Samford Valley Steiner School | Brisbane hinterland, Queensland | Pre-Prep to Year 12

Lead a school that educates the whole human being and prepares young people to enter further study, work and community life with confidence, purpose and a sense of responsibility.

Set on 29 acres of bushland and gardens in the heart of Samford Valley, just 35 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD, Samford Valley Steiner School is an independent, locally governed school with genuine autonomy. We are not part of a large system. Decisions are made locally, culture matters and leadership has a tangible impact.

Samford Valley Steiner School is part of a global Steiner education movement spanning more than 60 countries and informed by more than a century of educational practice. At Samford, this educational impulse is brought to life within a contemporary Australian independent school context, aligned with national standards and recognised senior certification pathways.

As Queensland’s largest Steiner school, with more than 500 students from Pre-Prep to Year 12, we are entering an important period of development and growth, including the continued expansion of our High School. Our school is a place where children and young people are known, imagination is valued, and learning unfolds through the work of head, heart and hands. At each developmental stage, we seek to offer an education that enables students to grow towards lives of freedom, purpose and contribution.

We are seeking a School Director who will care for this educational impulse, strengthen its contemporary expression and help it flourish.

This is a leadership role for someone who will take a genuine interest in the life of the whole school—its students, teachers, families and wider community. They will honour the foundations of Steiner education while bringing the clarity, courage and practical judgement required to guide a contemporary P–12 school.

The leadership we seek will be grounded in three qualities:

- Authentic Connection: building trust, valuing relationships and bringing people together around a shared purpose;
- Sacred Wonder: understanding and nurturing the educational vision of the school and the distinctive qualities of Steiner education; and
- Courageous Integrity: communicating clearly, acting transparently and having the courage to lead through complexity and change.





Our approach to leadership is grounded in service. We believe authority grows through relationship, trust, integrity and sound judgement. The School Director will listen carefully to the needs and perspectives of students, teachers and the wider community, while taking responsibility for clear decisions, communicating them well and ensuring they are carried through.

The School Director is accountable for the day-to-day leadership and management of the school. Working collaboratively with the Faculty Directors, Senior Leadership Team and College of Teachers, they will strengthen educational quality from the early years through to Year 12. They will work closely with the Board, which holds governance responsibility, while leading the implementation of the school’s strategy, plans, budget, policies and priorities.

We are looking for someone who can:

- articulate and uphold the foundations of Steiner education, bringing them to life within an inclusive and contemporary P–12 school;
- lead educational quality across early childhood, primary and high school, with particular attention to strengthening the High School experience and building families’ confidence in that pathway;
- develop teachers and leaders through clear expectations, mentoring, feedback, professional development and fair accountability;
- build authentic connections across the school community, creating trust and bringing people together around a shared educational purpose;
- preserve a sense of sacred wonder while supporting teachers to deepen and renew the educational impulse through reflection, inner work and intentional practice;
- lead with warmth, courage and integrity when addressing concerns, complaints, conflict or difficult performance matters;
- communicate directly and transparently, close the loop on commitments and ensure that decisions translate into timely action;
- work constructively with the College of Teachers,



respecting and supporting its role in deepening and renewing the school’s educational impulse;
- exercise sound financial stewardship, understanding the relationship between enrolments, staffing, budgets and the school’s long-term sustainability;
- build a transparent and productive relationship with the Board, respecting the distinction between governance and executive leadership; and
- give the leadership team transparent authority, support and accountability while drawing effectively on the expertise held across the school.

You will bring substantial school leadership experience, strong educational judgement and a demonstrated ability to turn vision into practical and sustained improvement. You will be comfortable listening to different perspectives without losing sight of your responsibility to decide, communicate and follow through.

You will understand that leadership requires both outward action and inner work: the capacity to reflect honestly, seek feedback, recognise your own strengths and limitations, and continue developing alongside those you lead.

Above all, you will keep the safety, dignity, learning and development of children and young people at the centre of your work.

We welcome candidates who can demonstrate a deep commitment to Steiner education and its continuing renewal. We recognise that no one person holds every specialist capability required by a complex P–12 school. The successful candidate will understand their strengths, work well with the expertise around them, delegate thoughtfully and seek support where it will help the school and its people thrive.

To apply

Please submit:

- a curriculum vitae; and
- a letter outlining your interest in the role and how your experience meets the key requirements described above.

Applications should be emailed to ***************************************** by 16 November 2026 .

Applications may be considered as they are received. Samford Valley Steiner School reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the closing date.

Samford Valley Steiner School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to satisfy all applicable child-safety screening, professional registration and eligibility requirements.

📌 School Director (Samford Valley)
🏢 Steiner Education Australia
📍 Samford Valley