Head of Department - Humanities and Social Sciences

This is a permanent full-time position commencing Term 1, 2027

Willetton Senior High School (SHS) is one of the largest schools in Western Australia, with a student population in excess of 2700, approximately 230 teaching staff and 145 support staff on campus. At the centre of Willetton SHS is our vastly diverse student population, drawn from diverse geographic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Willetton SHS is the school of choice for many local and international families, and relationships between the school and community are actively nurtured and valued. Our success stems from our emphasis on superior learning experiences, with our school defining and celebrating success as achievement of personal best.

Guided by the belief in every student's potential, Willetton SHS prioritises safe and inspiring environments for both learners and educators. Through nurturing self-worth and community contribution, our school values of care, respect and excellence are imparted upon our students to shape a positive culture known as the "Willo Way." With a commitment to holistic development, Willetton SHS offers selective programs in Basketball and Gifted and Talented Education (GATE), along with a range of opportunities designed to enrich students’ academic experience. Our curriculum encourages social responsibility, contribution to community and practical skills essential for life beyond school.

Find out more about our school by visiting Willetton Senior High School or Schools Online.

The Role

Willetton SHS is ideally seeking a highly motivated, energetic and innovative Head of Department (HoD) – Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) to provide exemplary team leadership to maximise outcomes for all students. The successful applicant will provide purposeful and focused leadership to the HASS team as well as establish accountability for the effective daily management of the HASS learning area. With the ability to lead change and innovation, you will ideally use evidence-based data to inform all decision making.

The successful applicant would be responsible for the management of a large and diverse team. You should display a high level of understanding of the Australian Professional Teacher and Leadership Standards, the Western Australian curriculum, and innovative practice in the teaching of HASS.

As the successful applicant, you should provide strategic, inspiring and supportive leadership that drives continuous improvement in teaching and learning across the HASS Learning Area. You would lead the alignment of teaching practice with the Willetton SHS Quality Teaching and Learning Framework and the Department of Education WA's Quality Teaching Strategy and Teaching for Impact, fostering a collaborative culture of reflective practice, instructional excellence and evidence-informed decision making. In this role, you will ideally analyse student achievement and performance data to identify priorities, lead the development and implementation of targeted improvement plans at both learning area and classroom levels, and ensure these align with whole-school priorities while responding to the contextual needs of the learning area. You should display outstanding interpersonal and instructional leadership skills, building the capacity of teachers to implement contemporary, high-impact pedagogical practices that promote deep learning, curiosity, problem-based learning and student engagement. Through expert curriculum leadership, coaching and collaborative professional learning, you would ensure all teachers deliver high-quality, inclusive learning programs that challenge and support every student to achieve their potential.

The successful applicant will ideally be an accomplished instructional leader with the capacity to lead and manage change in the dynamic and evolving landscape of education. They should inspire and support staff to embrace innovation, evidence-informed practice and continuous improvement to ensure teaching remains responsive to the changing needs of students and delivers measurable improvements in student outcomes. Through effective change management, the successful applicant would cultivate a culture of professional growth, collaboration and shared accountability by leading reflective performance development processes grounded in coaching, purposeful feedback, data-informed decision making and the ongoing evaluation of formative assessment and teaching practices. They will ideally facilitate high-impact professional learning, instructional coaching, classroom observation and collaborative inquiry, modelling exemplary reflective practice while building the collective efficacy of the HASS team.

Working collaboratively with the Principal and Senior Leadership Team, the successful applicant will provide educational leadership that advances the Willetton SHS vision and strategic priorities, fostering a culture of shared ownership, innovation and excellence that strengthens teacher practice and improves outcomes for every student.

Professional Benefits

Working for the Department of Education you will enjoy a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, training and career development opportunities and attractive leave provisions. Find out more about the benefits by visiting professional and personal benefits.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Sacha Bradley, Associate Principal, on (08) 9334 7200 or emailing Sacha.Bradley@education.wa.edu.au.

During the school holidays, please contact Sacha Bradley on 0417 411 776.

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our schools and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• hold registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia
• obtain a valid Working With Children Check before you start; and
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website or in the attached application package. Additional eligibility and training requirements are outlined in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1: Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one (1) being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include:

• A CV of up to four (4) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
• A four (4) page statement addressing the following selection criteria as outlined in the attached JDF
  • Demonstrated capacity to provide effective leadership in a diverse range of educational settings.
  • High level of interpersonal and public relations skills that demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships to achieve planned outcomes.
  • Demonstrated professional knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to ensure a high level of educational outcomes for all students, (e.g. Aboriginal students, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and students with special needs).
  • Demonstrated capacity to manage physical and financial resources.

It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job. Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.

Advertised Vacancy Number: IPS/SA1047799

Suitable applicants may be considered for similar vacancies arising within the next 12 months following this selection process. This may include circumstances where the successful applicant declines or vacates the position.

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Thursday, 6 August 2026