Search

Ridley College seeks to Appoint a New Principal

Type:

Published Date: 28 Mar 2024

Ridley College seeks to Appoint a New Principal

The Board of Ridley College seeks applications for the role of Principal commencing in 2025 following the announcement by Rev Canon Dr Brian Rosner that he will step down from the role at the end of 2024.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to carry on the faithful reformed evangelical Anglican tradition of Ridley, established through over 110 years of history.  This is also an opportunity for strategic and innovative leadership for the success and future growth of Ridley as a leading and contemporary theological education provider.

Open Day May 2023

Ridley is situated in the Diocese of Melbourne in Australia and is a college of the Australian College of Theology (ACT).  From a legal perspective, it is a company and a registered charity.

Ridley has a proven history of equipping men and women for Christian ministry. Students at Ridley study to be future ministry leaders and workers in the church and other contexts throughout the world. Ridley is sought out by students not just locally in Victoria, but from across Australia and increasingly, from overseas.  While it remains committed to serving students and churches from the Anglican tradition, approximately 50% of its current student population are from other denominations and traditions.

Ridley is also a leading theological research institution with a track record and ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Ridley consistently ranks at the top-end of published research outcomes and quality against its peers.

A dedicated faculty team, passionate about teaching and sharing research, and an excellent operations team which has an important role in stewarding the resources of Ridley, and all round pastoral care for all in the community, are key to Ridley’s success.  There is an established campus in Parkville, Victoria and a leading online education portal which allows for adaptable and flexible studies and a well-resourced physical and digital library.

Also key to the role of Principal is maintaining strong and effective relationships with the Diocese of Melbourne and the ACT and the other colleges of the ACT, as well as institutions in the wider church and theological education sector.  Other important relationships are with supporters who faithfully uphold Ridley in prayer and generously provide resources to Ridley. The role of the new Principal will be to build on Ridley’s rich inheritance. Working with Ridley’s Board of Directors and assisted by an established Executive Team (comprising Chief Financial Officer, two Deputy Principals and Registrar) and Executive Assistant, the Principal will uphold the values and theological identity of Ridley and lead it to be an organisation that continues to excel in educating and equipping men and women for God’s mission in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world and engaged with the broader contexts in which Ridley is situated.

Key Requirements and Criteria

The next Principal of Ridley must be person who is already (or has significant experience and potential to be) an established leader in the reformed, evangelical Anglican tradition1 with:

  • a mature faith and Godliness in personal and professional life and able to uphold the values and theological identity of Ridley2.
  • strategic, governance, and operational leadership experience to be a Principal (and ideally as Chief Executive Officer also) of Ridley.
  • academic excellence and, a commitment and ability to lead a team to educate men and women to make God’s love known in this world.

    1Under Ridley’s constitution, the Principal must be able to be an ordained clergy of the Anglican Church of Australia.

    2Under Ridley’s constitution, the Principal must be able to sign a declaration of continued belief in the Constructive and Evangelical Principles of the Reformation Settlement of the Church of England.

 

Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:

  1. Character & Commitments
  • A passion for God’s gospel for God’s world for God’s glory.
  • A demonstrated Christian maturity and integrity in personal and professional life.
  • A love for people, to equip, train and form them for effective gospel ministry.
  • A demonstrated commitment to the values and theological identity of Ridley.
  1. Capabilities
  • Ability to work with the Board and lead an existing highly capable senior faculty and operations leadership team.
  • Ability to teach (including at graduate level) and preach effectively from the Bible.
  • Ability to make a positive contribution in the wider church (strong communications, thought leadership, relationship and influencing capabilities).
  1. Knowledge and Experience
  • Significant strategic, governance, and operational leadership experience in leading, or potential to lead, a theological college, particularly, in implementing change and strategy.
  • Academic excellence, possessing academic credentials from a tertiary institution recognised in Australia which is commensurate with teaching and supervision responsibilities and published author.

Further Information and Applications

For further information (such as Ridley’s constitution, current Strategic Plan and the position description), or a confidential discussion, please send an email to Seak-King Huang, Chair, Ridley Board at thechair@ridley.edu.au.

Applicants are requested to apply in writing, addressing the key requirements and criteria set out above. Applications should be emailed to thechair@ridley.edu.au by Monday 6 May 2024 (COB).

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Ridley College campus is built.
Ridley College is an affiliated college with the Australian College of Theology, CRICOS Provider Code 02650E.
© 2024 Copyright. All Rights Reserved.