Leader of Business Operations, Sacred Heart College Geelong

Located in Newtown, Geelong, Sacred Heart College is a dynamic school with a strong culture of wellness born from its rich traditions and deep sense of community.

Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1860, Sacred Heart College educates girls to make a difference in our changing world. The College's Catholic identity and Mercy ethos is best exemplified through a program of excellence that encourages students and staff to remain learner-centred, with a focus on fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. The Sacred Heart Way is identified through actions that uphold and advance Catherine McAuley's vision of the lived Gospel, which is at the heart of the community. The College continues to invest in sustainable, future-focused facilities that enable outstanding learning and community impact, as seen with the upcoming opening of the state-of-the-art Sports & Wellness Precinct in December 2025, further positioning Sacred Heart as an education innovation hub. With the approaching culmination of the current "Strategy 2021 and Beyond", 2026 will see the co-design of a new Strategic Plan to guide the College into the next era.

The Leader of Business Operations reports to the Principal to provide strategic, financial and operational leadership across business services, risk and compliance, OH&S, facilities and capital works, stewarding resources that enable the Sacred Heart Way.

The Leader of Business Operations drives business innovation, continuous improvement and sustainable resource management. Leading Finance, Facilities/Maintenance and the Sports & Wellness function, the role oversees budgeting and reporting, risk and compliance frameworks, procurement, insurance and contractors, and delivers the Master Plan and capital projects. A visible, collaborative presence, the Leader partners across the College, Mercy Education and external stakeholders, balancing opportunity and risk, to ensure strategy translates into operational excellence and student-centred outcomes.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

• provide values-aligned executive leadership across finance, operations, risk, OH&S and compliance.
• lead capital works, asset management and procurement within complex, regulated settings.
• build capability in high-performing teams and influence diverse stakeholders.
• translate strategy into deliverable plans with clear measures and disciplined execution.
• communicate with clarity, diplomacy and data-informed insight at Council/Board level.
• uphold the Catholic ethos and contribute to Mercy-inspired culture and community.

Offered as a five-year fixed term contract with a negotiable commencement date (preferably asap), applicants must have the right to work in Australia and have completed relevant postgraduate tertiary studies in Commerce/ Business/ Finance. Registered CPA / CA, AICD and or MBA qualified candidates with School, Tertiary or similar NFP sector experience are encouraged to apply.

Sacred Heart College staff comply with the school's child safety and related policies and procedures, upholding the principles and values set out in legislative frameworks and regulations, at all times conducting themselves in accordance with the commitment to take all reasonable steps to promote the safety of children. Sacred Heart College has a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse and is committed to promoting child safety, children's wellbeing and protecting children from abuse.

Hutton Consulting Australia (HCA) is partnering with Sacred Heart College, Geelong in the search and selection process for this position. For a confidential discussion and to obtain a Candidate Information Pack before applying, prospective candidates please contact the lead consultant Chris Menage via email:

Applications close by 8:00pm on Sunday, 18th January 2026, however eligible candidates are encouraged to apply asap as applications will be considered upon receipt. Please note, HCA reserves the right to make an earlier appointment.

Please ONLY APPLY directly via Hutton Consulting Australia's website at: https://hutton.education/opportunities (Applications through SEEK or other platforms will not be accepted).