Join a school where excellence is more than a motto - it’s a shared commitment. At Merrimac State High School, you'll lead a dedicated Humanities team in a supportive, high-performing environment, inspiring quality teaching, driving curriculum excellence, and making a lasting impact on student success within one of the Gold Coast's leading schools.

This vacancy is offered on a temporary full-time basis until 11 December 2026, unless otherwise determined.

Job details

About the Department of Education:  

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.  

Your Opportunity:

As a Head of Department - Humanities (including International and LOTE) at Merrimac SHS, you will be an integral part of our secondary teaching team, leading the delivery of a vibrant curriculum to our students and possessing a strong knowledge of content and pedagogy in this area. You will bring your passion for humanities to our school with a strong desire to engage, connect and enhance learning outcomes for our students.

About the Role:

As Head of Department - Humanities you will be responsible for supporting and providing:

• Strong curriculum knowledge. Proven leadership experience or the capacity to lead and inspire teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. A commitment to student achievement and staff development.
• The ability to use data to inform teaching, learning and improvement strategies.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to;

• Provide strategic leadership by developing and implementing a shared educational vision that promotes high-quality learning outcomes for all students.
• Foster an inclusive, high-expectation culture by embedding socially just practices and maintaining high standards for student achievement and staff performance.
• Lead continuous improvement through strategic planning, future-focused decision-making, and a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
• Build strong partnerships with students, parents, community organisations, and government agencies to support positive educational outcomes.
• Manage resources and governance effectively by overseeing human, financial, facilities, and curriculum resources while ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and departmental policies.

Why Join Us?

• Supportive and collaborative leadership team.
• Strong professional learning and development opportunities.
• A positive and inclusive school culture.
• Opportunity to make a significant impact on teaching and learning outcomes.

Interested? To Apply:  

• Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history); and
• Attach a 2-page written statement in response to 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.

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

For a full list of the position responsibilities and mandatory requirements, please ensure you download the attached Role Description and Applicant Information Package and follow the instructions. 

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Applicant Information Package (PDF, 286KB)
  Information Package for Applicants
  
  SER695581_26T - Role Description (PDF, 271KB)
  Role Description