HEAD OF STRAND

POSITION TITLES:

1. HEAD OF STRAND – MATHS, SCIENCE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

2. HEAD OF STRAND – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH & RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

AREA: Education

LOCATION: Balimo College, New Town, Balimo, Delta Fly District Western Province, PNG

COMMENCEMENT: SEPTEMBER 2026

TYPE / DURATION: 12-month contract with a 3-month probationary period

REMUNERATION: Competitive Remuneration Package

REPORTING TO: PRINCIPAL – SCHOOL OF TEACHING

ABOUT BALIMO COLLEGE:

Balimo College’s vision is to advance Western Province by providing high-quality teaching, research and community engagement. The institute will foster pathways of teachers and health workers who are committed to improving access to vital services in Western Province. Balimo College will be a safe and supportive place for graduates and other professionals across the Western Province catchment region to return for life-long learning and ongoing professional development. The College will develop a community of education and health professionals committed to innovation, excellence and community advancement; by being the training College of choice for Papua New Guineans

Balimo College is an initiative of SDP implemented in partnership with KTF. SDP has a mandate to deliver development programs which provide lasting benefits to the people of Western Province. Our efforts are focused on Health, Education, Infrastructure and Agribusiness. We aim to supplement and complement the efforts of the Fly River Provincial Government (FRPG), in other words, help fill the gaps in the existing systems.

Balimo College is recognised as a Higher Education Institute by the National Higher Technical Education Board of the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST). This recognition has been granted in accordance with the provisions of the Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2014, as amended in 2020, under Section 14(1)(i) and 55(4)(a).

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Balimo College Head of Strand is responsible for supporting the Principal – School of teaching to uphold the College’s Vision, Mission, Core Values, Educational Philosophy and Goals. The Head of Strand will operate within the Balimo College leadership structure as determined by the Executive Principal through the Governing Council, to disseminate strong, effective educational leadership, and manage all information technology within the parameters identified in this position description.

The Head of Strand will have an in-depth knowledge of the ethos and purpose of the Balimo College and the principles by which it operates. The Head of Strand will have a firm understanding of the Western Province education context and the objectives of Balimo College to create pathways for rural communities into teaching and community health work.

The Head of Strand is responsible for:

• Upholding and supporting the Principal – School of Teaching and teaching team in delivering the vision for Balimo College.
• Exercising discernment and care in assisting the Principal – School of Teaching and teaching team with supporting staff, students, and parents.
• Supporting the development and empowerment of the teaching staff that will cultivate and strengthen a positive teaching, learning, and working environment for all staff and students at every level of operations.
• Supporting the Principal – School of Teaching with operational logistics for Balimo College and ensure the smooth day to day operations of the College.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Vision, Mission and Culture

• Uphold the Mission, Vision, Values, Educational Philosophy and Goals of Balimo College in all operations.

• Be able to hold a vision for the College and support and engage others to the realisation of that vision.
• Understand and maintain a College culture that will characterise the College as a place of care, academic excellence, transparency and integrity, accountability, and commitment to community;
• Manage and advocate a strong collaborative service culture within the College and local community, starting with themselves and their immediate team.

Administration

• Be familiar with College administration procedures;
• Attend all Professional Development meetings, attend termly staff meetings and record details if required by the principal for wider circulation to staff;
• Lead on department meetings, scheduling, filing and reporting, bringing the team together regularly;
• Report on, record and file the moderations necessary in your department;
• Be familiar with the Balimo College calendar an attend all calendared meetings and lectures in a timely manner;
• Ensure personal full compliance of the College rules and behavioural expectations for yourself, your department team and your students;
• Delivery of the curriculum is reflected on and monitored, adapting to students and teachers in the team;
• Monitor and record student’s information clearly, coherently and confidentially for the identification and conducting of learner assessments;

• Alert the Principal to any maintenance requirements that you are aware of;
• Keep the Principal informed of the requirements within the College for teaching loads and capacity, resources, and timetabling;
• Report annually on the Colleges success, and areas of weakness, data collated and with activity plan for the next year;

• Undertake planning and reporting per semester for the administration and academic programs;
• Organise and run the Performance Management of staff with feedback to the Principal on any issues or recommendations arising;
• Alert the Principal to any issues of Occupational Health and Safety Policy and Procedures on site.

Teaching & Learning

• Actively and proactively enhance the quality of teaching and learning, for your own teaching and across the College.
• Analyse and evaluate available data on student performance, your own and staff and take appropriate action to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
• Promote the use of ICT and of developments in Digital Learning Technologies and actively support the students to enable their studies with the support of ICT;
• Engage in developing ICT opportunities with technologies and support utilising technology for implementation in the classroom;
• Support the Principal with the delivery and moderation of assessment and reporting across whole staff cohort;
• Undertake plan and facilitate moderation sessions for your department teams;
• Support staff with ideas, motivation, and feedback to develop pedagogical thinking and understanding.
• Manage a personal teaching load within specialism.

Enrolment of Students

• Support the Principal with the interview process of prospective students and their families (where appropriate) for enrolment suitability according to the Balimo College Enrolment Policy;
• Support the Principal (where appropriate) with the decision-making around the chosen candidates for offer of placements at Balimo College according to the Balimo College Enrolment Policy;
• Liaise with parents/families regarding enrolment of students with special needs and ongoing wellbeing of the students.

Professional Development

• Regularly attend Professional Development Training Seminars to keep abreast of current educational trends;
• Attend and be actively engaged in appropriate Professional Development and facilitate staff attendance at professional development activities;
• Keep up to date with current educational thought and practice;
• Discuss professional pathways with line management during PD sessions;
• Engage with Student Feedback Unit reflections with your line management and facilitate the completion of these with the students;
• Support staff with the delivery and collection of the SFU process.
• Complete Unit Feedback questionnaires in a timely manner;
• Support the Principal to implement the Balimo College Professional Learning and Development Policy.

YOUR SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES:

The ideal candidate will have

Knowledge of:

• A range of educational theories, techniques, and methodologies of personnel and management.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Principles and practices of administration and supervision.

Ability to:

• Provide leadership, direction and motivation to students.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with staff and students.
• Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures to students and parents.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Operate a computer to a good level of competence.
• Analyse situations accurately in a classroom context and support an effective course of actions.
• Organise and keep to the schedule and time-lines for the academic delivery of curriculum, mentoring and assessments.
• Plan, organise and prioritise work.

Formal Qualifications:

• Masters degree level Education qualifications
• 5 Years Teaching Experience

Personal Skills & Attributes:

• Strong teacher background.
• Care for young people.
• Intellectual capacity.
• Proven ability to lead.
• Relational style which commands loyalty.
• Ability to work well with teams.
• Problem solving ability.
• Multi-tasking capability.
• Strong interest in current educational and technological trends.
• High administrative ability.
• Strong sense of justice.
• Ability to confront difficult situations.
• Resilience and energy.

Applicants must have the right to work in PNG.

This position will require travel within PNG from time to time.

Balimo College is a child safe organisation committed to the protection of people we serve. Our recruitment and selection procedures are designed to ensure we only recruit people who are suitable and aligned with our policies that ensure the safety of children and the protection of all from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. All appointments are subject to appropriate background checks and screening and the successful candidate will be required to get a Working with Children check and/or a Police Certificate. We promote diversity and equality in all our practices and strongly encourage those with diverse backgrounds and/or disabilities and or those who identify as LGBTQI+ to apply for positions with Balimo College.

Balimo College strongly encourages all staff get vaccinated against COVID-19. This is not only for the protection of you, but also for the protection of our staff and the communities in which we work in. Following PNG Government regulations, it is likely that any staff who are required to travel within PNG will need to be vaccinated in order to depart and return to Port Moresby.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, email [email protected] with the following information:

• Cover letter outlining your experience and approach to leading and developing a high-performing subject strand.
• Resume
• Bachelors Certificate
• Masters Certificate
• Teaching Registration Certificate
• Police Clearance