Deputy Ombudsman, Capability Building

Deputy Ombudsman, Capacity Building & Education Services
About the NSW Ombudsman

Government agencies touch and impact the lives of the people of NSW every day, and we are there to make sure those interactions are fair. Government is complex and people need to have confidence that someone is holding government agencies to account if their actions are unreasonable, wrong or unlawful.

We are that someone. We are the organisation that shines a light on serious wrong conduct in the delivery of government services. Our ultimate goal is that everyone receives the right services and fair treatment from the agencies we oversight.

Our scope is broad. We cover services for vulnerable families, including the delivery of community services funded by government; local councils; correctional and youth justice centres; education; environment protection and public transport – to name a few

We work to help resolve problems at an individual level, as well as looking at the bigger picture to promote system improvements in public administration and in the delivery of community services. We are confident in the knowledge that our work will give voice to the individual and bring fairness and balance to how the government delivers to the public it serves.

We are committed to providing a range of career development opportunities. We aim to guide and help our people with the skills they need to lead our organisation and give the most impact to what they do.

The role

Following a period of significant growth, the NSW Ombudsman has recently released a new strategic plan with a focus on elevating our impact. This growth and new strategic direction have resulted in several newly created roles, including the Deputy Ombudsman, Capacity Building and Education Services to lead the strategic development, delivery and continuous improvement of initiatives that strengthen the capability of NSW public sector agencies to deliver fair, accountable and lawful administration. The Deputy Ombudsman will play a key role in promoting fairness, accountability, and trust in the public services people rely on every day.

Key priorities will include designing and delivering education, training, resources and engagement programs that promote enhanced practices and understanding in complaint handling as well as building technical capability. The Deputy Ombudsman will also leverage data and lead sector outreach initiatives to identify key concerns and issues to inform service and sector improvement strategies to support the broader activities and statutory responsibilities of the Office.

This is an incredibly impactful opportunity for a visionary and strategic leader to join the NSW Ombudsman and play a key role in driving strategic direction and organisational performance to ultimately strengthen how we support the public and improve systems across government.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have demonstrated executive leadership and strategic management experience in a dynamic multi-faceted environment, ideally within a regulatory or integrity agency aligned to the vision and purpose of the NSW Ombudsman. The successful candidate will ideally have experience leading teams across education/preventative functions.

Other essential requirements include:

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills with the ability to collaborate, influence and negotiate with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural capacity and the ability to engage respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of the public sector and related regulatory and statutory requirements, supported by a proven commitment to exceptional customer service.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field e.g. public administration, public policy, social policy, investigations, education or law.

What can we offer?

• Competitive salary and future growth opportunities within NSW Ombudsman
• Flexibility and the capacity to work in a hybrid way
• Close to public transport – office is adjacent to Town Hall Train Station
• Great team environment and culture
• Fitness passport with access to fitness facilities across NSW

Notes

Online applications must consist of:

• Covering letter (max 2 pages) highlighting your claims for the role
• CV outlining your skills, knowledge, and experience as relevant to this role.

The assessment process will be conducted by a standard panel assessment process.

A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a pool of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role or similar roles, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles over the next 18 months.

Shortlisted candidates will be subject to security and other vetting processes.

Employment at the NSW Ombudsman is subject to the satisfactory completion of security and related vetting including, in part, a criminal records check; signed understanding and acceptance of a range of policies; two statutory declarations relating to conflicts of interest, arrests, charges, convictions and a health declaration.

The NSW Ombudsman promotes a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We particularly encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. We support flexibility and all roles advertised on a full-time basis may be considered for part-time employment.

Additional Information is available at the following links.

Role description:

NSW Ombudsman Website:

Closing date: 10am Tuesday 16 September 2025

For a confidential conversation about the role please contact Jess Lewy or Sarah Curran of the Orchard Talent Group, at

Please note, applications must be submitted via the I Work for NSW website to be considered.

We provide adjustments including alternative formats to the recruitment process for candidates including individuals with disability. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process (including alternative formats) or have an enquiry about the support provided, please contact the Orchard Talent Group at

The NSW Ombudsman has achieved Disability Confident Recruiter status, awarded by the Australian Disability Network. We are committed to continuing this journey through inclusive recruitment practices to ensure candidates have a positive experience in every step of the recruitment process.

The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Seniority level

Not Applicable

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Education, Management, and Training

Industries

Education Administration Programs

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