Design Manager

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

Temporary Full-Time up to 30 June 2030

Located in Eveleigh with flexible working arrangements available

Competitive salary of $154,231 - $178,369 pa plus superannuation and leave loading

About the role

School Infrastructure is delivering new school buildings, major upgrades and maintenance strategies to ensure every school-aged child has access to high quality education facilities at their local public school. This encompasses the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.

Our Design and Infrastructure Standards (DaIS) team is a multidisciplinary team responsible for driving the design standards for NSW public schools. The team works across School Infrastructure to embed educational and built form design principles into the planning and delivery of school facilities.

Primary purpose of the role
As the Design Manager, you'll lead the establishment of a new design validation workstream within School Infrastructure. You'll develop frameworks to capture and implement lessons learned and project insights, strengthening governance and ensuring evidence-based improvements are embedded in standards development to support the evolution of the Educational Facilities Standards and Guidelines (EFSG).

Key Responsibilities

Establish and embed design validation processes to capture lessons learned, project feedback and insights to support continuous improvement across School Infrastructure (SI).

Coordinate design considerations across SI directorates to support EFSG development and ensure alignment with contemporary educational practices and design principles.

Develop annual reporting on EFSG changes, compliance and improvements to support transparent, evidence-based decision making.

Build and maintain strong relationships across the business and with stakeholders to ensure the EFSG remains responsive to evolving needs.

Provide expert design advice, research and recommendations to support the delivery of innovative, sustainable and effective school infrastructure outcomes.

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

About you

Bring experience in design, architecture, construction or a related built environment field.

Demonstrate strong program or project management skills and the ability to deliver complex outcomes.

Work confidently with autonomy, navigating technical challenges and providing expert advice.

Are outcomes-focused and able to operate effectively within established governance processes.

Experience working in the Public Sector is highly desirable.

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

Relevant architectural qualifications and workplace experience in Architecture, Design, Construction or a related field.

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.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their application materials independently. The selection panel values authentic and personally written responses that reflect your own experience, insights and alignment with the Department’s values and priorities.

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: 23 August 2026 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact [email protected] and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Nabeel Abd Almadi at [email protected]

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.

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.