Head of Junior School, St Michael's Grammar School

Located in St Kilda, St Michael’s Grammar School is a leading independent, co-educational Anglican school educating students from early learning to Year 12.
  
St Michael’s is a dynamic, cosmopolitan learning community where every student is known, supported and encouraged to thrive. Grounded in Dignity, Respect, Care and Compassion, St Michael’s combines academic excellence and wellbeing with exceptional creative, sporting, performing arts and experiential opportunities. Its award-winning programs and learning environments under a distinctive one-campus model build strong foundations for belonging and achievement that fosters a love of learning through a connected K–12 journey. The Junior School balances explicit, evidence-informed teaching with purposeful inquiry, signature learning experiences and student agency.
  
The Head of Junior School reports directly to the Head of the School and contributes as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, working collaboratively across the School to lead the educational, cultural, operational and community priorities of Kindergarten to Year 6.
  
Meaningfully visible, accessible and immersed in community life, the Head of Junior School champions a vibrant and distinctive Junior School identity. The role strengthens evidence-informed teaching, literacy and numeracy outcomes, student agency and staff capability, while ensuring disciplined and responsive operations. Through empowering leadership and skilled coaching, the position fosters shared ownership, aligns people around clear priorities and builds trusted partnerships with students, staff and families. Confident and compelling advocacy further strengthens a cohesive culture of agency and excellence, reinforcing the Junior School’s appeal and profile as the gateway to a broader and extraordinary St Michael’s experience.
  
The successful candidate demonstrates the ability to:

• Embody St Michael’s values, leading with authentic presence, warmth and visibility, earning trust through sound judgement, professional confidence and a genuine commitment to children.
• Proactively engage past, current and prospective Junior School students and families through trusted relationships and passionate advocacy, driving enrolment growth, strengthening retention and building confidence in St Michael’s as a school of choice.
• Lead a culture of continuous improvement, collective commitment, and collaboration by role modelling curiosity, building agency, shared accountability and organisational judgement, successfully shaping practices, structures and expectations.
• Provide accomplished instructional leadership, strengthening literacy, numeracy and student outcomes through coherent, evidence-informed practice and purposeful use of data.
• Exercise decisive operational leadership, attending to detail, managing complexity and ensuring consistently effective operations to sustain innovation.

Offered as a five-year fixed-term contract and commencing in January 2027 (or earlier by negotiation), applicants should be experienced educational leaders who thrive when leading a close-knit community, must have an existing right to work in Australia and hold current VIT registration (or eligibility to hold).
  
St Michael’s Grammar School staff comply with the School’s child safety policies and related policies and procedures, upholding the principles and values set out in legislative frameworks and regulations, at all times conducting themselves in accordance with the commitment to take all reasonable steps to promote the safety of children. St Michael’s Grammar School has a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse and is committed to promoting child safety, children's wellbeing and protecting children from abuse.
  
Hutton Consulting Australia (HCA) is partnering with St Michael’s Grammar School in this search and selection process. For a confidential discussion and to obtain the Candidate Information Pack prior to applying, please contact the lead consultant, Chris Menagé, on ************@hutton.education.
  
Application closing date: 7pm Sunday 30th August 2026, although kindly note eligible applications will be screened upon receipt and HCA and the School reserve the right to appoint prior to the deadline.
  
Please ONLY APPLY via HCA’s website at:https://hutton.education/opportunities
(direct applications via other websites will not be accepted)