Director, Strategy and Assurance

NSW Early Learning Commission; Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 255,000 - 281,000; Full time

Job summary

The NSW Early Learning Commission seeks a Director, Strategy and Assurance to lead the Commission's strategy and regulatory posture. Based in Parramatta with flexible work options, you will translate policy into guidance and support for the sector, ensuring consistent interpretation of expectations.

You will collaborate with policy, legal and operations teams to align regulatory practice with the strategy, safeguarding and quality across NSW’s early learning services.

Qualifications

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as law, public policy, education, business, management or social sciences, and/or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Experience providing high-quality strategic advice in regulatory contexts.
• Ability to translate legislative and policy requirements into practical guidance and regulatory practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and assurance for regulatory posture and organisational planning in early learning regulation.
• Translate legislative intent into clear regulatory guidance, education and sector support.
• Ensure regulatory practice aligns with the Commission's strategy and legislative framework to safeguard children.

Education

Tertiary qualifications in law, public policy, education, business, management or social sciences

Job description

Full time ongoing role Ongoing Public Service senior executive band 1 role with a remuneration range of $255,301 - $280,995 per annum Based in Parramatta with flexible work options

About us

At the NSW Early Learning Commission children come first, always. We work to ensure children are safe, respected and supported to thrive in early childhood education and care across NSW. Through strong regulation and evidence-informed reform, we help ensure children experience high-quality early learning that supports their development, wellbeing and lifelong learning. We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.

About the role

The Director, Strategy and Assurance leads the Commission's strategy, applying systems thinking to regulatory posture, strategic priorities and organisational planning for early learning regulation in NSW. The role translates legislative and policy intent into clear regulatory guidance, education and support for the sector, and ensures consistent interpretation and application of expectations. Working closely with policy, legal and operational functions, the role provides assurance that regulatory practice aligns with the Commission's strategy and legislative framework supporting the safety and quality of early learning services.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have extensive experience in providing advice on strategy in a regulatory context and interpreting complex legislative and policy requirements into clear practical guidance to inform decision making on sensitive matters. You are highly regarded for your ability to build credible and effective working relationships both internally and across the sector. With a strong commitment to public value, you lead with integrity, purpose and influence. Above all, you are genuinely motivated by what the Commission exists to do: keep children safe and drive quality in early childhood education and care across NSW.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as law, public policy, education, business, management or social sciences, and/or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience working with complex legislative and regulatory frameworks, including the ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical guidance and regulatory practice.
• Experience providing high-quality strategic advice and developing guidance that supports consistent and defensible regulatory decision-making in complex or sensitive environments.
• Understanding of and commitment to respecting and valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures, and supporting culturally safe practices in the delivery of regulatory services.

Application

Applications Close: 11:59pm on Sunday, 8 November 2026

Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role, please contact Kristian Holz, Deputy Commissioner, Strategy and Integrity - [e-mail]

Diversity

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. 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.