Director, Election Programme

• Executive project management leadership role responsible for the delivery of a large-scale election programme
• Drive strategy and performance across the elections project management team 

• Support the democratic process by playing a key role in delivering the 2027 New South Wales State election

About the Role

The Director, Election Programme is a newly created position responsible for planning and delivering NSW Electoral Commission's election specific programmes.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Elections Group, as a strong strategic leader, you will develop programme plans and ensure their successful implementation with a range of project managers supporting you. 

As well as responding to immovable deadlines and working within complex and changing regulatory requirements, you will also lead, mentor and manage a team of project managers and key project resources through the end-to-end process of delivering the election. 

You are a credible and seasoned leader, who can confidently provide trust, expert advice and support to key internal stakeholders and project teams. You will build strong productive relationships and accurately manage expectations, whilst ensuring high-quality project management governance, compliance and practices in line with the NSW Electoral Commission's programme management methodology and framework.

The role is temporary full-time until 30th June 2027, with the possibility of extension.  

About the NSW Electoral Commission

The New South Wales Electoral Commission delivers trusted and independent systems, processes, oversight and engagement that support democracy in New South Wales. Our vision is to maintain confidence in the integrity of the democratic process and make it easy for people to understand and participate.

Our work includes:

• Running and regulating elections
• Communicating and engaging with current and future voters, key NSW community stakeholders and NSW election participants
• Investigating possible offences and enforcing electoral and lobbying laws such as the Electoral Act 2017 and the Electoral Funding Act 2018

What we offer:

• Opportunity to work on large scale events and assist your local community  
• Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing support 
• Access to Fitness Passport for eligible staff 
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Convenient CBD office location, easy access to public transport.

Key knowledge, experience and essential requirements

As the successful candidate, you will have:

• Demonstrable experience in the end-to-end management of large-scale programmes with a lot of complexity and large budgets ($150m+). 
• In-depth understanding of programme and project management disciplines (risk and issues management, schedule management, dependencies, benefits management, resource demand / supply management, continuous improvement, etc.). 
• Worked within an EPMO or PMO providing services to organisation-wide programmes and projects. 
• Experience in reporting into a senior steering committee, including Senior Executives up to CEO level. 
• Collaborative and confident communicator who is comfortable facilitating workshops to achieve required outcomes. 
• Tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience. 
• Satisfactory Criminal Record check result.
• No affiliations with political parties, candidates, elected members, third-party campaigners, donors or registered lobbyists that could undermine the political impartiality of the Commission or that are otherwise inconsistent with its Political Neutrality Policy.

The NSW Electoral Commission is committed to maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. The NSW Electoral Commission expects that employees refrain from membership of any political party and from engaging in political activity which could be seen as reflecting adversely on the strict political neutrality of the NSW Electoral Commission. Applicants who are seen to be or are active in political activities should disclose such information as part of their application.

How to apply

As part of your application, you will be asked to respond to the two targeted questions:

1. As a programme manager how have you gone about managing performance of the programme, whilst maintaining hygiene factors and keeping stakeholders informed? (maximum 500 words)
2. A project is stressed and is not reporting its true picture. How would you go about bringing the project back on track and ensure that there is improved performance and transparency with ongoing delivery? (maximum 500 words)

You should include a covering letter summarising your skills, knowledge and work experience, along with an up-to-date resume which clearly detail your skills and experience as relevant to this role.

For further information regarding the role please download the Role Description

Applying for a role in the NSW Public Service

For more information on how to apply for a role in the NSW Public Service, please refer here

The NSW Electoral Commission embraces diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the population of New South Wales. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, mature-age people, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this role.

If you have any questions about applying or would benefit from an adjustment to the recruitment process to help you perform your best please contact For more information on recruitment adjustments visit I Work for NSW Adjustments for individual needs.

Applications received and completed after closing time will not be considered for selection.

The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

For further information, contact NSW Electoral Commission's Talent team on

Other Information

Your employment will be subject to National Criminal Records Check to determine your suitability for employment.  

The NSW Electoral Commission is committed to maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. The Commission requires all its employees to refrain from membership of any political party and from engaging in political activity which could be seen as reflecting adversely on the strict political neutrality of the Commission. To maintain political neutrality, applicants for roles with the Commission who are, who have been or who may be perceived to be or have been connected with political activities may also be ineligible for appointment and should disclose such information as part of their application. This does not include voting in a Commonwealth, State or Local Government election, which is compulsory in NSW.  The Commission's Political Neutrality Policy may be viewed on its website.

A talent pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles of the same work classification that may become available for filling over the next 18 months.

This role is based mainly in our Elizabeth Street, Sydney office with some flexible arrangements agreed with the Executive Director, Elections Group.

Applications Close: Monday 22nd September 2025 @ 11.59pm