Executive Director, Public Schools, Rural South and West

• Join a leadership group transforming education in NSW, and make a difference to students in NSW
• Ongoing Public Service Senior Executive Band 2 role with a remuneration range of $318,596 - $356,015 per annum
• Work locations within Statewide NSW will be considered by negotiation to support the Rural South and West regions

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.

The Public Schools division leads and directs the operations of more than 2,200 NSW public schools. They aim to maximise the academic achievements of all students and create a culture of success, learning and a desire to achieve, underpinned by innovative, adaptive and supportive strategies to support quality teaching and educational leadership at the school level. 

About the role

The Executive Director, Public Schools provides statewide leadership and strategic direction for the implementation of initiatives and reforms that are forward focused and responsive to educational, social, and technological developments to prepare all students in NSW public schools to meet the challenges of a dynamic regional and global future. 

In this pivotal role, the Executive Director will tackle challenges head-on, fostering integration in educational services, and resolving disputes collaboratively, all while championing the department's values of high performance and accountability. 

Key accountabilities include:

• Provide high level strategic leadership and advice to the Department of Education in the planning, implementation and management of strategies, initiatives and reforms to deliver positive change in educational outcomes for students in response to Department and Government objectives and priorities.
• Provide high level strategic leadership in the achievement of excellence in educational leadership, professional practice and school performance in a context of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Provide educational leadership and direction to Directors in their crucial leadership and accountability role of coaching, mentoring and leading to achieve high standards of principal performance. Monitor and review principal and school performance through line management of Directors, foster ongoing professional development and ensure Directors have the knowledge, skills and support to achieve their work performance objectives to drive high performance, continuous improvement and accountability.
• Provide leadership and contribute directly to directors' performance management and development, professional learning to build knowledge and understanding of system policies and procedures, enhance coaching and mentoring skills and build capacity to guide principals through the learning and business systems that support local decision making and authority.
• Lead the development of strategies to translate programs into the operational environment and ensure implementation through effective direction, and the application of performance monitoring processes, that will enhance a culture of high expectations ensuring that school leaders and teachers are accessing high-quality professional development to meet accreditation requirements, continuously improve their professional practice and develop their careers.
  Lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of state-wide performance and leadership development strategies and initiatives in the operational environment based on departmental strategies, policies and programs that are research based and abreast of national and international best practice to drive the building of workforce capacity.
• Manage key relationships and communication with internal and external stakeholders at the State level, ensuring effective liaison and maintaining strategic relationships with key stakeholders in education, key central government agencies and organisations.
• Provide strategic leadership and guidance for directors in working with principals to manage and effectively resolve complex educational school-based issues. Work with directors to effectively manage high level contentious issues of educational, industrial, legal and political significance.
• Champion the values of the Department to guide the delivery of strategic commitments with a focus on high performance, accountability, collaboration and judgement with courage to commit to action. Embed a strong risk culture throughout the division in line with the department's risk management and governance frameworks, including Work Health and Safety (WHS) risk management as outlined in the WHS policy. 

About you

As an Executive Director, you will bring demonstrated expertise as a strategic senior leader, thriving in dynamic environments by leveraging agility and sound decision-making to both mitigate risks and seize opportunities. Your adept management of complex educational issues and stakeholder relationships, alongside strategic foresight, will allow you to effectively prioritise initiatives, manage resources judiciously, and navigate risks with confidence. 

Crucially, you will excel in cultivating and navigating relationships with government agencies and key stakeholders, essential for the seamless delivery of strategic services. With a solid understanding of strategic policy development, implementation, and review, you will have a proven track record in leading reform efforts. Your leadership will be pivotal in driving continuous improvement and steering the department towards its strategic goals, bolstered by a robust risk culture and governance framework. Furthermore, as a thought leader, you will inspire direction and purpose within your team, showcasing strong leadership skills essential for success in this role. 

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in education.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
• Demonstrated extensive experience at a senior level in the management of a large complex organisation.
• 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 Sunday, 7 September 2025

Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role, please contact Melinda Haskett 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.