclibrary
• Communicate clearly withfamilies, and engage with Friends of Music and our campuscommunities
• Model and live the CaulfieldGrammar School values andbehaviours

Skills andExperience

• Tertiary qualifications in Music(performance and/or education); postgraduate qualificationsdesirable
• Teaching qualification and fullVIT registration
• String performance of a highstandard, with the credibility of a practisingmusician
• A proven record as an exemplarystring teacher from beginner to VCE and external examinationlevel
• Capacity to engage and inspirestudents of all ages, from beginners to seniormusicians
• Experience leading ahigh-quality instrumental teaching team, including coaching,feedback and performance management
• String ensemble direction andconducting experience
• Confident use of data, and ofscheduling, roll-marking and student managementsystems
• Excellent organisational,communication and problem-solving skills; experience workingacross multiple campuses is anadvantage
• A current Employment WorkingWith Children Check

For further information pleasesee Position Description.

Why Caulfield GrammarSchool

Our culture is defined by the fivevalues: Pursuing Excellence, Inspiring Creativity, ThrivingTogether, Embracing Diversity, and Living Wholeheartedly. Thesevalues guide the way we work together with passion and authenticitybased on our guiding principle of a Mind forLife.

For more information about pursuing acareer of excellence at Caulfield Grammar School, please visitour Careers Page .

OurBenefits

• Competitive base and 12%Superannuation
• Continuous professionaldevelopment opportunities
• Access to outstanding facilitiesand resources with free onsiteparking
• Health & Wellbeing activitiesthroughout the year
• Employee Assistance Program(EAP)
• Access to BENY with discountsexclusive to Caulfield employees