Manager, Policy at New South Wales Government

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

17 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

19 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Policy Development, Team Leadership, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation, Negotiation, Policy Advice, Risk Analysis, Evidence-Based Policy, Evaluation Strategies, HSC Management, NAPLAN Administration

Industry

Law Enforcement

Description

Guiding the future of NSW education Position details Clerk Grade 11/12 Full-time, Ongoing Close to Wynyard station & hybrid work arrangements available About us At the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), we are dedicated to carrying out meaningful work that drives improvements and elevates student achievement across NSW, now and into the future. We accomplish this by supporting all school sectors with high-quality syllabuses, assessment (including managing the HSC and NAPLAN), teaching standards (e.g., accrediting teachers) and school environments (including setting and monitoring school standards). NESA is a unique organisation in NSW (of around 740FTE staff) with significant state-wide impact, visit our website to learn more about the important work we do. About the role The Manager, Policy role sits within the Assessment Division, which is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and quality assurance of school-based assessment and external examination processes for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) and Records of School Achievement, the implementation and administration of NAPLAN, and the modernisation of exams and assessment policy. The role leads and manages a team in the development and delivery of a portfolio of policy initiatives and reforms. It collaborates closely with a range of expert staff involved with developing, delivering and marking the HSC, and research, school liaison and NAPLAN leaders, to ensure policy is evidence-based, practical and aligned to organisational objectives. On a day-to-day basis you will be responsible to: Lead and undertake qualitative and quantitative research, analysis, maintenance and review of complex policy issues, identifying emerging issues Lead and facilitate stakeholder engagement, consultation and negotiation on policy issues Provide expert advice and information to inform relevant stakeholders and support policy directions Develop and implement strategies for the monitoring and evaluation of all policy initiatives Provide advice on policy priorities and future directions aligned to business and organisational needs To be successful you will need: Extensive experience leading a team developing and delivering complex, evidence-based policy Proven experience managing consultations and negotiations with stakeholders, given the need to identify, examine and resolve sensitive, complex and diverse issues with internal stakeholders and the diverse interests of external stakeholders The ability to provide accurate policy advice and recommendations on a range of complex issues including risk analysis, given the need to understand the problem and formulate responses within short-time frames. Relevant tertiary qualifications Knowledge and understanding of the school education sector and/or assessment programs Note: A current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance for paid employment is required before commencing in this role. It is not required at the application stage. The cost of the WWCC clearance is the responsibility of the successful applicant. We invite you to download the role description for additional information on the position. At NESA you will benefit from: An organisation where your contribution has a big impact. An enviable CBD location (all modes of transport nearby, and excellent coffee and eateries) with refurbished offices. Flexible working arrangements and generous leave entitlements. Access to discounted health and fitness memberships via Fitness Passport, an employee assistance program and annual flu vaccinations. Salary packaging options.Working in a purpose driven and ethical organisation with committed colleagues. Ready to join us? Select apply and attach an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages). Also address the 2 targeted questions below in your online application (maximum of 400 words per response - approximately): Targeted Question 1: Outline a time when you led a team to simultaneously deliver several large-scale, sensitive and/or complex policies. What did you do to contribute, what were the results and what lessons did you learn? Targeted Question 2: Outline a situation when you led a team to engage with stakeholders to find a solution to a problem where there were opposing views. How did you engage, and develop and report on your solutions? Advice on applying for NSW Public Sector roles If you need reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process and workplace, please reach out to recruitment@nesa.nsw.edu.au Close date: 6 April 2026 at 11.59pm AEST Thank you for your interest, we look forward to receiving your application. Important information NESA’s Statement of Commitment to Child Safety All children and young people have the right to be respected, feel safe, be safe, and protected from harm. NESA is committed to child safety and child safe practices underpinning our purpose of helping children and young people leave school, ready to take advantage of life’s opportunities and rise to its inevitable challenges. We particularly welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people of all ages, genders, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. For ongoing roles, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Australian Temporary Residents may be considered for a fixed term contract for the length of their visa, depending on the requirements of the hiring area and the position. A Talent Pool (valid for 18 months) may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles.

Responsibilities

The role involves leading and managing a team to develop and deliver a portfolio of policy initiatives and reforms within the Assessment Division, ensuring policy is evidence-based and aligned with organizational objectives. Responsibilities include leading research, facilitating stakeholder engagement, providing expert advice, and developing monitoring and evaluation strategies for policy initiatives.