Business Manager

Location Profile

Solway Primary School is located in Ashburton, an inner eastern suburb of Melbourne, and has a 2026 enrolment of 225 students. The school is staffed by 24 teachers, including a number of part time staff, three education support staff, two administrative staff and a library technician. The Principal class comprises a Principal and Assistant Principal who work closely with teacher leaders to drive continuous school improvement.

Solway Primary School is a high performing government primary school with a strong sense of community and professional collaboration. Our families are highly engaged and supportive of the work of the school, contributing to a culture where learning is valued and partnerships between home and school are strong. The school¿s Student Family Occupation index sits within the low band, reflecting high levels of parent education and aspiration for student success.

Our vision, Empowering curious and caring learners to thrive in an inclusive community, guides all aspects of school life. It is underpinned by our values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience and our motto, Our Best Always. These principles are visible in our classrooms, our playgrounds and in the way staff work together. Solway Primary School is a school where every student is known, relationships matter and high expectations are the norm.

A key priority at Solway Primary School is the ongoing development of a whole school instructional model aligned to the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0. We are committed to embedding the science of learning and the Science of Reading through explicit and responsive teaching practices. Teachers work collaboratively in Professional Learning Teams to analyse data, plan at the point of need and refine Tier 1 instruction. Clear learning intentions, success criteria, engagement norms and structured learning routines are consistently implemented to ensure coherence and impact across classrooms.

Student wellbeing is central to our improvement agenda. The school implements School Wide Positive Behaviour Support, with explicit teaching of behavioural expectations aligned to our values. This ensures a calm, predictable and consistent learning environment where students feel safe, connected and ready to learn. Staff are committed to fostering positive relationships and promoting student voice as essential elements of engagement and belonging.

The curriculum is aligned with the Victorian Curriculum and supported by specialist programs in Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education, Japanese and Science. We provide a breadth of academic, sporting and leadership opportunities to ensure students are both challenged and supported.

Solway Primary School offers contemporary and flexible learning spaces, well maintained grounds and a strong digital infrastructure to support teaching and learning. As a workplace, Solway Primary School provides a collaborative professional culture, a clear instructional direction and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.

For educators seeking a school community that values professional growth, evidence informed practice, strong relationships and collective responsibility for student outcomes, Solway Primary School offers a rewarding and supportive environment in which to teach and lead.

Selection Criteria

SC1    Demonstrated capacity to lead an office team, including capacity for directing the work of others.

SC2    Demonstrated knowledge and experience in respect to human resource and financial management records systems.

SC3   Sound knowledge of financial management legal requirements and practices, including the capacity to produce reports and provide advice in respect to those reports.

SC4    High level organizational skills, including the capacity to prioritise work flows.

SC5    High level written and verbal communication skills.

Role

Attendance requirement for this position: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm (Hours negotiable for the successful candidate)

A Business Manager role will usually undertake tasks that impact on the whole school. The role seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, finance or human resources.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy.  Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility.  Staff management issues will be resolved with minimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases.  Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice in matters relating to the school finance, human resources or school administration.

Responsibilities

Deliver School Services

• Manage the design and production of school publications and documents

Finance

• Manage and direct the preparation of annual budgets and regular financial statements and contribute to the financial decision making of the school.
• Prepare funding submissions for the leadership team and school council.
• Direct the accounting processes of the school and ensure that all funds, including school investments, are effectively accounted for according to Treasury regulations.
• Provide advice to staff on spending against budget in respect to faculties, programs and other school projects.
• Administer government grants and other school income.
• Manage fund raising activities.

General Administration

• Ensure the provision of a range of administrative support functions for the Principal and teaching staff.
• Provide administrative support to external service providers as required.
• Manage the processing of student admissions, registrations, enrolments and transfers.
• Provide required level of administrative support for school events, functions and projects.
• Implement induction programs for new staff, volunteers and other workers to the school.

Human Resources

• Research, plan and prepare development programs for support staff.
• Manage recruitment procedures.
• Provide authoritative advice to the leadership team on support structures and work practices.
• Assist in the development of work practices that ensure appropriate occupational health and safety standards are maintained.
• Manage procedures relating to employee relations issues.
• Assist in the development of human resource planning.

Manage School Resources

• Coordinate the use and maintenance of school buildings and equipment.
• Liaise and negotiate with service providers in respect to the cost and quality of services.
• Supervise the delivery of contracted services.
• Manage the development and collection of resource material at the school.

Support School Council

• Draft reports and make recommendations on operational issues.
• Evaluate and report on the operational efficiency of computer systems in production, making recommendations for improvement where appropriate.
• Develop techniques and procedures that will affect work practices beyond the work place.
• Manage a technical program with a broad scope across the school.

Who May Apply

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, 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 safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via marrung@education.vic.gov.au

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.

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

Other Information

• 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

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