Chief Operating Officer

TAFE NSW: A career of life changing impact

• PSSE Band 3, Permanent full-time role
• Ultimo Campus
• Shape the future of NSW's workforce

TAFE NSW's purpose is to skill the workforce of the future and it is dedicated to life-changing impact. We are Australia's leading provider of vocational education and training with around 400,000 annual enrolments and a proud history for setting the benchmark for quality service. Critically, TAFE NSW plays a vital role in providing vocational education in rural and regional NSW and job training pathways for the most vulnerable in the community.

Life-changing impact starts with an incredible team that sees their career as an opportunity to transform someone's world. Whether that's inspiring students, supporting each other, or helping our communities and industries flourish.

As Chief Operating Officer at TAFE NSW, you won't just manage operations – you'll be the architect of systems that enable hundreds of thousands of Australians annually to transform their lives through education. Your strategic leadership will directly impact NSW's economic future by ensuring our workforce has the skills to thrive in tomorrow's economy.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the shared services group and provide expert advice to the Executive Leadership Team, TAFE NSW Board, and Minister. Your responsibilities will include overseeing a portfolio of functions including finance, procurement; infrastructure (including facilities), project delivery and enterprise portfolio management, process and continuous improvement, governance, legal, audit and risk management.

You will oversee the planning and implementation of TAFE NSW's organisation-wide continuous improvement and reform initiatives, to ensure they best support the achievement of TAFE NSW's strategic objectives, enhance service delivery and/or drive significant operational efficiencies and process improvements.

Every efficiency you drive, every system you improve, translates directly into more resources for students who need them most.

Demonstrating strong executive leadership, you will inspire and foster collaboration in a multi-disciplined team. You will bring:

• Extensive experience in leading a large and dispersed team in delivering outstanding services and outcomes for internal and external customers.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: service and administration operations, finance, project delivery and enterprise portfolio management and/or infrastructure.
• Extensive experience in driving continuous improvement and change at scale.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen with a proven track record of driving financial performance, optimising resource allocation and/or developing new market, product or revenue opportunities.
• A degree in a related field or equivalent skills, knowledge and experience.

This is an ongoing, full time Band 3 role. The remuneration range for the PSSE Band 3 is $388,750 to $438,642 with annual performance reviews and will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

We are committed to creating a culturally safe and accessible workplace where dignity, trust, respect, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion are valued, so you can safely bring your whole self to work and connect with your community through our many diverse employee networks.

If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please contact Vanessa Stack on the contact details listed below.

For role specific enquiries, adjustment enquiries or to request a Role Description please contact Vanessa Stack at Omera Partners via email to

To apply for this role, click on 'apply now' and provide:

• Your current resume (PDF)
• Copies of your qualifications, where applicable, (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies preferred; these will be required if successful for the role.
• A cover letter outlining how your capabilities, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role (1 page max)

Applications closes Sunday, 11.55pm 12 October 2025 AEDT

For helpful insights into preparing your application, TAFE NSW's recruitment process, and getting interview ready, read through our Application Process and the interactive Capability Application Tool.

This is a child-related position. A Working with Children Check is a prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and review of findings of workplace misconduct.

To be eligible for positions at TAFE NSW, you need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport.

An eligibility list, valid for 18 months, may be created for this position, and position(s) of the same classification that subsequently becomes vacant, may be filled via this recruitment.