Chief Operating Officer

Geelong Grammar School is one of the world’s leading co-educational boarding and day schools. Offering exceptional educational opportunities across four campuses from Early Learning to Year 12, Geelong Grammar School is committed to making a positive difference for students, staff and the community. We believe in prioritising wellbeing, creativity and academic rigour, and we value wisdom.

For those interested in committing to a professional and aspirational environment that encourages your success, and supports your ongoing learning and development, we welcome applications for this exciting position.  Reporting to the Principal, the Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for supporting the School Community to achieve its ambitious educational aspirations, by enabling excellence in the delivery of financially sustainable and commercially focussed operations and facilities.

Key objectives and responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Managing the operations and shared services functions of the School;
• Planning for, reporting, monitoring and safeguarding the financial sustainability of the School;
• Advising the Principal on all matters affecting School commercial and financial matters;
• Enabling contemporary, sound, efficient and consistent business management practices to be observed in the provision of all operational, support and retail services;
• Leading and developing team members to achieve effective practice and continuous improvement in the provision of services;
• Actively contributing to and drive the School’s strategy formulation and planning; and
• Ensuring compliance and effective execution in the provision of all Operations and Shared Service functions.

To be successful in this role you will need:

• Exemplary ethical standards;
• Significant leadership experience in a similar role;
• Strong financial and business acumen;
• Relevant tertiary qualifications;
• Experience in leading and driving high level strategy and change;
• Experience in leading and managing complex projects to achieve outcomes within set parameters;
• Outstanding relationship building skills;
• Experience in developing and leading employees to achieve personal goals and organisational outcomes;
• To effectively navigate complexity and ambiguity;
• An understanding of the education regulatory environment;
• Excellent negotiation and dispute resolution skills;
• Strong Customer orientation;
• High digital literacy; and
• To be open to new ideas and approaches.

This role is being offered as a five-year fixed term position initially, with the possibility of extension.

For a confidential conversation please contact our Director of Employee Engagement, Nicole Sablyak on 03 5273 9348 or email: applications@ggs.vic.edu.au

Find out more about this role by reviewing the Candidate Brief.

For further information, including employee benefits, please visit the employment opportunities page on our website: www.ggs.vic.edu.au/careers

Applications close at 10.00am on Monday 24th March 2025

The School’s Student Safeguarding Framework, which includes the Student Safeguarding Strategy, Student Safeguarding Policy and Student Safeguarding Code of Conduct, is available on the GGS website, under ‘Student Safeguarding’.  The School’s expectation is that all staff members (and School Community members) comply with the Student Safeguarding Framework policies and procedures and the Child Safe Standards, as applicable to their role.  Any queries in respect of this Framework or the School’s expectations should be directed to safeguarding@ggs.vic.edu.au.    

The successful candidate will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (Employment) and National Police Check.