Director, Service Planning

Company description:

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. For more information about the Department of Education, please visit

Job description:

• Join a leadership group transforming education in NSW, and make a difference to students in NSW
• Drive improved outcomes for children through the provision of high quality public early learning services in NSW
• Ongoing Public Service senior executive band 1 role with a remuneration range of $225,628 - $250,574 per annum
• Based in Parramatta with flexible work options

About us

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners - from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We unlock excellence and unleash the potential of two-thirds of school children in NSW. We're proudly public and the largest education system in Australia. We nurture opportunities for every learner to develop the skills needed for their chosen career path, helping shape the industries of tomorrow.

We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Peoples of Australia.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Public Early Childhood Education and Care, the Director, Service Planning and Delivery directs high level strategic advice and the design and implementation of policies and resources to ensure provision of high quality public early learning services in NSW.

This role leads a team working in partnership across the department to deliver high impact support to implement new public early learning services and ensure compliance with the National Quality Framework and relevant legislation and regulation.

For more details about this role, please click here to view the Role Description.

About you

You are a dynamic leader with a passion for driving positive outcomes and reform in early childhood education and bring extensive experience in providing strategic advice and solutions within a similar large and complex organisation. You will have extensive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) experience with demonstrated experience in managing ECEC services or providing support to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulation.

Key to your success will be your ability to engage, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders and partners within and outside the department, and the ability to identify emerging issues, anticipate risks and challenges to achieve a balance between immediate deliverables and equally critical long-term outcomes.

As a leader you will join an executive team focused on driving improved ways of working to deliver meaningful and long-lasting impact. You will be collaborative, courageous, agile, and disciplined about delivering outcomes for children in NSW.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as education (preferred), business, management, social sciences and/or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in managing ECEC services and/or providing support to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulation.
• In depth understanding of the National Quality Framework and child safety requirements.
• Demonstrated extensive experience at a senior level in the management of a large complex organisation.
• Understanding of the context of providing ECEC services co-located with schools.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the values of public education.
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department's Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates who have not previously worked for the department will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number. This option would allow the WWCC to naturally expire without further communication needed with the employee. The employer obligations under the WWCC would apply for duration of the WWCC's validity (up to 5 years).

Interested?

To apply for this role, please submit an online application and attach your resume along with a cover letter which describes how your capabilities, knowledge and experience make you the best person for this role.

Applications Close: 11:59pm on Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role, please contact Poppy Brown, R/Executive Director, Public Early Childhood Education and Care at

Please note:

We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months. Candidates on a talent pool may be chosen and directly offered employment in other or similar roles (ongoing or term) in the near future.