Director Policy and Strategy

Create NSW is the NSW Government's arts and culture driver, supporting vibrant cultural sectors for everyone to enjoy. We are establishing a dedicated policy team to lead cross-government policy and reporting, shape how arts and culture are positioned across government, and strengthen our role as a trusted, evidence-based policy leader.

We are seeking a highly skilled policy leader to join us as Director, Policy & Strategy. This pivotal new role will lead evidence-based policy, strategy and research initiatives that influence government decision-making and deliver better outcomes for arts, culture and creative industries in NSW.

To learn more about the role, please click here to download our role description.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Create NSW this role will:

• Lead the development of strategic, whole-of-government arts and culture policy and reporting
• Build Create NSW's role as an intra-government policy expert, providing authoritative advice to Ministers, executives and stakeholders
• Oversee research and data projects that demonstrate the value and impact of arts and culture across NSW
• Manage agile project teams, drawing in expertise as needed, to deliver high-quality advice and initiatives
• Provide steady and inclusive leadership to a team navigating recent change, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture

About you

You are an accomplished policy professional with global knowledge of best practice in cultural policy and proven experience in policy design, implementation, research and data. You are adept at managing both up and down, influencing senior stakeholders, and working collaboratively across government.

As a leader, you bring empathy, resilience and the ability to build team trust and culture, while inspiring staff to deliver high-quality, evidence-based policy advice.

This is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a new policy function at a pivotal time, helping to place arts and culture at the heart of government policy in NSW.

How to apply

Click Apply Now to submit your application online.  Please include a cover letter and a brief resume that details your capabilities and experience in relation to the role.

Closing date

Tuesday, 23 September 2025 [9.59am]

Contact

For any questions, please contact Lisa Smith, Executive Talent Partner by email:

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 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.