Company description:

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. For more information about the Department of Education, please visit http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/

Job description:

Senior Policy Officer

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

• Multiple vacancies - Ongoing Full-Time
• Located in Parramatta with flexible working arrangements available
• $161,711 Package includes salary ($129,464 - $142,665), employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.

About the role

The Senior Policy Officer manages and coordinates the development and implementation of a range of policy initiatives to contribute to the delivery of policy initiatives that align with the Department's priorities. Current Department priorities include initiatives relating to the Plan for Public Education and teacher workload reduction.

For further information please click here to view the role description

About you

• Strong attention to detail and effectively manages your time to meet deadlines.
• Adaptable with excellent communication skills
• Showing experience in providing expert policy advice and information to relevant stakeholders to facilitate the appropriate interpretation and implementation of policies and support the department's policy initiatives
• Capable of leading the preparation of correspondence, written reports, publications, and briefs that are informative and aligned with agency requirements to respond to Government requests.
• 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

• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• 35 hour working week
• Competitive, 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

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 an answer to the pre-screening question below:

Pre-screening Question

Describe a situation in which you had to negotiate with stakeholders to obtain a good outcome for the organisation. What was the outcome? (300 words max)

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

If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education, click here for instructions on how to submit your application.

All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now'.

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.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates not currently employed by the Department must provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance number. Renewal is not required after the WWCC expires, as long as you remain in a non-child-related role. Employer obligations only apply while the WWCC is valid.

Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.

Closing date 4 November 2025 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact Shivani Nadan, Senior Policy Officer 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.