PROGRAM DIRECTOR (P/T)
Challenge:
To develop a program of visits by school groups to places of worship, and to establish a conference for teachers. This new program requires administrative and people skills.

The director will
• be able to work in an interfaith environment;
• have excellent verbal and written communication skills and experience of primary and secondary schooling

This is a 20% of full time position.

For further information about JCMA: see www.jcma.org.au
For a job description, phone 9650 3294, or email info@jcma.org.au.
Applications close May 25.

JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Face to Faith Program Director – Initial position: 12 months
KEY FUNCTIONS:
The Director is required to
• administer the development and implementation of a program of visits and supporting materials for school groups to synagogues, churches and mosques;
• organize a complementary residential conference for educators;
• to identify and apply for suitable grants for the continuation of this and other related and future projects.

ACCOUNTABILITY:
The Director is accountable to the School Projects subcommittee of the JCMA, and its chair-person

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
All JCMA schools programs aim to develop respect for difference and diversity and to communicate this attitude to both parents and the school and wider community.
The Face to Faith Program (F2F) is a new activity to be offered to schools by JCMA, initially in Victoria. It will aim to enrich and strengthen religious education and to encourage inter-faith meeting and understanding, based on a message of shared common values, and respect for difference and diversity.

The program will have two complementary components
• Schools will be able to book visits to synagogues, churches and mosques, confident that they will be welcomed and guided in an appropriate manner.

• Teachers will be offered a residential conference experience to introduce JCMA and to explain and advocate the School Presentations program and the F2F program.
The F2F program will dovetail with the program of JCMA presentations already operating in both primary and secondary schools across Victoria and with JCMA annual residential interfaith conferences.

Each Face to Faith visit will be guided by a local person from the synagogue, church or mosque visited. JCMA will ensure that local guides provide a high professional and educational standard consistent with JCMA philosophy and practice.

Students will be given a worksheet appropriate to the curriculum of their school year level.
The first of what is intended will become annual residential conferences will be planned and run for school staff teaching religious studies or responsible for JCMA presentations and visits. This will enable them to meet, eat, talk and study relevant issues together, to widen their networks and to learn more about how other colleagues view, experience and practice their own faith. It is anticipated that this conference will be developed in conjunction with RASNET

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. To attend meetings of the School Projects subcommittee of the JCMA, currently monthly, and to report formally and informally.
2. To plan a residential conference for educators to explain and advocate the School Presentation program and the F2F program, to be held early first term, 2009.
3. To work with the faith presenters to produce draft worksheet materials at the various educational levels and to draft standard letters and background material suitable for making initial approaches to schools to offer F2F.
4. To recruit participating religious institutions and to produce instructions and arrange orientation for local guides in synagogues, churches and mosques, in order to give adequate background about the values, aims and functions of JCMA and to set clear parameters regarding the presentation of faith.
5. To maintain a register of approved F2F guides, who undertake to present their particular faith story in an open manner that is informative but explicitly affirms the legitimacy of other faiths and does not proselytize.
6. To liaise with the JCMA administrator of School Presentations to ensure timely approaches to schools participating in JCMA programs.
7. To work with the JCMA administrator to approach schools by telephone, email or letter to establish the key contact person, to invite schools to participate and to provide background and worksheet material.
8. Where necessary, to visit schools interested in the program or already participating in order to prepare well for, or to follow up, Face to Faith visits, and to maintain effective relationships between JCMA and schools.
9. To identify and apply for suitable grants for the continuation of this and other related and future projects.
10. To assist in the review of the program as required.

DESIRED SELECTION CRITERIA:
• Adherence to the values and goals of JCMA
• Capacity to work in an interfaith environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of educational standards relative to various student ages.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Hours of Employment One day per week, initially for one year
Remuneration: Pro rata on a salary of $45,000, including four weeks annual leave.
Travel: Petrol and travel costs to regional areas will be reimbursed.
Grievance: Any matters may be taken up with the JCMA Schools Committee chairperson and ultimately to the Chair of the Board of JCMA.