Senior Policy Officer 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, Policy Implementation, Policy Review, Policy Advice, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Mentoring, HSC Assessment, NAPLAN, Evidence-Based Policy, Consultation, Negotiation, Written Communication, Brief Preparation

Industry

Law Enforcement

Description

Guiding the future of NSW education Position details Clerk Grade 9/10 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 Senior Policy Officer 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 (RoSA). Reporting to the Manager, Policy, the Senior Policy Officer manages and coordinates the development and implementation of a range of policy initiatives. 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: · Research, analyse and review complex policy issues · Provide expert policy advice and information to relevant stakeholders to facilitate the appropriate interpretation and implantation of policies · Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders · Monitor, evaluate and report on the development and/or implementation of policies to identify issues · Mentor and guide policy officers and support staff · Prepare correspondence, written reports, publications, and briefs, that are informative and aligned with agency requirements, to respond to NESA requests To be successful you will need: Experience developing and delivering evidence-based policy Previous experience undertaking consultations and negotiations with stakeholders while balancing completing interests Proven experience delivering multiple policy initiatives to the required standards and timeframes Relevant tertiary qualifications. 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: Describe the steps you took to develop a complex public policy initiative, including the evidence you used to analyse the issues? What lessons did you learn from the project? Targeted Question 2: Outline a stakeholder consultation you managed involving diverse interests and views. How did you manage the consultation? How did this impact your recommendations? 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 Senior Policy Officer manages and coordinates the development and implementation of various policy initiatives within the Assessment Division, focusing on school-based assessment and external examination processes for the HSC and RoSA. Responsibilities include researching complex policy issues, providing expert advice, building stakeholder relationships, monitoring policy implementation, and mentoring junior staff.