Strategic Policy Lead – Peak National Body – Early Childhood Education

Influence Policy at a National Level

Full time package circa $230k including super

Sydney CBD (The Rocks)

As the Strategic Policy Lead you will work with the Chief Executive to drive Early Childhood Education and Care Policy at a national level.

About the Organisation

As the national peak body, this organisation is responsible for the national coordination and representation of Catholic schools and education authorities across Australia. Catholic schools educate 820,000 (one in five students) and employ 112,000 staff, making it the largest provider of Australian schooling outside of the government sector.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive the Strategic Policy Lead provides expert advice to support this peak body’s advocacy and support of widely available Catholic early childhood education. The Strategic Policy Lead works alongside stakeholders in commonwealth, state and territory authorities in driving this organisation’s strategic priorities of ensuring high quality, accessible early childhood care as an essential part of the Catholic education landscape.

Key Responsibilities

The Strategic Policy Lead is responsible for:

Developing and delivering ECEC strategy to support the organisations advocacy for Catholic early childhood education.

Proactively building synergetic relationships across relevant parts of the Catholic ECEC landscape as well as with external and government stakeholders.

Monitoring and advising on changes to ECEC policy including analysing the intersection between state, federal and local government policy as it relates to funding, family policy, early learning policy, National Law, National Quality Standards (NQS) and child safety.

Developing capacity across the Catholic education sector to respond to the Commonwealth Government’s Building Early Education Fund.

Providing strategic policy advice on areas of priority in ECEC policy development and innovation.

Applying evidence based and data informed methodologies to assist state and territory authorities to identify current and prospective demand for ECEC services in current or proposed Catholic school catchments.

Building relationships with and advising Catholic Education authorities and stakeholders on ECEC policy issues and developments.

Preparing policy briefs, complex submissions, communications and position papers as required to reflect and advance policy regarding ECEC.

Supporting a collaborative, collegiate culture within the organisation and relevant standing committees, working groups, and networks in line with the strategies, vision and values of the organisation.

About You

You are an ECEC expert with significant knowledge and leadership experience in that sector. This expertise is demonstrated by your:

Significant top down and bottom up understanding of the Australian ECEC sector;

Expertise and experience in policy development;

Significant expertise, experience and leadership in the ECEC sector;

Sound understanding of the ECEC sector including legislative, regulatory and quality frameworks at federal and state level;

Tertiary qualifications combined with significant relevant experience in educational leadership, governance and policy development within the ECEC sector;

Genuine interest in the special nature and needs of Catholic education;

Highly developed written and verbal communication skills;

Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

The successful applicant will be required to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check Clearance and undergo a National Criminal History Check consistent with the organisation’s commitment to child safety.

Benefits of working with us

As an employer that genuinely values our staff, we offer:

A competitive salary that recognises your qualifications and experience;

Access to LSL portability within the Catholic sector and more generous LSL benefits;

A challenging and exciting role that makes a difference at a national level.

From Our End:

Applicants for the position should include:

A Cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) explaining how your experience matches the key responsibilities of the role; and

Curriculum Vitae.

If you would like to apply or to have a confidential chat about the role, please email [email protected] or contact Susan Hatcher on 0404 875 644.

Applications close on Friday 3 August 2024.

If you are interested, please don’t delay. Apply now as applications will be reviewed as they are received and we may close an advertisement prior to any disclosed close date.

Only candidates with the right to live and work in Australia should apply. No sponsorship is available for this position.

No agency contacts please.