Aso8 Policy and Project Lead

**Department for Education**
**Job reference**: 648399
**Location**: 5000 - ADELAIDE
**Job status**: Short Term Contract
**Eligibility**: Open to Everyone

**Why work with us**:
Every child and young person deserves a great education.

We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child’s potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world-leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.

Together we will make our education system the best it can be.

When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.

**About the Role**:
The Strategic Policy and External Relations (SPER) Division works across the Department for Education to facilitate best practice strategy and policy development and coordinate a strategic approach to stakeholder engagement. The division is comprised of the following directorates and business units:

- Executive Office;
- Strategic Policy
- National Relations and Policy;
- External Relations;
- Communications; and
- International Education Services.

The National Relations and Policy Directorate develops and delivers high-quality strategic policy advice and solutions. We achieve this by facilitating and coordinating the design and delivery of systemic policy, helping to negotiate policy and strategic positions on state and national governmental matters. We aim to have a positive impact on the national agenda, on relevant state government portfolios, strategic policy and the people we work with, to contribute to better outcomes for South Australian children and young people.

Reporting to the Manager, National Reforms and Negotiations, the Policy and Project Lead is one of the senior leaders within the directorate, taking responsibility for leading the co-ordination, resourcing, project management and policy design, analysis and development of system-wide strategic policy reforms for the Department for Education. This requires development of close working relationships with departmental colleagues and external stakeholders in order to develop well researched, strategically positioned and evidence-based advice, policy and strategy.

The Policy and Project Lead will lead and coordinate the development of advice and direction regarding complex policy initiatives, proposals, submissions and briefs on a range of policy matters. The Lead will chair or manage senior policy staff and multidisciplinary teams as required. The Lead models ethical behaviour and practices consistent with the Public Sector principles and practices, employee conduct standards, equal opportunity and compliance of Occupational Health Safety and Welfare.

Within the directorate, the Lead is required to support the development of a performance culture and capability, support the allocation and distribution of resources on project deliverables for which it is responsible, and provide guidance to peers and staff in matters within the directorate’s business plan as required.

**Qualifications**:
**Essential**: A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline.

**Desirable**:

- An appropriate tertiary qualification in law, economics, evaluation, public policy, early childhood or education.
- Early childhood and/or education experience
- Experience in leading and delivering system wide public policy or public sector reform projects.

**Special Conditions**:
The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry. The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN -EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years.

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached Position Description.

**Remuneration**:
ASO8 $121,107 - 125,679 per annum (1.0 FTE) + superannuation (11.5%) and leave loading.

**Enquiries**:
**Application Instructions**:
Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration, and a two page cover letter addressing the key competencies in the attached position description.

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

**Additional Note**:
This is a full-time contract role (1.0 FTE), initial 12-month term contract.

**Applications close**: 12/02/2025 11:30 PM