Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Senior Project Officer

Location - This role is based in Parramatta and offers hybrid working arrangements in line with departmental policy, with approximately 50% of workdays expected to be onsite.

Employment type - Temporary full-time role up to 30 June 2026

Salary - $129,464.00 pa - $142,665.00 pa, plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

As a Senior Project Officer, you will lead and support strategic projects encompassing planning, implementation, stakeholder engagement, and reporting to advance reform initiatives. You will provide expert project advice and analysis to facilitate the successful delivery of these initiatives. Collaboration with key divisional stakeholders, non-government service providers, and advocacy groups will be essential to achieving project objectives.

What you'll do

In this role you will:

• Drive improvements in the child protection and out-of-home care systems through comprehensive system reform.
• Provide well-researched, balanced, and expert advice within tight timeframes.
• Collaborate extensively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Prepare discussion papers, briefs, and submissions to support effective project delivery.
• Lead project teams navigating complex rules and procedures to achieve high-quality outcomes.

Child and Family, within the System Reform division, leads the development of child protection policy, legislative reform, strategic program design, and program management.

As leaders in child protection reform, our focus is on reshaping the child protection and out-of-home care systems to be more responsive, integrated, and culturally safe. We are committed to shifting away from crisis-driven interventions toward proactive, evidence-informed approaches that support families earlier and more effectively.

As a central driver of whole-of-government reform, the team is responsible for developing and evaluating policy, leading legislative change, and designing strategic programs that address complex social challenges. We work closely with other government agencies, service providers, and communities to ensure reforms are grounded in lived experience and deliver meaningful, lasting impact.

What we're looking for

We are seeking a candidate with a proven ability to lead project delivery in a fast-paced environment, often under pressure, and within complex rules and procedures. You will be skilled at managing competing priorities while navigating a dynamic policy landscape.

In addition to the key responsibilities outlined in the role description, you will possess:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide well-researched, balanced, and expert project advice supported by data and analysis.
• Demonstrated capability in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Essential experience collaborating across government and engaging with political processes.
• Experience in whole-of-government governance and strong secretariat skills are highly desirable.
• An understanding of, or a strong interest in, the child protection and out-of-home care system is highly valued.

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now' button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply - you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 3 pages) addressing the 2 targeted questions below with a brief outline on how you meet the requirements of the role:

Targeted Question 1

Can you describe a project you led or played a key role in that involved working with multiple stakeholders across government or community sectors? What strategies did you use to manage competing priorities, and what was the outcome?

Targeted Question 2

Provide an example of a project where legislation or regulatory requirements influenced your approach. How did you ensure compliance while achieving project goals, and what was the outcome?

Applications close Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 11:59 pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact Kylie Hawkins on 0483 169 391 or email [email protected] .

If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Anjy Fayad on 02 9765 3042 or via [email protected]

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW' page.