Director, Strategic Priorities

AERO is looking for a talented strategist who can collaboratively engage with leaders and stakeholders and enhance AERO’s capacity to deliver on organisational objectives.

• Offering a competitive base salary starting at $176,900 (commensurate with skills and experience) plus 11.5% superannuation
• Full time, fixed term contract until 30 June 2026 (with the possibility of extension)
• Flexible location, work from home (Australia-wide)

About The Organisation

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) is Australia’s national education evidence body. AERO is working towards excellent and equitable outcomes for all children and young people by generating and making high-quality evidence accessible and enhancing the use of evidence in Australian education.

AERO is bringing together people who are passionate about evidence-informed policy and practice for schools and early childhood services. Our team is collegial, creative and committed to fulfilling AERO’s potential to make an impact. We value agile thinkers who can help shape AERO as a new, dynamic organisation, and team players who enjoy working across projects and in diverse, interdisciplinary teams. Many of our people have ongoing connections to research, policy and practice organisations, helping us to bridge the gap between evidence generation and translation.

For more information about AERO, please see https://edresearch.edu.au

Purpose of the role

The role leads collaborative, cross organisational strategic planning and reporting for AERO drawing on a good understanding of AERO's work, its external context and Member priorities and its internal capacity, processes and systems.

This role works with leaders from across AERO to enhance AERO’s capacity to deliver on organisational objectives.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the collaborative cross organisation effort to develop and finalise strategic and operational plans based on external consultation by CEO and other internal roles.
• Oversee implementation of the strategic plan and workplan and work with executive to highlight and manage risks and issues.
• Drive the effective management, delivery and communication of cross-organisation and cross-department strategic and operational priorities, as identified by the CEO, executive and Senior Manager.
• Oversee the effective operation of internal staff committees and implementation of the First Nations Charter.
• Provide expert advice and drive the implementation of existing and emerging strategic priorities for the organisation, including through engagement of internal stakeholders, collaborating with key roles in other internal departments and effective framing of messaging.
• Maintain adherence to relevant policies, procedures, and employment legislation, ensuring fairness, consistency, and compliance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Manage staff as required: leading the performance and professional development of team members building a highly productive and collaborative team.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential requirements:

• Experience in leading collaborative strategic planning.
• Excellent writing skills developed in a policy environment, including strong brief writing skills

Key knowledge, skills and and experience:

• Knowledge or experience of the Australian education architecture and the place of AERO and its work within it.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and adapting internal processes to meet a changing external strategic context..
• Exceptional interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent relationship management skills, influencing abilities, and the capacity to work collaboratively and supportively across the organisation.
• Well-developed facilitation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to synthesise complex material and present it in accessible ways for various audiences.

AERO welcomes applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

How to apply?

Please submit an online application:

• CV and a cover letter describing your interest in and suitability for the role addressing the skills and experience above.
• A brief (approx.250 words) response to the following question:

1. What do you see as the most important elements of leading collaborative, cross-organisational work and how have you put them into practice?

Applications close

11.59pm Sunday, 29 June 2025 (AEST)

Notes

• Respectfully, no agencies please.
• Please only apply for this role if you are an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or have unrestricted work rights in Australia.
• Appointments are subject to a National Criminal Record Check (NCRC) and having or obtaining a current valid working with children check (WWCC).
• If you require any additional information to above or have technical difficulties applying, please contact: [email protected]
• Please do not send applications to this email address, apply through advert.