Director, Educational Leadership, Callaghan Principals Network

• Full time temporary role for up to 2 years (with the possibility of extension or conversion to ongoing employment)
• Join a leadership group transforming education in NSW, and make a difference to students in NSW
• A value driven organisation that supports flexible working and offers work life balance
• Public Service senior executive band 1 role with a remuneration range of $255,878 - $280,824 per annum
• Based in the department's Newcastle Office with flexible work options

About us

Our purpose in Education is to equip young people to lead rewarding lives in a complex and fast-changing world. This is important because the learners of today are the foundation of a prosperous Australia tomorrow.

To support our young people to thrive, we must ensure we are one of the best education systems in the world. This means building a system focused on student outcomes, and a system that offers a great place to work. Explore the Department of Education website for more information.  

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

About the role

The Director, Educational Leadership has a key strategic role in supporting the continuous improvement of principals and schools in NSW public schools to ensure that the work of schools is evidence-based and responsive to the needs of all students from preschool to Year 12.  

The Director will develop professional relationships with principals that are collegial, constructive, informed and insightful. Directors will spend significant time with individual principals to gain a deep understanding of the challenges and student and staff improvement opportunities at each school. 

This role is a critical member of the Regional North Directorate leadership team responsible for the delivery of educational outcomes that align with the Department's strategy and put students and young people at the center of all our decision making.

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

About you

You are a leader who achieves outstanding results with your people and can bring our values of Service, Excellence, Equity, Accountability, Trust and Integrity into everything you do. 

You will join an executive team focused on driving improved ways of working to deliver meaningful and long-lasting impact. You are a seasoned people leader and will have a strong track record in managing stakeholder relationships. You will have the knowledge and capacity to provide outstanding leadership and foster excellence in research, education and training.   

We're building a better education system, one of the highest-performing systems in the world. If you want to make a positive difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of students and are excited about embarking on a reform journey, this is the opportunity for you. 

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in education.
• Significant experience in managing and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• 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.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).  
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the values of public education.
• Evidence of ability to evaluate situations and information, combined with the ability to consult with others in order to inform, facilitate and expedite decision making.  
• Highly developed interpersonal, negotiation, written and oral communication skills. 

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 application including:

• Your cover letter (maximum of 2 pages) that addresses the essential requirements and key knowledge and experience required for the role
• Your resume (maximum of 5 pages). We are looking for you to demonstrate your competence in the focus capabilities as outlined in the role description, so please develop your response with this in mind. Clearly detail how your capabilities, knowledge and experience can contribute to your success in this role
• The name and contact details of two referees, including your current supervisor
• Your response to the application Targeted Question

Targeted Question (maximum 500 words)   

How will you lead and inspire school improvement in the Callaghan Principals Network? 

Applications Close: 11:59pm on Sunday, 23 November 2025

Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role, please contact Rose Nasso 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.

1.    A range of assessment techniques will be undertaken to determine candidate suitability for the role 
2.    This is a child-related role. You will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number as a condition of employment (if you do not already have this). For more information, visit  
3.    Relevant screening checks will be conducted. These include the Declaration for child-related work and the Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check consent form. You will also be required to provide four identity documents as listed on page 2 of the form. 
4.    If you currently participate in a salary packaging scheme and package any item other than superannuation (for example, a novated lease motor vehicle) you are advised to seek independent financial advice. 

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.