Introduction:
The Scots College is a distinctive Australian day and boarding boys' school that promoting the lordship of Jesus Christ in all things. We exist to inspire boys to learn, lead and serve as they strive for excellence together. Scots has been raising fine young men since 1893 from Sydney, NSW and different nations around the world.
Our staff are committed to a culture of high expectations that nourishes creative, confident, accomplished young men. We employ professional, experienced and hardworking staff who are offered outstanding opportunities for development, leadership and new experiences. At Scots, you belong to a team who enjoy working alongside you and champion your accomplishments.
What do we offer?
- A culture that cultivates a body of graduates who are well-rounded, successful men of faith and independent mind who influence their nation for the greater good and who strive to be worthy of their forefathers.
- An institution that seeks to serve God faithfully, through our core values and culture.
- Personal development and growth opportunities.
- A constructive and supportive work environment in which all staff members are valued.
- Financial and non-financial rewards and incentives.
- Free barista morning coffee and lunches.
- Employee Assistance Programs.
- Access to The Scots College bus transport system.
- Access to medical services.
- Free access to the college gym.
- Salary packaging.
Description:
Primary Purpose of This Role
To provide leadership and management of all boarding operations on the Middle and Senior School campus. To lead, define, and elevate the College’s residential life and experiential residential programs across the T–12 continuum, ensuring that all residential environments reflect the Brave Hearts Bold Minds philosophy, the College’s Christian ethos,and the highest standards of Pastoral Care, wellbeing, safety, and student development.
About the Role
The role oversees Boarding Housemasters, residential staff, and related services, to ensure that residential life is fully integrated with academic, pastoral, and co-curricular domains. The postholder supports program leaders around operational management, staff capability, and risk governance, across all residential environments.
Key Accountabilities
- Residential Operations and Program Excellence: Lead all operational and cultural aspects of residential life across the College, ensuring consistent, high-quality Boarding experiences and residential programs that promote safety, wellbeing, independence, and character formation.
- Pastoral Care and Student Development: Ensure the holistic development of every residential student through robust tracking systems, empathetic relationships, leadership opportunities, and consistent behavioural expectations.
- Strategic Leadership and Compliance: In collaboration with the Vice Principal – Administration, provide oversight of residential strategy, WHS compliance, risk management, regulatory obligations, and continuous improvement across all residential environments.
- Community Engagement and Communication: Maintain high-quality communication with boarding families, staff, students, and external partners, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with College values.
- Staff Capability, Professional Learning and Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop residential staff, ensuring high standards of professionalism, coaching, induction, and performance accountability.
- Admissions, Orientation and Enrolment Support: Oversee boarding admissions processes, interviews, orientation programs, and community onboarding for new residential students.
- Christian Leadership and Cultural Stewardship: Model and promote the College’s Christian ethos, ensuring that residential programs reflect the College’s mission, values, and educational tradition.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
1. Residential Operations and Program Management:
- Oversee, manage or support, all Boarding staff and administrative staff associated with residential programs.
- Support residential capital works planning and budget management in collaboration with the Vice Principal – Administration and the Director of Finance and Risk, ensuring facilities remain safe, high-quality, and aligned with long term residential needs.
- Maintain and update the Boarders’ Handbook and residential policy documentation.
- Ensure consistency of operations, culture, and expectations across all Boarding Houses.
- Provide day to day operational support to Boarding Housemasters.
- Coordinate agendas and chair regular Boarding Housemaster meetings.
- Maintain high standards of facilities, resources, and staffing across residential environments.
- Oversee Dining Hall operations as they relate to residential programs.
- Maintain strong relationships with national and international boarding and residential professional bodies.
- Ensure all published residential information is accurate, comprehensive, and up to date.
- Oversee the College’s international exchange program, establishing global partner school networks to facilitate inbound and outbound student placements.
- Lead the recruitment, induction, and daily supervision of the College’s gap students within the residential environment.
2. Pastoral Leadership and Student Development:
- Ensure implementation of College tracking systems to monitor the holistic development of each residential student.
- Model empathetic, respectful relationships with students.
- Develop leadership opportunities for residential students.
- Ensure high standards of student culture and behaviour across all Boarding Houses.
- Work with Boarding Housemasters, Vice Principal – Administration, Deputy Principal – Student Experience, and Heads of Campus to ensure fair and consistent student management and discipline.
3. Communication and Community Engagement:
- Establish effective communication protocols with Executive Leadership Team colleagues and Heads of Campus.
- Ensure clear channels for communication between Tutors, Housemasters, and residential staff.
- Maintain and coordinate material for the Boarding Schoolbox page.
- Act as the primary contact for the Boarders’ Association.
- Ensure residential staff are regularly informed of relevant College policy, procedure and operational matters.
4. Admissions and Orientation:
- In collaboration with the Vice Principal – Administration, lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive Boarding Admissions strategy that strengthens enrolment pipelines across metropolitan Sydney, regional NSW, and key international markets.
- Oversee forecasting, recruitment initiatives, interview processes, and onboarding frameworks for all Boarding applicants.
- Assist with Open Days, Information Mornings, and expos related to Boarding and residential life.
5. Teaching, Pastoral Care, Co-Curricular and Team Leadership:
- Teach classes, participate in Pastoral Care programs, and lead Co-Curricular activities as agreed annually.
- Mentor new Boarding Housemasters and support residential staff professional development.
- Develop annual professional goals aligned with College strategic priorities.
- Report regularly to the Vice Principal – Administration on progress toward team and personal goals.
- Maintain a visible presence in daily College life and at key functions.
6. Indigenous and International Student Residential Support:
- Provide operational support to the Indigenous Education Lead and International Student Coordinator for all residential matters, ensuring consistent routines, clear communication, and responsive assistance across Boarding Houses.
- Uphold culturally safe residential environments by supporting wellbeing tracking, staff awareness, and respectful practices that meet the needs of Indigenous and international students.
- Assist with residential communication to Indigenous families, international parents, and overseas guardians, ensuring clarity, trust, and timely updates on student wellbeing and residential life.
- Provide assistance with the delivery of residential programs, cultural activities, and wellbeing initiatives designed by the Indigenous Education Lead and International Student Coordinator.
7. Christian Leadership
- Promote, develop and protect the College’s Christian vision and educational tradition in all residential programs.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of a whole College Christian leadership model.
Selection Criteria and Key Competencies
- Experience in residential or Boarding leadership within a Transition to Year 12 setting.
- Demonstrated expertise in Pastoral Care, wellbeing systems and student development.
- High level operational leadership experience in complex residential environments.
- Strong understanding of WHS, child protection and risk management in residential contexts.
- Superior interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience in staff leadership, coaching and performance management.
- Ability to manage budgets, resources and facilities effectively.
- Understanding of contemporary boarding trends, adolescent development, and boys’ education.
- Postgraduate qualification in Education, Leadership, or a related discipline (preferred).
- Current NESA Teaching Accreditation (or eligibility).
- Valid NSW Working With Children Check (WWCC).
The scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands and involvement in additional projects as required is also an expectation.
Performance Review Conditions
The appointee to the position of Director of Residential Programs will be required to participate in the annual Performance Review Program. An external Performance Review may be conducted at the request of the Principal.
Special Requirements
The nature of this position is such that the Director of Boarding and Residential Programs is required to be available outside the ‘normal’ school hours, is required to participate fully in the life of the College, to attend meetings and make presentations when necessary.
The postholder will, from time to time, be asked to take on extra duties that are assigned by the Principal.
Skills and Experiences:
