Manager, Strategic Operations

Manager, Strategic Operations

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

• Ongoing full-time role


• Located in Parramatta with flexible hybrid work arrangements available


• Salary Clerk Grade 11/12 from $149,739 to $173,174 base + superannuation

Public Schools division
Public Schools division leads and directs the operations of more than 2200 NSW public schools to maximise the academic achievements of all students and create a culture of success, learning and a desire to achieve, underpinned by innovative, adaptive and supportive strategies that also supports the quality of teaching and educational leadership at the school level.

The division is responsible for managing policy, strategies and operations that support principals, teachers and students in preschools, infants, primary, secondary, central and community schools, specialist and comprehensive schools, specific purpose schools, intensive English and environmental education centres, and the regulation of home schooling in NSW. The overarching goal of the School Performance division is to achieve the best possible outcomes for the students in our public schools from preschool to year 12, and for children and young people registered for home schooling.

About the role

The Manager, Strategic Operations works closely with the Director, Home Schooling and the executive leadership team, withing legislative requirements and the underpinning regulative framework to support processes and operations of Home Schooling. The role requires high level strategic decision making enabling coordinated and timely delivery of programs of work. The manager role is responsible for workforce and financial planning, and the leadership of the operational customer services team within the Home Schooling Directorate.

For further information please click here to view the role description

About you

You will:

• Consistently demonstrate high level strategic decision making and enable programs of work to be delivered in a timely, well-coordinated, and responsive manner.


• Consistently demonstrate well-developed analytical and problem solving skills that enable sound decision making, timely responses, creative resolution-based approaches and the development of sound policies and/or strategies to address issues


• Provide high level advice on workforce and finance matters and strategic leadership to support our system and customer services within the Home Schooling Directorate.


• Lead and manage the strategic business solution, by providing operational direction and monitoring workflow to establish and maintain a high performance culture of teamwork, achievement and quality outcomes.


• Communicate and provide regular updates to the director and/or senior management regarding progress and achievements and any potential or emerging business-critical matters that could adversely impact program/project implementation and/or service delivery. In this respect, the role identifies and assesses risks, proposes mitigation strategies and evaluates impact and outcomes.


• Demonstrate 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 tertiary qualifications and/or proven equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.


• Current and valid Working with Children Check Clearance for paid employment.

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 answer 2 targeted questions:

1. Describe a time when you led the development and implementation of an innovative solution to support a complex organisational reform or a service improvement initiative.  (300 words).


2. Describe a time when you have led a workforce planning initiative that required change management and financial planning. (300 words)

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.

This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.

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 5th July 2026 at 11:59 pm.

For role enquiries please contact A/Director, Home Schooling, Sharon Ford at [email protected] and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Julie Nguyen 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.