aso8 stakeholder engagement lead

Office for Early Childhood Development

Job reference: 706556

Location: ADELAIDE

Job status: Long Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us:

The Office for Early Childhood Development was created to champion change and to help build a system that gives all South Australian children a flying start to life.

Guided by the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, the Office for Early Childhood Development is the steward of the early childhood development system in South Australia.

The Office is tasked with a significant responsibility: bringing together a holistic, connected system for early childhood development across South Australia, with the goal of reducing the rate of children entering school developmental vulnerable. Critical to this is the roll-out of universal 3-year-old preschool from 2026, giving every child access to 2 years of teacher-led, play-based early learning before school.

About this role:

Reporting to the Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement, the Stakeholder Engagement Lead is responsible for leading strategic external engagement for the Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD).

The role manages, guides and oversees how the OECD engages with key external stakeholders, including government, service providers, sector representatives, and the broader community, to strengthen relationships, gather insights, and support the successful implementation of early childhood reforms.

This position plays a pivotal role in coordinating strategic advice on consultation and engagement across the Office, ensuring activities are aligned, evidence-informed, and deliver meaningful impact. Key responsibilities include leading strategic engagement plans, leading engagement activities for key strategic forums, including the Minister's Early Childhood Advisory Forum, and overseeing the provision of expert advice to the Minister and Chief Executive on matters relating to external relations, and ensuring the OECD maintains strong, collaborative partnerships to achieve its system-wide objectives.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full design, implementation, and evaluation of strategic engagement plans that align with organisational goals and public communications.
• Lead and coordinate engagement for key strategic forums
• Provide expert strategic advice across the Office
• Build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders
• Work closely with the Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement to set team priorities and strategy
• Oversee the preparation of high-quality ministerial, executive, and stakeholder advice
• Lead development and implementation of systems and processes to monitor, evaluate, and report on external engagement effectiveness
• Provide leadership and mentoring to a small, skilled team.

About you:

Highly developed skills in designing and delivering strategic engagement plans, combined with proven written, verbal and interpersonal skills are essential to success in this role.

Additionally, we are looking for someone who brings extensive experience in:

• Leadership towards achieving strategic goals
• Managing projects
• Negotiatng outcomes building stakeholder commitment to shared goals
• Providing advice using political acumen
• Working autonomously to drive outcomes and meet tight deadlines
• Managing complex and competing priorities, with exceptional time management capability.

Desirable Skills:

An appropriate tertiary qualification in Communications, Engagement, Public Relations or equivalent.

Role Benefits:

• A role with real influence and impact in leading strategic external engagement
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the public sector
• Be part of an agency with a clear mission to improve the lives of South Australia's children and families.
• Access to flexible working arrangements.
  Access to valuable salary packaging services through SMART

Application Instructions and Information:

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants must submit a CV, Pre-employment Declaration, and a cover letter outlining their suitability against the attached position description.

Remuneration:

ASO8 - $121,107 - $125, FTE) per annum, plus superannuation of 12%.

Additional Note:

This is a 2-year term contract role (1.0 FTE) with potential to be made ongoing.

Enquiries:

Enquiries can be directed to

Special Conditions:

For all other special conditions please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close: 03/11/2025 11:45 PM