Manager - Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management

Department of Education, Western Australia; Perth; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% employer contributed superannution

Flexible working arrangements incl. Wf

Generous leave entitlements

Professional development opportunities

Salary packaging options

Proximity to public transport (EastPer

Job summary

The Department of Education, Western Australia, is recruiting a Manager, Stakeholder Engagement and Change, to drive system-wide disability reform. Based in East Perth, you will lead a team delivering engagement, communications and change strategies across schools and the public education system.

You will provide strategic advice to the Director and Ministers, shape readiness assessments, and build trusted relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders to secure reform outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive skills and experience leading stakeholder engagement.
• Extensive skills leading change management initiatives.
• Ability to influence across a complex policy environment.
• Strong communication and relationship-building capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate system-wide stakeholder engagement and change strategies.
• Provide strategic advice on engagement and change to executives and Ministers.
• Manage a team to assess change readiness and stakeholder impacts.
• Build relationships across the Department and with external partners.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Strategic leadership

Communication

Job description

This is a permanent full-time position commencing ASAP

Help drive the Department’s long-term, system-wide program of disability reform for public education. We are seeking an experienced change leader to work across the agency, whole-of-government, and with broader stakeholders, to strengthen educational outcomes, inclusion and wellbeing for students with disability across the public education system.

Join Reform and Strategic Services as the Department of Education delivers against its strategic plan and progresses important state and national reforms.

The Role

The Manager, Stakeholder Engagement and Change, leads and coordinate the development and delivery of system-wide stakeholder engagement, communication and change strategies that support the disability reform program and its successful implementation across schools and the system. They will provide high-quality, strategic advice to the Director, Corporate Executive, and Ministers on stakeholder engagement, communication and change regarding disability reform, including emerging opportunities, issues and risks, to inform decision making and ensure transparency of change outcomes.

The successful applicant will lead a team to assess change readiness and stakeholder impacts; plan and deliver strategic communications; design and coordinate stakeholder engagement; develop and implement change management activities; and ensure stakeholder insights and feedback are used to inform the design and implementation of reform. They will also build and maintain strong relationships across the Department, broader education system, and disability sector, working directly with key stakeholders to understand their perspectives, undertake meaningful engagement, and build understanding and support for disability reform.

This applicant will will provide strategic leadership and exercise sound judgement within a complex and dynamic policy environment, where issues are rapidly evolving, priorities can shift quickly, and timely responses are required to meet Department and government needs.

Professional Benefits

We are conveniently located in East Perth and our employees enjoy a range of benefits which include:

• 12% employer contributed superannuation.
• Flexible working arrangements are genuinely considered to create healthy work life balance including; working from home or remote, flexible working hours and part-time arrangements
• Generous leave entitlements including annual, personal, long service and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance
• Access to salary packaging (in accordance with relevant industrial instruments)
• Enjoy easy access to public transport with the Claisebrook train station just a 5-minute walk away or, take advantage of the free Yellow Cat bus service that stops outside our building entrance. Additionally, various CPP parking locations are within walking distance.

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

We are committed to building the leadership capability of our people (Building Leadership Impact).

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our workplaces and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
• obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website and in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Role Specific

• Demonstrated extensive skills and experience in leading a complex stakeholder engagement approach, including building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, delivering targeted and tailored communication and engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated extensive skills and experience in leading a complex change management approach, influencing stakeholders and fostering a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement.

Generic

Shapes and manages strategy

• Translates strategy into operational goals.
• Understands objective, critical analysis and distils the core issues.
• Engages others in the strategic direction of the work area, encourages their contribution, and communicates expected outcomes.
• Considers the ramifications of a wide range of issues, anticipates priorities and develops long term plans for the work area.

Achieves results

• Demonstrated highly developed conceptual, analytical and research skills, including the ability to develop solutions to complex problems.
• Establishes clear plans and timeframes for project implementation and outlines specific activities.
• Monitors progress and identifies risks that may impact outcome and adjusts plans as required.

Builds productive relationships

• Builds and sustains relationships with a network of key people internally and externally.
• Recognises shared agendas and works toward mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Brings people together and encourages input from key stakeholders.

Exemplifies personal integrity and self-awareness

• Acts professionally and impartially at all times and operates within the boundaries of organisational processes and legal and public policy constraints.
• Takes personal responsibility for meeting objectives and progressing work and commits energy and drive to see that goals are achieved.
• Persists and focuses on achieving objectives even in difficult circumstances.

Communicates and influences effectively

• Demonstrated highly developed verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to effectively liaise with key internal and external stakeholders at a senior level.
• Approaches negotiations with a strong grasp of key issues, having prepared well in advance.
• Anticipates the position of the other party and adapts.

Please note that the panel will not assess information beyond the page limits outlined above, or additional attachments.

Advertised Vacancy Number: DOE1071371

Applicants assessed as suitable may be considered for similar vacancies that arise in our branch within the next 12 months. This includes circumstances where this position becomes subsequently vacant should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised position.

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close:

4.30pm (AWST) on Friday 13 November 2026