Selection Criteria (a) Vision and values Demonstrated capacity to create a shared vision, define and gain acceptance of school goals and set and communicate expectations for effective performance. (b) Teaching and Learning Demonstrated ability to manage the quality of teaching and create a positive culture of challenge, support and collaboration. (c) Improvement, Innovation and Change Demonstrated capacity to produce and implement clear, evidence-based improvement plans and policies and lead innovation and change. (d) Management Demonstrated capacity to ensure that the school's human, physical and financial resources are efficiently allocated and managed. (e) Development Demonstrated capacity to create a professional learning community that is focused on the continuous improvement of teaching and learning, supporting all staff to achieve high standards and commitment to their own learning and wellbeing. (f) Engagement Demonstrated capacity to develop positive relationships with students, parents/families and the local community and participate in and contribute to system-level activities. (g) Community Criterion Demonstrated capability of embracing a school's uniqueness, identifying strengths and opportunities and building on these in partnership with students, staff & families. Role The role of the principal is to lead and manage the planning, delivery, evaluation and improvement of the education of all students in a community through the deployment of resources provided by the Department and the school community. At the same time, the principal, as executive officer of the school council, must ensure that adequate and appropriate advice is provided to the council on educational and other matters, that the decisions of the council are implemented and that adequate support and resources are provided for the conduct of council meetings. Responsibilities The principal is accountable for the overall management and development of the school within statewide guidelines and Government policies. A clear set of accountabilities, which distinguish their work from other members of the Teaching Service and the education community are set out in detail in the contract of employment. The core accountabilities of all principals are to: ensure the delivery of a comprehensive education program to all students be executive officer of the school council. establish and manage financial systems in accordance with the Department and school council requirements. represent the Department in the school and the local community. implement decisions of the school council. contribute to system-wide activities, including policy and strategic planning and development. manage and integrate the resources available to the school. appropriately involve staff, students and the community in the development, implementation and review of school policies, programs and operations. report to the Department, school community, parents and students on the achievements of the school and of individual students as appropriate. Who May Apply Appropriately qualified individuals currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. EEO AND OHS Commitment Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school. The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines ). Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via marrung@education.vic.gov.au Child Safe Standards Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy DE Values The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview Conditions of Employment All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx VIT LANTITE To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person. VAPA Requirement To be eligible for appointment as a principal a person must either: Be a substantive Principal of a registered school in Victoria; or Have a statement of readiness following completion of the Victorian Aspiring Principal Assessment. Location Profile University High School is a large inner-city secondary school, catering to the local area including Parkville, Carlton, North Melbourne and the Melbourne CBD. The school has a rich and proud history of providing outstanding educational opportunities to its unique and diverse local community, which represents a wide range of language, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Our students are the heart and soul of our school, and enrolment growth has been rapid over the past five years. In 2025 we have over 1975 students enrolled. All Year 9 students are based at the newly opened Lonsdale St campus for their entire program, and up to 150 Year 11 and 12 students are enrolled in the specialist science program, Elizabeth Blackburn Sciences (EBS). This is a select-entry program, but UHS itself is a neighbourhood, not a select-entry, school. UHS is also the host school for the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC), the first of the statewide Science Centres, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024. In 2025, the school is in the fourth year of its Strategic Plan and revised leadership structure. This Strategic Plan has had a focus on developing consistent, collaborative and whole-school practices to support strong student-teacher relationships and connection to school; and to enhance student learning growth through responsive and explicit teaching. This has led to the development of new, whole school frameworks for both relationships and engagement (using BSEM and SWBPS) and for teaching and learning. The school's values were redefined in 2022. They are: - Curiosity: We are open to new ideas about the world and each other. We seek to learn, explore and understand. - Kindness: We treat each other and our world with respect, humanity and empathy. - Excellence: We uphold high standards, challenging ourselves to grow in all we do. We persevere and show resilience to be our best. - Connection: We know that we are stronger together. We work to ensure that all belong equally in our community. Students are expected to engage with all aspects of the formal curriculum and recognition is given to both outstanding achievement and to positive participation and improvement. The co-curricular program caters for a wide range of student interests and abilities and student participation at all levels is fostered. Student voice and leadership is embraced within the school and at all levels through a variety of forums. The school's curriculum encompasses the breadth of Domain learning areas with students undertaking a wide range of subjects. Year 7 and 8 provide a solid foundation in all learning areas; whilst Year 9 students combine a year-long standard curriculum program with opportunities for guided thematic inquiry and community engagement. Students in Years 10-12 access an elective program with a rich choice of subjects including VCE, VCE-VM and VET. Staff work in collaborative teams through domains, program areas and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). A wide range of professional development opportunities, in both internal and external contexts, are available to all staff.
