Leader of the Arts (Head Teacher) (0.4 FTE) - Conservatorium High School

The Leader of the Arts provides leadership, coordination and operational management of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) programs within a designated CAPA school. This school-based non-teaching executive role supports high-quality teaching, learning and performance opportunities for students across music, dance, drama and visual arts, and contributes to the school’s strategic priorities and community engagement.

The Leader of the Arts provides leadership, coordination and operational management of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) programs within a designated CAPA school. This school-based non-teaching executive role supports high-quality teaching, learning and performance opportunities for students across music, dance, drama and visual arts, and contributes to the school’s strategic priorities and community engagement.

While a degree and experience in Music and/or Music Education are not mandatory for this position, they are desirable.

Conservatorium High School, the State’s only Specialist Music High School, is dedicated to fostering musical and academic excellence within a supportive environment that values integrity, respect, and compassion. Serving around 160 culturally diverse students from Greater Sydney and beyond, the school provides an exceptional secondary education combined with extensive music training through its close collaborations with Sydney University's School of Music, here at the Conservatorium of Music, and various prominent music and educational institutions. Staffed by the NSW Department of Education and professional musicians, Conservatorium High School continues to uphold its founding belief that a strong general education is essential for musicians, offering students opportunities to develop their musical, academic, social, and creative potential.

It is important to note that the Leader of the Arts position will provide strategic, administrative and logistical leadership for the broader Music Program, working closely with the HT-Music, and overseeing the VET Entertainment staff and students to ensure the delivery of high-quality musical events and production across the school and beyond.

While this position is 0.4 FTE (2 days per week) we would be very pleased to combine this role with a school-based, 3 days per week classroom teaching role (0.6 FTE) if the successful applicant’s teaching methodology, capacity and experience aligns with the needs of Conservatorium High School.

Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria

1. Demonstrated capacity to provide strategic and operational leadership across Creative and Performing Arts programs, including the development, coordination, and evaluation of ensembles, curation, productions, co-curricular programs, and large-scale arts events.

2. Proven ability to lead collaboratively with CAPA teams, whole school staff, tutors, specialist practitioners, professional associations, and state networks, while mentoring and supporting all staff to strengthen professional practice and program delivery.

3. High-level organisational, communication, and collaborative project management skills, with the capacity to design and manage whole school systems for the application process/auditions and workshops, events, logistics, budgets, compliance, and resource management.

4. Demonstrated capacity to build and sustain partnerships with arts organisations, tertiary institutions, and industry professionals, while promoting equity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and student wellbeing within arts programs.

Applicants must satisfy the teacher training and academic qualification requirements for this position. In addition to the general selection criteria

1. Demonstrated capacity to provide strategic and operational leadership across Creative and Performing Arts programs, including the development, coordination, and evaluation of ensembles, curation, productions, co-curricular programs, and large-scale arts events.

2. Proven ability to lead collaboratively with CAPA teams, whole school staff, tutors, specialist practitioners, professional associations, and state networks, while mentoring and supporting all staff to strengthen professional practice and program delivery.

3. High-level organisational, communication, and collaborative project management skills, with the capacity to design and manage whole school systems for the application process/auditions and workshops, events, logistics, budgets, compliance, and resource management.

4. Demonstrated capacity to build and sustain partnerships with arts organisations, tertiary institutions, and industry professionals, while promoting equity, inclusion, cultural responsiveness, and student wellbeing within arts programs.

• Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice,
• Knowledge of curriculum, assessment, and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs,
• Education leadership skills to build capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams,
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents,
• Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning,
• Knowledge of and commitment to the department’s Aboriginal education policy.

• Successful teaching experience with capacity to initiate improvement in teaching, learning and classroom practice,
• Knowledge of curriculum, assessment, and student welfare with the ability to lead and design quality, inclusive teaching and learning programs,
• Education leadership skills to build capacity and manage the performance of individuals and teams,
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills with the capacity to build relationships and engage students, staff and parents,
• Ability to plan and manage resources effectively and equitably to support teaching and learning,
• Knowledge of and commitment to the department’s Aboriginal education policy.

An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.

An unconditional full approval to teach is a requirement. If you do not hold a full approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education, you are required to commence the application process at the same time as you apply for this teaching opportunity.

The commencement date for this position will be day 1 of the 2027 school year.

This is a permanent part-time position of two days per week, 0.4FTE (full time equivalent).

The NSW Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above.

For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.

The commencement date for this position will be day 1 of the 2027 school year.

This is a permanent part-time position of two days per week, 0.4FTE (full time equivalent).

The NSW Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above.

For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.

To support a consistent and transparent merit selection process, Merit Selection Process Application Guidelines are available for classroom teachers, executives and principals, providing practical advice for applicants and selection panels.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support please contact School Recruitment Support at 1300 863 694.

To support a consistent and transparent merit selection process, Merit Selection Process Application Guidelines are available for classroom teachers, executives and principals, providing practical advice for applicants and selection panels.

To meet the page limits outlined in the guidelines, all application attachments must be submitted in PDF format. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support please contact School Recruitment Support at 1300 863 694.