Student Engagement Leader

Talent Focus; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Focus Education is partnering with a Catholic secondary college in Melbourne to appoint a Year 7–9 Student Engagement Leader. This leadership role focuses on wellbeing, belonging, and holistic student development beyond academics.

You will work with senior leadership to guide House Leaders and lead community engagement, while helping students transition confidently into secondary schooling.

Qualifications

• Experience in secondary teaching or leadership roles with a focus on student wellbeing.
• Ability to mentor staff and guide year-level teams.
• Strong understanding of pastoral care and student engagement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Inspire and mentor pastoral leaders to strengthen impact.
• Develop approaches to promote positive student choices and sense of belonging.
• Resolve challenging student situations with families and staff to achieve constructive outcomes.
• Strengthen attendance, participation, and overall wellbeing.
• Support transition experiences for students moving into secondary school.
• Lead year-level activities and coordinate appropriate support with teaching teams.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Team leadership

Student welfare

Relationship building

Conflict resolution

Education

Secondary teaching

VIT registration (Australia)

Job description

Talent Focus Education is excited to partner with a respected Catholic secondary college in Melbourne’s south-east to appoint a passionate and experienced Year 7–9 Student Engagement Leader.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced teacher or current middle leader ready to make a meaningful impact beyond the classroom.

We are looking for someone who understands that student success is about more than academic achievement. It’s about building confidence, developing resilience, encouraging positive choices and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

About the Opportunity

In this influential leadership role, you will help shape the day-to-day experiences of students in Years 7–9 while contributing to the broader direction of the College’s wellbeing and pastoral programs.

Working alongside senior leadership, you will guide a team of House Leaders, strengthen relationships across the school community and champion initiatives that encourage students to feel motivated, included and connected to their learning.

You will also play an important role in helping students successfully navigate the move into secondary school, establishing strong foundations for their educational journey.

Position Highlights:

• Position of Leadership Level 3 (POL 3)
• 15 periods of allocated leadership time per cycle
• Established Catholic secondary college
• Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs

What You’ll Be Doing No two days will look the same!

Your role will combine people leadership, student support, school improvement and community engagement.

You will:

• Inspire and mentor a team of pastoral leaders, providing direction and practical support to strengthen their impact.
• Create and champion approaches that encourage positive student choices, stronger participation and a sense of belonging.
• Take a proactive role in resolving challenging student situations, working collaboratively with families and colleagues to achieve constructive outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen school attendance, student participation and overall wellbeing.
• Help students settle confidently into secondary school through engaging transition experiences and connections with local primary schools.
• Bring energy and creativity to student activities, year-level initiatives and programs that enrich the secondary school experience.
• Collaborate with teaching teams to identify students requiring additional guidance and coordinate appropriate support.
• Contribute to a school culture where high expectations, mutual respect and positive relationships are at the heart of everyday learning.

What We’re Looking For

We would love to connect with educators who are passionate about making a difference and have the confidence, empathy and leadership capability to bring others along with them.

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• Experience in secondary teaching, ideally complemented by responsibilities in student wellbeing, pastoral leadership or year-level coordination.
• A genuine understanding of the challenges and opportunities young adolescents experience throughout their secondary schooling.
• The ability to confidently guide colleagues, build effective teams and lead through collaboration.
• A calm, considered and solutions-focused approach when navigating sensitive or challenging student matters.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage positively with students, parents and staff.
• Knowledge of contemporary approaches to student support, behaviour and restorative conversations.
• Excellent judgement, professionalism and the ability to handle confidential matters appropriately.
• A commitment to supporting the mission and values of Catholic education.
• Current Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who genuinely cares about young people, leads by example and understands the powerful influence great school leaders can have.

Join a Values-Driven College:

Become part of an established Catholic school community that places strong emphasis on relationships, student development and educational excellence.

Interested?

Let’s Have a Conversation! Whether you’re already working in a student wellbeing leadership position or you’re an experienced House Leader or Year Level Coordinator ready for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.