School Principal

Deutsche Schule Melbourne is looking for an experienced and passionate Primary School Principal to join our independent bilingual primary school in Fitzroy North, Victoria.

Join our passionate leadership team and help shape the growth of our school by applying your excellent skills and experience in the operational and strategic development of the school. You are an energetic, contemporary and aspirational leader. You are a role model for staff with the ability to coach and lead individuals and groups towards personal and professional growth. Together with the Deputy Principal and the Head of Curriculum and Assessment you will lead innovation and change in the School’s ongoing quest to improve learning outcomes for students.

About the school:

Deutsche Schule Melbourne delivers German-English bilingual education for families, who value the benefits it offers. The vision for children at DSM is to grow up learning two languages at the same time, preparing them to become involved citizens of the world. Established 14 years ago, DSM offers bilingual primary school education from Foundation Year to Grade 6 with classes taught both in English and German. The school currently has 170 students and a team of 25 teachers and educators and five education support staff which is continuously growing. Working at our school means working at a bilingual school with an international atmosphere, a recognised school concept and a committed school community. Our aim for the future is to continue the strong growth and ultimately extend our educational offer to a secondary school program based on the International Baccalaureate in German and English (GIB).

Your role:

• Strategic and operational management of an independent bilingual primary school
• Implementation and continuous development of various teaching methods and programs
• Reinforcing a dynamic, inclusive and positive school culture
• Approximately 8-10 hours teaching per week
• Management and development of a team of currently 20 teachers, including performance management 
• Close cooperation with the school board and the business manager
• Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with stakeholders (students, staff, parents, board, community stakeholders, agencies and authorities in Germany and Australia) 
• Representation of the school in the local and international community
• Strategic roadmap development to continuously progress the vision for DSM's future
• Active promotion and management of the growth from a one-stream to a two-stream primary school
• Crisis Management

Your profile:

• Successful completion of tertiary studies with a focus on teaching
• German language skills on a native speaker level (C2 compulsory)
• English language skills (C1-C2)
• Minimum of 5 years experience in a similar leadership position 
• Highly competent people manager (a combination of resilience and a supportive and collaborative management and leadership style)
• Excellent stakeholder management skills (including communication, negotiation, organisation and conflict resolution)
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and intercultural understanding 
• Experience with differentiated, interdisciplinary teaching as well as multilingual school concepts in a primary school setting
• Demonstrated experience or capacity to strategically initiate and scale relevant processes and systems, such as building essential parts of a growing school 
• In-depth knowledge of the IB Program
• Full Registration (VIT)
• Australian Work Rights

We offer:

• Unique opportunity to manage and strategically develop strengthen a bilingual primary school in Melbourne, Australia
• Excellent opportunities for professional development
• International environment and an innovative workplace in a growing school 

Application process:

Please send your complete application including a cover letter and detailed CV to *****@dsm.org.au. 

Deutsche Schule Melbourne is committed to promoting a culture of child safety and wellbeing. As such, the successful applicant will be expected to satisfy child protection screening, and adhere to the School’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Child Safe Code of Conduct. We encourage all applicants to familiarise themselves with the School’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Child Safe Code of Conduct available on our website.

DSM is a child safe organisation which welcomes all children, young people and their families. DSM is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children, including those under the care and supervision of the School. The School recognises the importance of, and its responsibility for, ensuring a safe and supportive environment which respects the rights of children and fosters their enrichment and wellbeing.

Our teaching staff are expected to hold current training encompassing Child Protection, National Disability Standards, Asthma, Anaphylaxis and First Aid/CPR. All teaching staff are expected to foster a child safe environment at all times including during excursions, camps, events, online and in daily teaching programs. Our school community supports the empowerment of children and to the cultural safety of students and families stemming from a culturally diverse background including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. DSM is committed to preventing child abuse and all concerns will be treated in accordance with our policies and procedures.