Head of Faculty - Science

Faculty Leadership & Culture
• Lead a faculty culture that reflects the College’s values, fostering collaboration, inclusion, and high expectations for teaching and learning.
• Translate the College vision and strategic priorities into clear faculty goals and ensure their effective implementation and review.
• Build collective responsibility for student success through purposeful communication, shared decision-making, and transparent processes.
• Champion innovation and reflective practice, encouraging evidence-informed approaches and teacher inquiry to improve outcomes.
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People Leadership & Professional Growth
• Lead the professional growth and performance of faculty staff through effective goal setting, coaching, and appraisal, ensuring alignment with College priorities.
• Build capability in curriculum leadership and pedagogy, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional curiosity.
• Identify and develop emerging leaders within the faculty, demonstrating this through structured mentoring, delegation of leadership opportunities, and documented growth plans that build sustainable leadership capacity.
• Promote staff wellbeing and engagement, creating a positive, high- performing team environment where individuals feel valued and supported.
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Curriculum Design & Programme Quality
Ensure the Science curriculum is coherent, future-focused, and aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum and College learning model.
Lead the design of programmes integrating scientific inquiry, experimentation, critical thinking, and evidence-informed problem solving.
• Maintain documentation that reflects progression and responsiveness to diverse learner needs.
• Lead a faculty approach that places student experience, engagement, and success at the centre of learning design.
• Ensure programmes provide meaningful, real-world learning opportunities linked to industry, tertiary, and community contexts.
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Promote student agency and leadership through authentic scientific investigations, research, and inquiry projects.
• Create a safe, inclusive learning environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and risk-taking in learning.
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Assessment, Reporting & Data Insight
• Ensure assessment practices are valid, reliable, and consistent with College policy and external standards (NCEA and/or IB).
• Use data such as achievement and engagement data to evaluate programme effectiveness, track progress, and inform targeted improvement.
• Maintain robust internal moderation and contribute to external moderation processes to ensure quality assurance.
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Resource and Budget Management
• Manage faculty budgets and resources effectively to support safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments.
• Ensure facilities and equipment are maintained, safe, and aligned with programme needs.
• Plan for sustainable resource use and future requirements.
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College Contribution & Collaboration
Contribute actively to whole-school initiatives and cross-faculty projects that align with the College’s integrated vision for learning.
• Ensure faculty actions support the College’s Statement of Intent and strategic priorities.
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Community & External Partnerships
• Build strong partnerships with parents, whānau, and community organisations to enhance learning and participation opportunities.
• Represent the faculty professionally in communications and at College events.
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Lead a strong culture of safety, wellbeing, and responsibility within all Science learning environments.
• Ensure full compliance with College Health & Safety and safeguarding policies, and all relevant legislation and codes of practice.

Oversee the safe operation, maintenance, and storage of all laboratory equipment, chemicals, biological materials, and digital tools, ensuring regular checks and staff training are completed.
Maintain up-to-date risk assessments and ensure staff hold appropriate certifications for specialist or practical activities, including laboratory and fieldwork safety.
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Qualifications
• A recognised teaching qualification and current teacher registration in New Zealand.
A relevant tertiary qualification in Science or a related discipline, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, or general science.
• Postgraduate study in educational leadership, curriculum, or digital innovation is advantageous.
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Experience
• Proven leadership experience within a school setting, preferably across Years 7–13, with responsibility for curriculum, assessment, and team leadership.
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Demonstrated success in leading curriculum development, assessment practice, and programme innovation across one or more Science disciplines, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, or general science.
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Sound knowledge of the New Zealand Curriculum and assessment frameworks (NCEA and/or IB), including moderation, quality assurance, and reporting requirements.
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Experience embedding inclusive, culturally responsive practices and strategies to support diverse learners.