Chief Executive Officer

Lead a bold new chapter in Tasmania's reform of government schools. In January 2025, following the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania, the Tasmanian Government announced a trial of Multi-School Organisations (MSOs) within the government school system. MSOs are strong families of schools, brought together under shared leadership and governance to drive improvement, equity, and innovation at scale. The MSO model is inspired by England's Multi-Academy Trust model, identified as international best practice in Grattan Institute's 2024 Spreading Success report. The trial is delivered through a partnership between the Tasmanian Government and McKinnon, an independent not-for-profit organisation. DECYP is now seeking a visionary and strategic Chief Executive Officer to lead Tasmania's first MSO, launching in early 2026. This is a rare opportunity to shape a new educational institution, as well as statewide policy, from the ground up.

The CEO will lead a family of three primary schools in the first year, with growth (including secondary schools) planned for each of the four subsequent years of the five-year pilot. Reporting to the Secretary of DECYP, the CEO is responsible for the strategic design, operational development, and overall performance of the MSO.

• Lead the development and implementation of multi-year education, operations and business strategies, aligned with DECYP policies—applying systems thinking to drive sustainable improvement.
• Provide direct line management to school principals, supporting their leadership through mentoring, coaching, and performance oversight. Lead and manage the MSO's executive team (initially a Head of Operations; expanding to an Education Director as the MSO grows).
• Oversee the MSO's shared services, including finance, human and physical resources, compliance, communications and risk management, ensuring ethical, efficient, and transparent use of public resources.
• Establish collaborative structures across schools to improve education standards and reduce the administrative burden on teachers and school leaders, ensuring inclusive, safe, and supportive environments for students and staff.

We are seeking an exceptional leader with proven ability to lead and scale complex organisations to achieve results through strategic design, evidence-informed planning, and continuous improvement. You may come from education, but candidates from government, corporate, or not-for-profit sectors are welcome if they bring strategic acumen, operational expertise, and a deep commitment to public service. You will set and uphold high standards across all areas, fostering a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and continuous improvement—ensuring every decision supports improved student outcomes and closes equity gaps. You will be entrepreneurial with a "can do" mindset and a deep commitment to creating safe, respectful learning environments for all children and young people so they can achieve their full potential. You will have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build inclusive cultures and influence stakeholders. You will be the public figurehead of the MSO, providing ethical leadership across diverse settings, careful stewardship of public resources, and collaboration with education leaders and departmental executives to deliver statewide improvements.

This role offers the chance to be part of a pioneering reform effort with national and international significance. You will work alongside a passionate and expert team, supported by local and international advisors, and contribute to a model that could reshape how school improvement is delivered in Australia.

DECYP is partnering with an external agency, Perrett Laver, for the recruitment of this role. Applications must be submitted through Perrett Laver directly via the following link, quoting reference 7962 for Chief Executive Officer. Please submit a CV and covering letter detailing how you fulfil the role description and personal specification.

• You can also view the Statement of Duties here.

Deadline for applications: 9am AEST, Monday 13 October.

Formal interviews will be conducted virtually in late October and in Tasmania in early–mid November. If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so we can make appropriate arrangements.

What can I earn as a Chief Executive Officer