The Scots School Albury is seeking a passionate and experienced Pipe Band Coordinator to lead their world-class, championship-winning Pipe Band Program. This is an exciting opportunity to guide and inspire talented students, uphold proud traditions and take the school band to new heights on both the national and international stage.
📍 Location: Albury, NSW, Australia
✨ Join a vibrant school community
🥁 Lead one of Australia’s most respected school pipe bands
Full details and application link: https://www.scotsalbury.nsw.edu.au/contact/careers
https://www.scotsalbury.nsw.edu.au/whyscots/co-curricular/pipe-band
POSITION PURPOSE
The Head of Pipe Band is a key leadership role within the co-curricular program at The Scots School Albury. This position is responsible for the overall coordination, development, and performance of the school’s Pipe Band, ensuring excellence in musical instruction, student engagement, and public representation. The role requires a qualified Pipe Tutor with exceptional organisational skills and a passion for fostering student growth through music and community involvement.
The Head of Pipe Band will be passionate about:
- Embracing the Scots’ vision.
- Leading others in adopting and promoting our core values, vision, mission, and strengths.
- Building and strengthening the school’s culture, community, and leadership behaviours.
- Capitalising on engagement, marketing, and brand-building opportunities; and
- Most importantly, excelling in delivering and maintaining quality student-centric teaching, learning and caring, every day.
Whilst the primary responsibilities of the position are articulated, it is expected that the incumbent will engage with the broader School Community and participate fully in events and activities, as an ambassador of The Scots School Albury.
Leadership & Instruction
- Deliver one-on-one and group lessons to students of varying skill levels, emphasising core fundamentals, tune mastery, and musical development.
- Provide ongoing development of strategic competition pathways, preparing students for local, state, national, and international contests while ensuring strict adherence to regulations and tune standards.
- Mentoring to achieve highest outcomes for educational (HSC/VCE) music standards.
- Design and implement tailored lesson plans with adaptable teaching methods, aligning with individual learning styles to enhance technical precision, rhythm control and expressive performance.
- Foster community philanthropy and partnerships by collaborating with parents, schools, and bands to create meaningful performance opportunities and promote community engagement.
- Ensure competitive readiness by proactively updating students and stakeholders on changes to contest regulations and tune requirements.
- Lead weekly band rehearsals and additional practices in preparation for key events.
- Mentor and support student leaders within the band.
- Direct the production of public performances within the community.
- Ensure Pipe Band programs are appropriately staffed and budgeted for.
- Promote strong leadership within both the parent community and the wider education community by acting as an ambassador of the school and a point of contact for students, parents, and staff.
- Work with key members of staff and the wider school community to preserve our proud traditions within the Pipe Band.
- Work closely with The Pipe Band Drum Tutor.
Organisation & Administration
- Provide operational leadership for the effective administration of The Pipe Band.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive annual calendar of performances, rehearsals, competitions and events.
- Coordinate end-to-end logistics for all Pipe Band performances and trips including registration, transport, uniforms, instruments, supervision, site coordination & problem solving.
- Liaise with event organisers to ensure Pipe Band contributions to events are suitable in terms of repertoire and quality.
- Liaise with school staff, parents, and external organisations to ensure smooth execution of events.
- Build alliances and networks with professional communities beyond the school community.
- Manage contract negotiation and develop marketing & promotional strategies that relate to continuous monitoring and improvement of The Pipe Band at Scots.
- Establish risk management frameworks to identify, mitigate, and manage potential operational risks associated with teaching and performances.
- Maintain accurate records of student participation, instrument, and uniform allocation.
- Effectively manage delegated budgets and assets.
- Actively contribute to decisions about resource allocation for The Pipe Band.
Performance & Representation
- Ensure the Pipe Band is well-prepared and professionally presented at all school and community events.
- Uphold high standards of discipline, punctuality, and conduct among band members.
- Promote the Pipe Band as a symbol of school pride and tradition.
- Attend Pipe Band trips and performances, locally, interstate and internationally.
Uniform & Equipment Management
- Oversee the distribution, maintenance, and return of uniforms and instruments.
- Enforce the school’s replacement policy for lost or damaged items.
- Ensure students adhere to the dress code and presentation standards outlined in the Pipe Band Handbook.
Student Welfare & Engagement
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and respectful band culture.
- Support student wellbeing during rehearsals, performances, and trips.
- Ensure compliance with the school’s behaviour contract and excursion policies.
- Promote and model health and safety across the Whole School, with an emphasis on staff and student health and wellbeing and compliance with WH&S requirements (including safe work practices).
Other
- Other responsibilities as required by the Executive Team.
- Willing to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
- Encourage and maintain positive relationships with students and parents.
- Maintain confidentiality of student and family information and compliance with WHS and other related legislation.
- Prepare and present data analysis and actions to the Executive and Board upon request.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTRIBUTES
- Understanding and broad experience in Pipe Band.
- In-depth understanding and knowledge of the development and educational needs of adolescents and young adults.
- An interest in and passion for The Pipe Band program.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant compliance requirements and regulations including accreditation, WH&S, and budgeting for Pipe Bands.
- Keen ability to use data in the decision-making process and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Sound judgment with the ability to operate autonomously.
- High Emotional Intelligence and resilience.
PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- A minimum advanced certification from PBA qualification, required.
BMus (Hons) Traditional Music: Piping or Level 8 PDQB, preferred.
- Current National Police Check or willingness to obtain.
- Maintain compliance with WHS and any other related legislation
- Regularly attend professional learning outlining Child Protection requirements of a school employee in NSW.
- First Aid Certificate or a willingness to obtain.
- Commitment to the values and ethos of The Scots School Albury
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
- Proven experience as a Pipe Tutor with strong instructional capabilities.
- Demonstrated organisational and administrative skills, including event coordination.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, and the wider community.
- Be fit, able and in good health
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
- Experience in leading school-based music ensembles or co-curricular programs.
- Experience in working with students K-12.
- Familiarity with the cultural significance and traditions of pipe bands.
CHILD SAFETY
- The Scots School Albury is committed to child safety. As such, the successful applicant is required to satisfy child protection screening and adhere to the School’s Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct.
All teaching and support staff are expected to:
- Provide students with a safe environment.
- Provide advice and support on child protection issues as required.
- Be familiar with and comply with The Scots School Albury’s Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct, and any other procedures relating to child safety.
- Proactively monitor and support student wellbeing.
- Exercise pastoral care in a manner which reflects the school values.
- Implement strategies which promote a healthy learning environment.
- Demonstrate a duty of care to students in relation to physical and emotional wellbeing.
This Position Description is a guide only and is not intended to be an exhaustive or exclusive list of the duties of this Position. It is subject to review and modification by the Principal or Human Resources at any time in response to the changing needs of the school.