Director, Incident Management

Department for Education, South Australia; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative work environment

Three-year executive contract

Leadership opportunities

Job summary

A governmental education department seeks a strategic leader for the role of Director, Incident Management. This position involves managing high-stakes incidents, providing expert guidance to senior executives, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding practices. The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills to navigate complex issues, foster collaboration, and drive positive change. The role offers a full-time, long-term contract with a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading in a large and complex organisation at a senior level.
• Ability to manage risks to child safety and staff wellbeing.
• Ability to conduct rigorous investigations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for sensitive matters.
• Manage incident response and investigations.
• Improve incident management policy and processes.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Negotiation

Conflict management

Education

Post-graduate qualification in relevant discipline

Working With Children Check

Job description

An appropriate tertiary qualification including post-graduate qualifications in an appropriate discipline desirable or relevant experience

Job Reference

835489

Location

5000 – ADELAIDE

Job status

Long Term Contract

Eligibility

Open to Everyone

Work with Purpose

at the Department for Education.

We are seeking an experienced leader to fulfil the role of Director, Incident Management. In this role, you’ll provide strategic leadership of the department’s most sensitive and high‑stakes matters—from child safety incidents to serious staff misconduct—while driving systemic reform that strengthens safeguarding practices at every level.

This is an opportunity to make a tangible difference by leading expert teams, advising senior executives and the Minister, ensuring the Royal Commission recommendations that protect the wellbeing of children, staff and communities statewide are met.

Why Work With Us

Every child and young person deserves a great education. We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child’s potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world‑leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing. Together we will make our education system the best it can be. When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.

About The Role

The Incident Management Directorate (IMD) leads the department’s response to critical incidents and serious misconduct matters, ensuring swift, professional and transparent management of issues that impact the safety and wellbeing of children, staff and communities.

The Directorate oversees the assessment and response to high‑risk and critical incidents, leads investigations and adjudication of serious misconduct matters, and provides ongoing leadership of the department’s response to child sexual misconduct in line with Royal Commission recommendations. IMD also plays a key role in shaping and improving incident management policy, systems and processes, including leading major change initiatives such as the transition to the new Incident Reporting System in 2026.

Through expert advice, policy review and targeted support, IMD works closely with sites, Education Directors, senior executives and other agencies to strengthen incident management practices, address emerging risks and maintain confidence in the department’s commitment to child safety.

About You

• You are a strategic leader who creates, engages and inspires teams, and thinks several steps ahead—solving complex problems while driving meaningful change across the organisation.
• You deliver results with sound judgement, ensuring legislative compliance, conducting rigorous investigations, and applying technical expertise to achieve organisational effectiveness.
• You provide confident, decisive leadership in identifying and managing both emerging and real‑time risks to child safety, staff wellbeing and organisational reputation at directorate and whole‑of‑agency levels.
• You build strong relationships through political acumen, skilled negotiation and influence, expert conflict management, and a commitment to collaborative information sharing and knowledge exchange.
• You champion business excellence by shaping organisational performance, anticipating future needs, developing high-performing teams, fostering a customer‑focused culture and strategically directing resources for sustainable success.

Essential Qualifications And Competencies

• An appropriate tertiary qualification including post‑graduate qualifications in an appropriate discipline desirable or relevant experience
• Experience leading in a large and complex organisation at a senior level, ensuring the translation of priorities into executed deliverables.
• You must have, or be able to obtain, a Department for Human Resources issued Working With Children Check

What You Will Get In Return

• A three‑year executive contract.
• Lead strategy and business outcomes within one of SA’s biggest departments.
• Be a part of a forward‑thinking and dynamic team and enjoy a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Special Conditions

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed, which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry. The incumbent will be required to undertake the RRHAN‑EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years. For all other special conditions please refer to the attached Position Description.

Enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to Chris Bernardi, Chief Operating Officer, via email: [e-mail]

Application Instructions

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website. Applicants are required to submit a CV and a cover letter, outlining their suitability against the position description. People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Note

This is a full‑time contract role (1.0 FTE), initial 3‑year contract.

Applications close

18/03/2026 11:30 PM

Flexibility Statement

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part‑time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.