Business Manager

LATROBE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENTAL SCHOOL

Latrobe SDS is located in Traralgon. It is one of two special schools in the Latrobe Valley and is the only Special Developmental School in the Gippsland region. The school caters for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Students travel from all over the Latrobe Valley and surrounding outlying areas to attend.

In 2022 we moved to a new purpose-built school site. Our facilities include: classrooms with attached kitchenettes, quiet spaces and toilets; art/homecrafts; STEM; tech/manufacturing; food technology; therapy spaces; multi-purpose hall; library; consulting rooms and staff work spaces. These are surrounded by stunning landscaping, bright and colourful playgrounds and open spaces including a basketball court, walking track and playing field. 

Our dynamic team provides a stimulating educational program for students with significant intellectual and associated difficulties and disorders between ages of 4.8 to 18 years of age. Parents, staff and carers work collaboratively in planning educational and developmental programs for students.  Student Support Groups are established for each student and emphasise the importance of a partnership between home and school in developing student goals. Our allied health team supports staff to develop programs which specifically target the learning goals of our students.

As a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Lead Respectful Relationship school we focus on the wellbeing and engagement of our students. Explicit teaching of our school values and expected behaviours provides students with the skills to self-regulate and actively participate in their learning. When behaviours arise, our tier 1 and tier 2 PBS teams provide support to staff to understand why the behaviour is occurring and teach students strategies specific to the skills needed to shift their behaviour. Parents are a key partner is this process so there is consistency between home and school.

School activities and programs focus on improving student learning outcomes and promoting greater independence. Staff encourage students to strive for excellence in all of their endeavours. To achieve this, the school provides sequential teaching and learning programs that deliver a comprehensive, broadly based and inclusive curriculum based on the Victorian Curriculum. The development of student communication is a key component of each student¿s Individual Education Plan and central to the learning process.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic team as we begin our journey at our new school site.

SC1    Demonstrated capacity to lead an office team, including capacity for directing the work of others.

SC2    Demonstrated knowledge and experience in respect to human resource and financial management records systems.

SC3   Sound knowledge of financial management legal requirements and practices, including the capacity to produce reports and provide advice in respect to those reports.

SC4    High level organizational skills, including the capacity to prioritise work flows.

SC5    High level written and verbal communication skills.

A Business Manager role will usually undertake tasks that impact on the whole school. The role seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, finance or human resources.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy.  Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility.  Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases.  Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice in matters relating to the school finance, human resources or school administration.

Deliver School Services

• Manage the design and production of school publications and documents

Finance

• Manage and direct the preparation of annual budgets and regular financial statements and contribute to the financial decision making of the school.
• Prepare funding submissions for the leadership team and school council.
• Direct the accounting processes of the school and ensure that all funds, including school investments, are effectively accounted for according to Treasury regulations.
• Provide advice to staff on spending against budget in respect to faculties, programs and other school projects.
• Administer government grants and other school income.
• Manage fund raising activities.

General Administration

• Ensure the provision of a range of administrative support functions for the Principal and teaching staff.
• Provide administrative support to external service providers as required.
• Manage the processing of student admissions, registrations, enrolments and transfers.
• Provide required level of administrative support for school events, functions and projects.
• Implement induction programs for new staff, volunteers and other workers to the school.

Human Resources

• Research, plan and prepare development programs for support staff.
• Manage recruitment procedures.
• Provide authoritative advice to the leadership team on support structures and work practices.
• Assist in the development of work practices that ensure appropriate occupational health and safety standards are maintained.
• Manage procedures relating to employee relations issues.
• Assist in the development of human resource planning.

Manage School Resources

• Coordinate the use and maintenance of school buildings and equipment.
• Liaise and negotiate with service providers in respect to the cost and quality of services.
• Supervise the delivery of contracted services.
• Manage the development and collection of resource material at the school.

Support School Council

• Draft reports and make recommendations on operational issues.
• Evaluate and report on the operational efficiency of computer systems in production, making recommendations for improvement where appropriate.
• Develop techniques and procedures that will affect work practices beyond the work place.
• Manage a technical program with a broad scope across the school.

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

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.

The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, 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 family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au

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

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

Please ensure that your application includes:

• A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details ¿ name, address and contact numbers, business and home.
• A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for the application under Who May Apply section.
• The names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of at least three referees.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we take this action.

• 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