Head of Department

Head of Department - Student Engagement - Nerang State High School Join to apply for the Head of Department - Student Engagement - Nerang State High School role at Queensland Department of Education. Nerang State High School is seeking an innovative educator to fill the position of Head of Department - Student Engagement for 2026. This role focuses on initiatives to support the educational engagement of students Year 7 & 8 and has key responsibilities in the areas of wellbeing, attendance, and behaviour. The successful applicant will also be working collaboratively with two other Heads of Student Engagement, Senior Dean of Students and the Heads of Department Senior Schooling, along with supporting teaching staff in managing student behaviour. About the Department: Working for the Queensland Department of Education means joining an organisation that values its people and promotes leadership and innovation. Be part of an environment that respects professionalism and diversity, offers training and development opportunities and embraces flexible careers and work‑life balance. Find out more about working with us. About the School: Nerang State High School is a proud and vibrant school that encourages students to take PRIDE in all that they do. Established in 1986, we are centrally located between the Hinterland and the Gold Coast’s iconic beaches. We offer a diverse curriculum with strong academic, arts, and sporting excellence programmes, supported by strong community connections. Our Vocational Education and Training (VET) opportunities include courses in our state‑of‑the‑art trades centre and remote pilot qualifications through our drone program. Students can also participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, from drumline and dance troupe to mountain biking and competitive sports. At Nerang State High, our motto, ‘Seek Within and Strive Beyond,’ guides us in preparing students with the confidence and knowledge to excel as young adults. About the Role: The Head of Department - Student Engagement is instrumental in leading the team that provides targeted and timely interventions for disengaged students. Included in this role is a focus on building teacher capacity in developing positive relationships with students, supported by positive reinforcement. We are seeking an energetic leader who can drive continuous improvement, with a proven record of accomplishment in working with disengaged students and parents experiencing difficulty. Your Responsibilities Work as a key member of the school leadership team to implement the whole school explicit improvement agenda, with a focus on building teacher capability and student engagement. Strategic leadership of the Student Engagement faculty, aligned to the school Annual Improvement Plan. Use high‑level analytical skills to develop strategic actions and implement these through influencing, delegation and teams. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team to develop, communicate and implement whole‑school strategic actions. Understanding and communicating the legislation and policies that impact on schooling. Develop and maintain productive relationships with students, staff and parents to positively impact learning. Continual reinforcement of school rules, routines and procedures that align with the school pedagogy and behaviour frameworks. Supporting Deputy Principals and two other HODs of Student Engagement in investigating and managing consequences for behaviour incidents. Track, analyse and share student data that leads to improved attendance, effort and behaviour of students. Identify ways in which the resources of the local community can be accessed and used. Work collaboratively with welfare staff for students identified at risk. Develop and implement programs to ‘catch and turn' disengaged students. Active participation in lifelong learning and ongoing professional development. Please refer to the attached role description for the full list of responsibilities and mandatory requirements for this position. Interested? To Apply Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should be familiar with your relevant work history). Attach a written statement (2500 words maximum) outlining suitability for the role by addressing criteria 1–3 from the key capabilities in the Role Description: Provide 1–2 examples per criterion that demonstrate your leadership of outcomes and how you meet the required capabilities, with a focus on achieving results. Ensure the response is within a maximum of 2500 words, formatted in Calibri 11 font, A4 size, 2 cm margins. Attach a copy of the mandatory requirements outlined in the attached role description. We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive. Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department. Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted. Occupational group Education & Training Seniority level Not Applicable Employment type Full‑time Job function Business Development and Sales Industries Government Administration #J-18808-Ljbffr