Steiner Education Australia invites applications for Leadership Coaches to lead the Steiner Education Australia Leadership Development program from 2027.
The Facilitator and Leadership Coach for the Steiner Education Australia Leadership Development Program serves the ongoing development of leadership within the Steiner Education Australia network of schools working from the impulse of Steiner education.
- The role carries responsibility for nurturing the inner and professional development of school leaders so that they may lead with clarity of purpose, moral imagination and collaborative spirit in service of their school communities.
- Through facilitation, coaching, and collegial companionship the Facilitator supports leaders to deepen their understanding of the role and task of leadership in Steiner education, strengthen reflective practice, and cultivate forms of leadership that support the wellbeing and vitality of their schools.
- Plan and facilitate Year 1 of the Leadership Development Program, in conjunction with Steiner Education Australia.
- Facilitate the Leadership Circle 360 Profile process, including report debriefs (by the end of March). These debriefs are conversations that support participants to work reflectively with their leadership practice.
- Schedule coaching sessions and program meetings with participants.
- Facilitate coaching /program sessions that integrate leadership development with a deepening understanding of the principles of Steiner education.
- Collaboratively design, plan and present the annual two-day Leadership Intensive held in September.
- Maintain clear, supportive and collegial communication with program participants throughout the year.
- Provide relevant leadership resources that support individual learning and group work within the program.
- Design and facilitate the curriculum for the Returners Program.
- Facilitate eight 1.5-hour sessions across the year for each 4 -member group
- Foster a collegial space that maintains support for leaders through networking, peer sharing and peer coaching.
- Encourage continued reflection on leadership practice and the challenges of leading within a Steiner school context.
- Provide relevant leadership resources that support the ongoing development of participants.
- Be available to Steiner Education Australia member schools and leaders for consultation, mentoring or coaching outside the formal programs where appropriate.
- Contribute to strengthening leadership capacity within the broader Steiner Education Australia community.
- Work in close collaboration with the Steiner Education Australia team, Steiner Education Australia personnel, The Leadership Circle personnel, and other contributors to the Leadership Development Program.
- Contribute to the ongoing evaluation, renewal and development of the Leadership Development Program.
- Provide clear communication and coordination across the programs and with participants.
The Facilitator and Leadership Coach reports to the Chief Executive Officer of Steiner Education Australia.
- Master of Teaching or equivalent educational qualification.
- Experience working in Steiner education
- Certification in the Leadership Circle 360 Profile or willingness to undertake training
- Recognised training in leadership coaching
Tertiary qualifications in Educational Leadership (highly regarded)
- Demonstrated experience as a collaborative school leader
- Demonstrated success supporting the professional and personal development of adults through leadership coaching.
- Capacity to hold reflective space and work with the developmental journey of leaders.
- Excellent interpersonal intelligence , listening capacity and communication skills.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of Steiner Education Australia core principles and their practical expression in Steiner school leadership.
- Evidence of to working collaboratively within collegial and distributed leadership structures.
- Evidence of developing a collaborative culture of leadership within a school community
Steiner Education Australia is seeking two coaches for the 2027 program.
Incoming coaches will have the support of current facilitators in 2027, who will act in a mentoring capacity.
Please read the detailed position statement and requirements for this role.
To apply for this position, please forward
- Cover letter, clearly outlining how you meet all the requirements of the role to [email protected]
- Current CV detailing your qualifications and experience;
- Evidence of relevant qualifications and certifications;
- Names and contact details of three professional referees, including a direct manager, and someone who has direct experience of working with you as a mentor/coach. Referees will only be contacted for preferred candidates following an interview and applicants will be notified before proceeding.
Closing date for applications: 7 August 2026
The Steiner Education Australia Leadership Development Program has been running since 2020, and has been developed to support school leadership, and to assist schools to build and support the development of collaborative leadership capacity in a sustainable way. The program consist of 3 offerings:
- First year program – focusses on individual development and growth and includes a Leadership Circle 360 degree profile, individual coaching sessions and a curriculum of relevant subject matter. For people in all levels of leadership in their school who have been in their role for at least 1 year.
- The Returners program – for people who have participated in the first year course, and focusses on sharing, networking, exploring the themes, practices and challenges of developing cultures of collective/collaborative leadership and includes small group work.
- Professional Companionship program – offers ongoing 1:1 coaching support for school leaders by qualified leadership coaches
School leaders, Faculty leaders, Business Managers, College Chairs, Board Chairs and emerging school leaders
The first year of the program is focussed on self-development and personal growth. The program specifically supports leaders/emerging leaders who have been in their leadership role for at least one year, and includes
- an online introductory seminar in early February;
- a Leadership Circle 360-degree profile for leaders and emerging leaders which identifies leadership competencies, underlying belief systems and how they affect behaviour. The Leadership Circle Profile can give the Steiner school leader a clear picture of how they can become more effective in their role within their own Steiner school context. More detail is available at http://www.theleadershipcircle.com/assessment-tools/profile
- a two day leadership intensive in Melbourne in September, currently collaboratively facilitated by Dr Virginia Moller, Libbi Turner and Kelley McGlashan
- Six individual debriefing/coaching sessions to discuss the results of the profile, goal setting and supporting leadership development in action!
- A 1.5 hour group session in October facilitated by the Facilitator/Coach , to reflect on and share the learning experiences over the year
- Participants receive a Curriculum and Resource booklet as part of the program. This includes targeted readings and activities to support rich reflection.
- Relevant resources to address each individual’s specific learning goals and identified needs.
The Returners Program began in 2024, and supports anyone who has completed the first year of the Steiner Education Australia Leadership Development Program. The focus is on sharing, networking, exploring the themes, practices and challenges of developing cultures of collective/collaborative leadership and includes:
- Includes 8 monthly small group facilitated coaching sessions (3 or 4 people per group) focussing on sharing experiences with peers which provide an opportunity to network and continue to help embed learnings from Year 1. The focus is expanded to include leadership in the context of the team and the whole school as a collective. A number of leaders have continued to participate in these groups year after year, acknowledging the benefits of the sharing, increasing depth of understanding and peer coaching support gained.
- A 2-day leadership intensive in Melbourne in September, currently collaboratively facilitated by Dr Virginia Moller, Libbi Turner and Kelley McGlashan
- Relevant resources provided to address the identified themes and needs of the groups.
The program runs from February until September/October, with an in person intensive held in Melbourne in September.
The Leadership Circle 360 evaluation tools are used to support the program.
Participants are supported by resources that include a Curriculum Document and a Resource Manual. These documents are reviewed annual by the facilitators to ensure they are fit for purpose and relevant.
The Leadership Development Program runs from end of January to October each year. The majority of the program is online, with the exception of a two day intensive in September. The Intensive is currently held in Melbourne.
Depending on participant numbers, the program is facilitated by two people. The Intensive is currently facilitated by 3 people: the two program facilitators and Dr Virginia Moller.
The time commitment of each aspect of the program is outlined below.
Early Feb
1 introductory group session, held online in the first week February to start the program (2 hour session + 2 hours preparation time)
Late Feb – March:
Leadership Circle profile analysis per person – 2 hours
2 X 2 hour report debriefs (per person)
April – August
4 X 2 hour coaching sessions per person
1 group coaching session (small groups of 4) – 1.5 hours + 1 hour prep per group
1 hour coach communication relating to the program
8 Small group coaching sessions between February and November. 4 people per group. 1.5 hour session, and 1 hour preparation time (2.5 hours total per session).
1 hour of communication relating to the program
2 days presentation and 2 days preparation/travel time. 4 days in total.
4 hours of work relating to the program.
Facilitators are paid at the Steiner Education Australia Professional Partner rate. In 2027 the Professional Partner rate will be $112.50 per hour (or $900 per day). Once participant numbers have been finalised for the year, a contract is issued for the work facilitating the program based on the time commitments outlined above.
