Senior Policy and Project Officer

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 opportunity until 30 June 2028


• Location: Parramatta/ flexible working arrangements available

• Competitive remuneration ranging from $129,464 to $142,665 plus super & annual leave loading

Early Childhood Outcomes Division  

The Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) division is responsible for ensuring all children make a strong start in life and learning and make a successful transition to school. The division will transform early learning, child development and contribute to women’s economic participation in NSW through improved access, affordability and quality of care and services 

About Programs and Local Operations  

The Programs and Local Operations directorate lead the design and delivery of early learning programs, projects and funding to ensure all children receive the best start in life and can reach their potential. 

• End-to-end commissioning and delivering early childhood education and care programs that deliver quality, participation, inclusion and affordability outcomes for children and families across NSW.  This includes designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programs and initiatives. 

• Developing and implementing inclusion policies and programs to improve access and inclusion for children with a disability, children from multicultural families as well as targeted access and inclusion programs for children experiencing disadvantage; and 

• Designing, and then scaling up over time, a new statewide network to support delivery of early learning initiatives. 

About the Role

The Senior Policy and Project Officer role sits within Funding Compliance and Projects and is responsible for coordinating the development and delivery of a range of policy initiatives and complex projects to contribute to the Start Strong program and reforms. These projects contribute to organisational priorities, service improvements, and Government commitments.

The Start Strong program provides funding for approved community and mobile preschools and long day care (LDC) services across NSW. The purpose of the program is to ensure all children can access 600 hours of quality preschool education in the years before entering school.

We’re seeking organised professionals who are excellent problem solvers, purpose-driven, take initiative, have strong verbal and written communication skills and can think ahead to support our work.

Key Accountabilities 

• Conducting research, analysis, design and development of complex programs and reform initiatives and providing evidence-based recommendations and risk mitigation strategies.


• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships to support collaboration and informed decision-making. Communicating with key stakeholders and coordinating working groups, committee meetings and stakeholder consultations to support engagement as well as policy development and implementation.


• Monitoring and reporting on policy and project outcomes to ensure objectives are achieved.


• Undertaking strategic data analysis to inform policy development, funding models and programs.


• Overseeing data and evidence gathering and analysis to support program development, project planning and decision making.


• Implementing recommendations for better data collection and collaborate with other teams to enable linked data sets to determine long term outcomes.


• Undertake research and collate information for reporting, monitoring and evaluation purposes to contribute to the achievement of program outcomes.


• Supporting staff to ensure quality delivery and compliance with governance requirements.


• Preparing a range of policy, project management and support services, including preparation of discussion papers, slide decks, briefing notes, Key Issues Brief, House Folder Notes, correspondence and submissions, to contribute to the development of Start Strong.


• Developing externally published program guidelines (2027 Start Strong program guidelines for Community Preschools and Long Day Care) and 2027 terms and conditions document.

For further information please click here to view the role description

Key Challenges 

Performing a range of program development activities, given competing demands and priorities and the need to adapt and assimilate information quickly to ensure program outcomes are achieved.

About You

• Ability to deliver high quality projects and policies within timeframes in a rapidly changing environment.


• Strong organisational and problem solving skills to lead multiple active projects.


• Ability to take initiative and act independently and demonstrate sound judgment on policy and project related matters.


• 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.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Essential Requirements of the Role

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline and/or demonstrated equivalent experience. 


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


• 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.

Please answer the following in your cover letter: in no more than 300 words, describe an experience where you were faced with managing a high volume of work, multiple competing deadlines and changing information or priorities? What strategies did you use to manage your tasks and adapt to the evolving situation? What were the outcomes and what did you learn from the experience?

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: Thursday 9th July 2026 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact Cynthia Cherian details 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.