Associate Director Leadership, Learning

Associate Director, Leadership, Learning and Performance

• Join the Capability, Culture and Safety Team within the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport
• Clerk Grade 11/12 with a salary range of $149,739 - $173,174 per annum plus superannuation
• Ongoing role based in Sydney. Hybrid work environment with 3 days per week in the office required.

About the role

The Associate Director, Leadership, Learning & Performance is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping workforce capability and lifting organisational performance through strategic, people-centred initiatives. Managing a high-performing team, you will oversee the development and delivery of contemporary organisational development programs and frameworks. Working closely with stakeholders, you will identify emerging workforce needs and shape scalable, innovative solutions that uplift capability at all levels.

In this role, you will provide high-level advice to the Executive and senior leaders on talent identification and succession planning, leadership development, and enterprise-wide learning strategies. You'll champion data-driven insights and analytics to inform workforce decisions and deliver measurable outcomes.

You will lead the design and implementation of the agency's leadership and performance frameworks, establishing meaningful performance metrics that support branch objectives, strengthen transparency, and drive alignment across the organisation.

You'll also be responsible for the end-to-end management and continuous improvement of learning and development strategies, ensuring programs are impactful, evidence-based, and foster strong engagement, motivation and performance.

For any questions related to the role, please contact Kathy Sharan, Director Capability, Culture and Safety via To learn more about this opportunity, please click here to download therole description.

About You

You're a seasoned learning and workforce capability professional who knows how to build high-performing organisations through people. As a trusted advisor, you excel at partnering with stakeholders at every level and influencing meaningful change through well-designed organisational development strategies, frameworks and interventions.

You bring a strong track record in coaching and mentoring leaders, helping them create positive, high-performing team cultures. With deep expertise in modern leadership and learning methodologies, performance management and strategic problem-solving, you're confident in your ability to lift leadership capability and drive workforce outcomes that matter.

You're commercially astute, well-connected to industry practice, and proactive in staying ahead of emerging trends that shape workforce development.

To be successful, you'll hold relevant tertiary qualifications in human resources, organisational psychology, organisational development, learning and development, leadership, adult education—or possess equivalent professional experience that demonstrates your capability.

How to Apply

Your application must include a cover letter and an up-to-date resume that details your capabilities and experience in relation to the above role. Applications must be submitted via our recruitment portal; applications will not be accepted by email.

Closing Date: Sunday 21 December 2025 [10.00AM]

Contact: Lucy Weeding, Associate Director Talent & Exec Mgmt

Please note the Department has an office closure from 12pm Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Friday 9 January 2026 (inclusive). Recruitment will recommence on Monday 12 January 2026 and candidates will receive an update on their application from this date onward. In addition, our system will be unavailable for applications on Wednesday 24 December and Thursday 25 December 2025.

Working at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport

At the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport we bring vibrancy to NSW by growing our creative industries and workforces, driving strong visitor and night-time economies, ensuring a responsible hospitality sector, and putting arts, culture and sport at the heart of our communities.

Together we:

• Create social and economic opportunities for the state
• Support the creation of jobs across the creative, visitor and night-time economies
• Prioritise First Nations artists, stories and culture
• Ensure arts, culture and sport are at the heart of every community to be enjoyed and accessed by all
• Drive visitation through events, campaigns and visitor experience development
• Activate our night-time and creative economies to unlock unique precincts and community spaces
• Deliver a vibrant and responsible hospitality, liquor, racing and gaming environment
• Support NSW's key Cultural Institutions to ensure access for all, enable community experiences and education and preserve the state's diverse cultural assets and history.

We believe diversity across our department allows us to be a true reflection of NSW citizens. We are a respectful workplace committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you do require an adjustment during the recruitment process, please notify us on your application form.

A talent pool may be created from this recruitment action for ongoing and temporary roles for this role or similar roles that may become available over the next 18 months.