Field Officer

NSW Department of Education; Albury City; On-site; AUD 103,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and superannuation

Job summary

NSW Department of Education seeks Field Officers for the NSW Early Learning Commission to regulate and improve early childhood services across NSW. The role focuses on compliance visits, quality audits, and driving improvements while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.

Travel is a core part of the job, including occasional overnights. Candidates should have ECEC sector experience, regulatory knowledge, and a commitment to high standards of safety and quality in early learning

Qualifications

• Valid Working with Children Check clearance for paid employment.
• Valid driver's license is essential.
• Degree or diploma in a relevant discipline (e.g., ECE) or equivalent experience.
• Regular travel is required to meet business needs.
• Flexible working arrangements are available.
• Competitive pay, superannuation, and annual leave loading.

Responsibilities

• Undertake compliance and monitoring visits and audits to uplift performance across the ECEC sector.
• Recommend regulatory actions to ensure adherence to policy and procedures.
• Conduct site visits for investigations of complaints/incidents and escalate as needed.
• Maintain effective relationships with sector stakeholders and directorate teams.
• Participate in hub groups to share information and inform policy development.
• Implement engagement and capability development strategies for sector improvement.
• Prepare quality evidence-based written reports, submissions, and correspondence.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Stakeholder management

Travel flexibility

Autonomy

Regulatory compliance

Regulatory interpretation

Education

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)

Diploma Early Childhood Education and Care

Job description

Who we are

The NSW Early Learning Commission (Commission), established as the independent regulator for early childhood education and care (ECEC) in New South Wales on 1 December 2025, is responsible for regulating more than 6,000 ECEC services across the state.

Our role is to ensure services meet high standards of safety, quality, and compliance through ongoing assessment, monitoring and enforcement.

The Commission places children at the centre of all decision‑making, working to ensure they are safe, respected, and supported to thrive in high-quality early learning environments that promote their development, wellbeing, and lifelong learning. It also drives continuous improvement across the sector through evidence‑informed regulation and reform to strengthen community confidence in ECEC services.

The Commission respects and values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.

About the role

Field Officers draw on their expertise gained from working in ECEC to work collaboratively with ECEC services to ensure the paramount safety of children, drive continuous improvement and deliver the best outcomes for children. Working as a Field Officer is rewarding, challenging and impactful – you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.

This role is a key part of the NSW Early Learning Commission’s critical frontline operations. By working closely with other team members, external stakeholders, and the broader community, you will contribute to shaping a sector that supports positive outcomes for children attending early learning services. The team operates within a collaborative and supportive environment, united by a shared commitment to excellence and regulatory compliance.

The responsibilities include:

• Undertake compliance and monitoring visits and quality assessment and rating audits of service providers to ensure continual performance uplift across the ECEC sector
• Recommend a range of regulatory actions to ensure consistent adherence to policy and procedures, and proportionate regulatory responses to non‑complaint services.
• Undertake relevant regulatory activities including site visits to support investigations of complaints and incidents and, where necessary, elevate matters to the Hub Coordinator and the Compliance and Investigations team.
• Maintain effective relationships with sector stakeholders and teams across the directorate to contribute to the delivery of planned objectives.
• Participate in hub groups to seek and provide information to enhance the knowledge and performance of the sector, and to inform policy and program development.
• Implement engagement, communication and capability development strategies to support continuous improvement in the sector.
• Apply sound decision‑making skills in the preparation of quality evidence‑based written reports, submissions and correspondence.

To learn more about the role of an Authorised Officer, please visit the Authorised Officer webpage, review the Authorised Officer fact sheet and download the role description. This role requires travel as part of core duties. Please do not apply for field based roles if you are unable to regularly travel.

About you

• ECEC sector experience in one or more ECEC service types, including implementation of ECEC pedagogy and programs
• Confident in interpreting and applying legislative requirements
• Knowledgeable in early childhood education frameworks and best practice
• Skilled in conducting quality assessments and preparing evidence‑based reports
• Experienced in managing stakeholder relationships and communicating clearly
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to undertake regular short‑term travel to meet business needs and flexibility to work at varied times within the bandwidth
• Self‑motivated, organised and able to work autonomously
• Applicants will be required to declare and provide details of any investigation(s) that they have been subject to, at any time, personally as an employee of an ECEC service or as a Responsible Person. Applicants are also required to declare any personal or professional conflicts of interest with current or former NSW Early Learning Commission employees, approved providers and ECEC services.

Essential requirements of the role

• A valid Working with Children Check clearance for paid employment
• A valid driver license as driving is an essential requirement of this role
• Degree or diploma or in the process of attaining a degree or diploma in a relevant discipline and/or relevant experience. For example Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) or Diploma Early Childhood Education and Care.
• Demonstrated understanding of and committed to the value of early childhood education and care.
• Regular travel, including overnights as needed to meet business needs; The Commission regulates ECEC services NSW wide.
• Flexible working arrangements
• Competitive pay/remuneration, salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
• Flex leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs
• Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Commission and Department to support your career growth

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre‑employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the Office of the Children's Guardian website for more information.

For role enquiries, please contact Amelia Baker, Hub Coordinator via email **************@earlylearningcommission.nsw.gov.au

For recruitment enquiries, please contact Masood (Business Support Project Officer) via ******@earlylearningcommission.nsw.gov.au

A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.

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 (*****@det.nsw.edu.au) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

Multiple upcoming ongoing and temporary opportunities are available in a supportive and high performing teams across the state who work hard to ensure the high quality and safety of early childhood education and care (ECEC).

Locations are across Sydney West Blue Mountains, Bankstown and Regional NSW including Griffith, Albury and Wagga Wagga

A talent pool may be created through this recruitment process to fill anticipated vacancies in NSW regional locations over the next 18 months

Competitive remuneration ranging from $102,936 to $113,579 plus super & annual loadinging.