At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

We are excited to announce multiple Senior Investigator openings within our Professional and Ethical Standards Directorate. Additionally, we are creating a register of interested candidates for future Senior Investigator opportunities.

• Multiple ongoing, full-time opportunities available
• The roles are based at Parramatta, with flexible working arrangements available.
• Salary ranges from $125,693 to $138,510 p.a. plus super and annual leave loading

About our team

Employee conduct is at the heart of everything we do in Professional and Ethical Standards (PES). We support managers with underperformance, complex complaints, and conduct investigations into misconduct.

About the role

As a Senior Investigator, you will play a critical role in investigating complex allegations of staff misconduct involving serious wrongdoing and child protection. You will:

• Apply your senior level investigative skills to conduct forensic interviews, analyse evidence, and effectively manage risk through the investigative process
• Prepare comprehensive investigation reports and use sound judgement to provide evidence-based recommendations that will inform decision making
• Collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders including unions, NSW Police, Department of Communities and Justice, the Office of the Children’s Guardian, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and NSW Ombudsman
• Mentor and coach investigators, helping them to develop their skills

For further information, please click here to view the role description.

About you

We’re looking for candidates who have:

• Relevant tertiary qualification/s and extensive experience in conducting complex investigations, particularly in serious wrongdoing or child protection cases
• Experience working within, interpreting and applying legislative frameworks
• Strong written and analytical skills
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload effectively
• Flexibility and a willingness to travel across the state for interviews as needed, depending on case requirements
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Essential requirements of the role

• Hold a valid clearance to work with Children (Working with Children Check) for paid employment
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• 35 hour working week
• Access to salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
• Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
• Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth

How to apply

To apply, please attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role as well as providing answers to the two pre-screening questions below:

Pre-screening Question 1:

Describe a time where you directly mentored investigators through a complex investigation. What was your approach, how did you build their capacity? (max 250 words)

Pre-screening Question 2:

Describe a high-risk investigation you have been involved with. What risks were you responding to, what strategies did you employ, and what policy/legislative frameworks did you consider? What did you learn from this? (max 500 words)

Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.

Closing date: Tuesday, 1 April 2025 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries, please contact David Wright-Smith, Director Investigations at [email protected]

We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ([email protected]) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.
A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.