Posted: 17/09/2026 Closing Date: 18/10/2026 Job Type: Permanent - Full Time Location: The Hutchins School, Sandy Bay Job Category: Executive About The Hutchins School The Hutchins School, established in 1846, is a leading Anglican Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 day and boarding school in Hobart, Tasmania. Guided by our values of humility, kindness, courage and respect, we foster a supportive and inclusive community where students and staff are encouraged to learn, grow and contribute with purpose.

The Hutchins School is seeking an experienced and highly capable Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide strategic leadership across the School’s business, financial and operational functions.

This is a significant senior executive appointment, working closely with the Principal, Executive Leadership Team and Board to translate the School’s strategic direction into effective organisational planning, sound governance and high-quality operational delivery.

The COO will also serve as the School’s Chief Financial Officer and Secretary to the Board, providing authoritative advice and executive support across financial, operational, legal, risk, people, ICT and infrastructure matters.

About the role

Reporting to the Principal and accountable to the Chair of the Board, the COO will have broad oversight across:

- Finance and payroll
- Governance, risk and compliance
- Human resources and workplace health and safety
- Property, facilities and capital projects
- Information and communication technology
- Children’s Services
- Marketing, communications and community engagement
- Events and associated commercial activities

The role will lead the development and oversight of financial and business planning, enterprise risk management, governance and compliance frameworks, property and infrastructure strategy, ICT governance and workforce strategy. The COO will also have strategic oversight of the School’s commercial and community-facing activities, ensuring these offerings are effectively managed, financially sustainable and aligned with the School’s strategic objectives and reputation.

As Secretary to the Board,



the COO will provide high-quality governance and secretariat support to the Board and its committees, including the preparation and coordination of Board papers, reporting, agendas, minutes and actions.

The COO will also provide strategic oversight of the School’s child safety and safeguarding frameworks and contribute to a strong culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement.

About you

We are seeking a strategic and commercially astute executive who can operate confidently across a complex organisation and balance long-term strategic priorities with effective day-to-day operational leadership.

You will bring

- Relevant tertiary qualifications, or equivalent experience, in accounting, law, business or a related discipline
- Significant senior leadership experience across finance, operations, governance, risk or related corporate functions
- Strong financial management and commercial acumen, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear advice to decision-makers
- Experience managing complex statutory, regulatory and compliance requirements
- Proven experience leading and managing diverse operational teams
- Strong governance capability and experience working effectively with Boards, committees and senior executives
- Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills
- The ability to identify organisational risks, opportunities and interdependencies and translate these into practical strategies and outcomes
- Sound judgement, integrity and a collaborative leadership style
- A commitment to child safety, workplace safety and the wellbeing of the School community
- Membership of, or eligibility for membership of, a relevant professional body such as CPA, CA,



Law Society or AICD

To view a full Position Description for this role, please click here or copy and paste this link to your browser - https://hutchins.elmotalent.com.au/uploads/hutchins/files/PD - Chief Operating Officer - 2026.pdf.

Why join The Hutchins School?

The Hutchins School is an established independent school with a robust commitment to providing an outstanding education and a safe, respectful and supportive environment for students and staff.

This is an opportunity to contribute at a strategic level to the ongoing development and sustainability of the School, working alongside the Principal, Board and Executive Leadership Team and leading a diverse portfolio of critical organisational functions.

Our values of humility, kindness, courage and respect underpin the way we work, lead and engage with our community.

Child safety The Hutchins School is committed to upholding the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, the Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Standards and the Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety. The protection of children and young people in our programs and services is our highest priority.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake a National Police Check and hold and maintain current Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP), as well as meet all School child safety and safeguarding requirements.

How to apply To apply, please submit:

- A current resume; and
- A covering letter outlining your interest in the role and how your experience and leadership capabilities align with the position.

For further information, please contact the Human Resources at The Hutchins School at [email protected].

Applications close: Sunday 18 October 2026 at 5.00pm.

The Hutchins School humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Muwinina people of the South East Nation as the original custodians of the unceded kreewer lands on which Hutchins stands. As a school, we commit to walking together with Tasmanian Aboriginal people to pursue healing through Voice, Treaty and Truth-Telling.

📌 Chief Operating Officer (Sandy Bay)
🏢 The Hutchins School
📍 Sandy Bay