Manager - Strategy and Policy

*About the Department of Education:

Working for the Queensland Department of Education means joining an organisation that values its people and promotes leadership and innovation. Be part of an environment that respects professionalism and diversity, offers training and development opportunities and embraces flexible careers and work-life balance. Find out more about working with us.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced leader to drive strategic policy and initiatives that directly support schools and deliver meaningful outcomes for students and communities. In this role, you will lead a team across a range of functions, which may include statewide systems projects, policy and procedure development, and governance. You will provide authoritative advice on complex strategy and policy matters while ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated expertise in projects and programs, supported by policy and strategy development, coupled with strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence and collaborate across a wide network. You will have a proven record of leading and developing high-performing teams, with the confidence to guide others through change and uncertainty.

Success in this role will require a manager who models integrity, inspires a shared sense of purpose and direction, and makes sound, evidence-based decisions. If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for policy, governance and delivering practical, innovative solutions in education, we encourage you to apply.

This process may also be utilised to fill other similar opportunities that arise across the State Schools Strategy Division.

Responsibilities Include:

As a Manager in the Strategy and Governance team, you will:

Provide expert strategic analysis and advice on systems, policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, distilling complex information into clear, actionable recommendations that support evidence-based decision-making.

Lead strategic initiatives and guide cross-functional teams to ensure school policies, processes, and systems are aligned with strategic objectives, efficient, and deliver measurable benefits.

Deliver accurate and timely advice on governance and compliance matters, ensuring alignment with legislation, delegations, policies, and frameworks to enable confident and accountable decision making.

Proactively identify, assess, and manage critical risks and issues across projects and programs, coordinating effective responses and fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable outcomes.

Oversee the preparation of high-quality reports, submissions, and presentations that are evidence-based, strategically aligned, and support executive leaders in making informed, future-focused decisions.

Drive a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and professional excellence within the team, building capability and fostering innovation to ensure the team remains adaptive and responsive to emerging challenges.

About You:

Experienced in leading and motivating teams to achieve goals, foster collaboration and deliver quality outcomes.

Skilled in implementing programs and initiatives aligned with strategic objectives and governance requirements.

Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

High-level writing and presentation skills, producing clear government documents, reports and briefings to support decision-making.

Knowledge of government systems, policies and procedures, with practical application to school operations and policy development.

Proven analytical and problem-solving ability, interpreting data and complex concepts to inform evidence-based improvement.

Expertise in program, project, risk and change management, ensuring effective, sustainable outcomes for schools.

While there are no mandatory qualifications required for this role, relevant tertiary qualifications in public policy, education, or a related field will be highly regarded.

Interested? To Apply:

Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history);

Attach a 2-page response to the How you may be assessed section of the attached role description.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.*