Programs Officer

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

• 3 x Ongoing Full-Time positions
• Our head office is located in Parramatta with offices across metropolitan and regional areas of NSW and we are encouraging applicants who reside in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Dubbo & Tamworth to apply – applicants from outside these locations are also welcome to apply. Flexible working arrangements are available
• Clerk Grade 7/8 with salary ranging from $110,266 to $122,058 + super and annual leave loading
• We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, people living with disability to apply

About the role

The Programs Officer supports the work of the Department by undertaking policy, project and stakeholder work to support the NSW Government’s agenda for early childhood.

These roles sit in the Local Operations Branch which acts as a link between the department’s Early Childhood Outcomes division (ECO) and early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. ECO also works closely with Schools Infrastructure NSW, the Regulated Authority for ECEC and school operations (including DEL’s and Principals) to broker solutions in communities with barriers to accessing early childhood services. The Branch provides regional and metropolitan departmental presence and is responsible for shaping and delivering local approaches to ECEC.

This is an exciting opportunity for those that are passionate about creating opportunities to give children in New South Wales the best start to life. These roles will suit someone that is looking for a new and exciting, professional challenge as we work with the sector and across the department to tackle the complex issues within the early childhood education sector. You will get the opportunity to work flexibly, within an agile workplace, gaining exposure to different projects across the branch. You will have a home/direct line manager as well as a project lead/manager on project work you are assigned to. This agile way of working supports Local Operations to deliver for impact, and provides team members with opportunities for capability uplift, collaboration and networking.

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

We will hold 2 online information sessions for applicants to hear from Lou Lind, Director Local Operations. Lou will talk about the work of the Local Operations Branch and provide further context about the Programs Officer role. If you would like to attend, please email Margot Frazer – margot.frazer@det.nsw.edu.au with your preference: Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 10.00am-10.45am or Friday, 16 May 2025, 9.00am-9:45am

About you

As the ideal candidate you will have the below skills and experience:

• Strong project management experience
• Strong experience in the development and delivery of a variety of projects
• Excellent stakeholder engagement/management skills
• Strong attention to detail, administrative, organisational and time management skills
• Ability to adapt and manage competing priorities
• Work in an agile environment, providing project support across numerous teams
• The ability to communicate clearly with managers and team members while working in an agile/cross-functional way. 

Key knowledge and experience

• 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

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, or demonstrated equivalent knowledge and/or experience.
• A valid Working with Children Check 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 cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirement and capabiities of this role and responding to the targeted question. 

Targeted Question

Can you share an example of a project you worked on where unexpected challenges arose and disrupted the plan? How did you adapt to the situation while maintaining motivation and ensuring the project goals were still met?  How did you manage stakeholder expectations. (300 words). 

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.

Closing date: Monday, 26th of May 2025 at 11.59pm

For enquiries about the role please contact the Hiring Manager James de Botton at James.deBotton@det.nsw.edu.au and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Rajaa Nour at Rajaa.Nour1@det.nsw.edu.au.

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 (dandi@det.nsw.edu.au) 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.