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.

Role Description

Our school presents an exciting opportunity for all staff to work in our thriving collaborative culture that includes strong connections to our wider community and a commitment to high expectations of everyone to work together to achieve exceptional learning outcomes for all of our students. Education Support personnel will demonstrate the qualities of collaboration and teamwork, highly skilled communication and will also continue to develop knowledge and skills about how to engage with students, teachers and the leadership team supporting their needs.

As a member of the school Administration Leadership team, the Business Manager will support school leadership to strategically manage resources and key services that are integral to the effective operation of the school that ultimately leads to achieving the best educational outcomes for the school community. As a member of the Administration Leadership team, the Business Manager will anticipate future needs and provide advice to assist in forward planning, solving problems using logical methods to reach effective solutions. The Business Manager will be responsible for the development and implementation of a range of services and undertake the analysis of complex problems that form part of the policy framework.

The Business Manager will have highly developed capabilities; technical skills, people skills and self-mastery that will add value to the Administration Leadership team. The Business Manager will be required to cultivate a mindset and approach that ‘Looks for the Brilliance’ in everyone with an intention to work with others to build capacity and unlock potential in each person. Individual strengths and differences of each person are highly valued and appreciated. The Business Manager will be required to cultivate a solutions-focus mindset and approach that is independent, proactive with high level initiative and problem solving.

The Business Manager will have highly developed people skills enabling them to; make a positive impression across the school community, foster an environment of mutual trust and respect and effectively negotiate and influence others to do the right thing. The Business Manager will proactively address issues and concerns in all professional and community situations in an empathetic, sensitive and confidential manner. They will have highly developed team-work skills, including quality communication skills that enable them to effectively support and report to the Leadership team, share ideas, thoughts and information, actively listen to others’ ideas, thoughts and information and collaborate to achieve a collective solution that best supports the desired outcomes.

The Business Manager will have highly developed organisational and planning skills and the ability to be flexible and adapt their approach to meet and address different situations. They will strategically create, track and monitor plans using management systems and processes (including, but not limited to, facilities and maintenance 5-year action plans, AIMS management and maintenance schedules, OHS & Emergency Management systems etc.) They will forecast and organise actions and activities to achieve the desired goals. They will display high levels of resilience that will enable them to deal with pressures and competing priorities. They will uphold themselves and others around them to ensure respectful working relationships are nurtured and valued at all times, including while dealing with conflict and challenges.

The Business Manager will support the administration needs of the principal class team and work closely with administration team to implement effective and efficient operational, financial and governance processes and practices. The Business Manager will have the ability to see opportunities for synergy and integration to achieve the best possible outcomes, resulting in implementing effective organisational structures, processes and practices for the whole school. This will include building and enhancing the understanding, skills and capacity of all administration team members.

The key roles and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

Operational and Administration

Management and Leadership of the development and implementation of an effective and innovative Administration Professional Learning Team.

Implement, monitor and review streamlined, effective and responsive HR, operational and financial processes, procedures and policies to facilitate effective and efficient operations. These will include but are not limited to Facilities, Buildings and Grounds, OH&S, Emergency Management, Project Management including VSBA projects and applications.

• Develop an effective organisational design for the Administration office and manage admin team staff role descriptions and workflow
• Systematically identify and prioritise potential risks and communicate information to enable appropriate decisions and actions.
• Ensure the provision of a range of administrative support functions for the Principal Class team.
• Provide administrative support to external service providers as required.
• Direct and oversee the management and processing of student admissions, registrations, enrolments and transfers.
• Provide required level of administrative support for school events, functions, activities and projects.
• Implement induction programs for new staff, volunteers and other workers to the school.
• Liaise and negotiate with service providers in respect to the cost and quality of services.
• Supervise the delivery and compliance of contracted services.

Manage the Performance Development Process (PDP) process for the Administration and ES team.

• Aligning PDP goals and administrative processes and procedures to the School Strategic Plan /Annual Implementation Plan.
• Building capacity and understanding of the administrative team to self-direct goal setting, professional learning and growth.
  • Implement, monitor and review streamlined, effective and responsive HR, operational and financial processes, procedures, practices and policies.

Operational in collaboration with PCO team

Management of the development and implementation of effective, efficient and ethical Operational Management processes.

Manage operations liaising with key PCO staff:

• SRP management and Workforce planning in conjunction with Principal Class Officer team.
• Provision of expert and authoritative advice regarding workforce planning for all school operations and services.
• Design and production of school publications and documents.
• PCO calendars and appointments.
• Camps and excursions.
• Transition – Prep and grade 6.
• Communication and collaboration to co-ordinate the use and maintenance of school buildings and facilities with VSBA and Spotless.
• Buildings and Grounds reports and updates for Leadership team.
• School Council Buildings and grounds reports.
• Design and production of school publications, website and documents.
• Draft reports, agendas, minute taking and make recommendations on agenda items and operational issues.
• Develop techniques and procedures that will affect work practices beyond the workplace.

Human Resources Management

Management of the development and implementation of effective, efficient and ethical human resource planning, strategies and guidelines.

• Recruitment policy and procedures
• Research, plan and prepare development programs for support staff.
• 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
• Edupay processes
• Hiring and employment of staff
• Leave policy and procedure
• Workcover management/RTW officer

Financial Management

Management of the development and implementation of effective, efficient and ethical financial performance and budgeting processes.

• Co-ordinate and direct the preparation of annual budgets and regular financial statements and contribute to the financial decision making of the school.
• Direct and oversee 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.
• Direct and oversee the administration of government grants and other school income.
• Direct and oversee the management and organisation of fund-raising activities.
• Direct and oversee the management of procurement and leasing activities.
• Source and write quality grant applications for school projects.
• Preparation of funding submissions for the leadership team and school council.
• Oversee the administration of facilities and buildings government grants and other grants in consultation with the Principal and Assistant Principal

Governance

o Understand, implement and apply governance framework to decision making and accountabilities.

Compliance

Management of the development and implementation of effective, efficient and ethical Human Resources management processes.

• Policy Review Management.
• OHS management- oversee delegates who are performing day to day tasks.
• Emergency Management.
• Buildings, Maintenance and Grounds.
• Management of the Disability Inclusion Program in conjunction with the Assistant Principal Class staff, including the management of the delivery and quality of professional student support services involving multi-disciplinary functions e.g., therapist, psychological and social work services.
• Manage audit processes and schedules.

School Council

Management of the development and implementation of effective, efficient and ethical School Council processes.

• Organisation and management of all school council processes and organisation.
• Draft reports, agendas and make recommendations on agenda items and operational issues.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders with an understanding on meeting their needs.

• Develop partnerships and collaborative relationships both internally and externally to facilitate the achievement of mutual objectives.
• Manage Public Relations /communications – including website management, calendar synchronisation social media- Facebook, ICT platforms, parent email/letters/blogs.

Wellbeing Support

• Part of this role may include assisting staff and students in learning and wellbeing. This aspect of the role will include learning support, physical and emotional care for students, supporting families and staff to cater for student wellbeing needs with respect to day-to-day school events such as community events, camps and excursions, including administrative tasks as necessary.
• Support our highly energised Educational Support staff who have a passion for learning and a commitment to support our school in developing our students, academically, socially, and emotionally.
• Aligning ES PDP goals and administrative processes and procedures to the School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan.
• Building capacity and understanding of the administrative team to self-direct goal setting, professional learning, and growth.

Balnarring Primary School was established on its present site in 1990.  The school is located in a semi-rural community, close to Western Port Bay within the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

The school enjoys a well-founded reputation in the community for both its comprehensive curriculum and unique natural environment, which includes the Balbirooroo, Pun Pun and Korra Bun Yun Wetlands. The environmentally conscious and caring community together with school leadership have demonstrated an absolute commitment to sustainability and the environment over the life of the school.

There is a special place in the school grounds called Bimblemeer.  The name means “Mother Earth” which is an apt name because as you step through its distinctive gates, you see it is an earthy little oasis.  It has a thriving veggie garden, fruit trees, chickens scratching around, ducks waddling about, rabbits, budgies and sometimes baby goats.

A distinctive modern building caters for students in Years 4 to 6. It is called Kirinari which means “place of learning”.  Classrooms are set around a spacious, multipurpose hub which facilitates shared activities and meetings, active hands-on experiences and a space to proudly display students’ work.  In addition to 17 classrooms and customized rooms for specialist programs, the school also features a gymnasium, library, music and First Nations room. Outdoor flexible learning spaces have been created to facilitate a variety of learning opportunities.

Currently the school has 395 students who are organised into 17 classes. There is a strong focus on the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills that meet the needs of individual students in all year levels. Literacy and numeracy lessons follow whole-school instructional models informed by current research in best practice. In addition, the school provides a diverse specialist program, which includes Science, First Nations, Wellbeing (We Care), Physical Education and Performing Arts.

Balnarring has a team of 34 hardworking and enthusiastic staff and there is high staff morale. Teachers work in effective Professional Learning Teams to support one another to provide the optimum teaching and learning environment for all students.  All staff take a consistent approach to student wellbeing based on the values of respect and care, expressed in “The Balnarring Way”.

An open door policy encourages the parent body to work closely with staff to contribute positively to each student’s wellbeing and learning. Balnarring Primary School is justifiably proud of the strong partnership it enjoys between “home and school”, evident within its inclusive community.