Senior Project Officer, Program Improvement and Insights

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 133,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Fitness Passport discounts

Annual flu vaccinations

Salary packaging options

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The Senior Project Officer, Program Improvement and Insights role sits within the Assessment Services directorate of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). You will apply your project leadership and data analysis skills to deliver strategic initiatives that support HSC students with disability across NSW.

Working with leading educators and measurement experts, you will translate complex evidence into policy and program improvements, and drive QA and evaluation activities for

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading program, project or service improvement initiatives in a complex environment.
• Extensive experience analysing data, conducting research and translating findings into practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Commitment to improving opportunities for students with disability in NSW.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the implementation of recommendations arising from the HSC Disability Provisions Program Review.
• Design and implement a framework to evaluate whether the intended impact on student outcomes is being achieved.
• Drive data collection initiatives that support program continuous improvement.
• Identify key external data and metrics to serve as environmental indicators.
• Engage with operational teams, educational measurement specialists and policy developers.
• Conduct research, analyse program data for trends, risks and opportunities, and synthesise findings into recommendations for senior executives.

Skills

Program leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Policy evaluation

Education

Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline

Job description

• Temporary Full-time, up to 30 June 2027 (with possibility of extension)
• Salary: $133,348 to $146,945 p.a. plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and leave loading
• Close to Wynyard station & hybrid work arrangements available

Guiding the future of NSW education

Position details

• Clerk Grade 9/10
• Temporary Full-time, up to 30 June 2027 (with possibility of extension)
• Salary: $133,348 to $146,945 p.a. plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and leave loading
• Close to Wynyard station & hybrid work arrangements available
• Contact for enquiries: Michelle Rankin via [e-mail]

About Us

At the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), we are dedicated to carrying out meaningful work that drives improvements and elevates student achievement across NSW, now and into the future.

We accomplish this by supporting all school sectors with high-quality syllabuses, assessment (including managing the HSC and NAPLAN), teaching standards (e.g., accrediting teachers) and school environments (including setting and monitoring school standards).

NESA is a unique organisation in NSW (of around 740FTE staff) with significant state-wide impact, visit our website to learn more about the important work we do.

About The Role

The Senior Project Officer, Program Improvement and Insights role sits within the Assessment Services directorate which is responsible for public policy design and review, research, and the delivery of high-stakes assessment programs for NSW students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

In the role, you will use your project leadership and data analysis skills to deliver strategic initiatives that support HSC students with disability across NSW. You will be part of a small team delivering the recommendations of a highly visible, highly regarded independent review.

Working at the intersection of analytics, research and stakeholder engagement, you will drive the review’s quality assurance and evaluation activities and Board-approved reforms. The role provides an opportunity to work alongside leading educators and senior measurement experts and translate complex evidence and data into impactful policy and program improvements.

On a Day-to-day Basis You Will Be Required To

• Lead and support the implementation of recommendations arising from the HSC Disability Provisions Program Review
• Design and implement a framework to evaluate whether the intended impact on student outcomes is being achieved.
• Drive data collection initiatives that support program continuous improvement.
• Identify key external data and metrics to serve as environmental indicators.
• Engage with operational teams, educational measurement specialists, disability experts and policy developers.
• Conduct research, analyse program data for trends, risks and opportunities, and synthesise findings into recommendations for senior executives.

Our ideal candidate will have the skills and capabilities to:

• Design, track and report on metrics to assess change effectiveness
• Extract and analyse complex data and translate insights into practical operational and policy recommendations.
• Quickly build strong stakeholder relationships and influence outcomes through collaboration, consultation and effective communication.
• Deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

To Be Successful, You Will Need To Have

• Extensive experience leading program, project or service improvement initiatives in a complex environment.
• Extensive experience analysing data, conducting research and translating findings into practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Commitment to improving opportunities for students with disability in NSW.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline preferable.
• A valid NSW Working with Children Check for paid employment.

We invite you to download the role description for additional information on the position.

Note

A current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance for paid employment is required before commencing in this role. It is not required at the application stage. The cost of the WWCC clearance is the responsibility of the successful applicant.

Employment at NESA is subject to the satisfactory completion of probity checking which includes a criminal history and identity check (for new hires) and a qualification check (if required for the role).

At NESA You Will Benefit From

• An organisation where your contribution has a big impact.
• An enviable CBD location (all modes of transport nearby, and excellent coffee and eateries) with refurbished offices.
• Flexible working arrangements and generous leave entitlements.
• Access to discounted health and fitness memberships via Fitness Passport, an employee assistance program and annual flu vaccinations.
• Salary packaging options.
• Working in a purpose driven and ethical organisation with committed colleagues.

Advice on applying for NSW Public Sector roles

If you need reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process and/or workplace, please reach out to [e-mail]

Close date: Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 11.59pm AEST

Thank you for your interest, we look forward to receiving your application.

#S/DNI

Important information

All children and young people have the right to be respected, feel safe, be safe, and protected from harm. NESA is committed to child safety and child safe practices underpinning our purpose of helping children and young people leave school, ready to take advantage of life’s opportunities and rise to its inevitable challenges.

NESA’s Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

We particularly welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people of all ages, genders, cultural and linguistic backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

For ongoing roles, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Australian Temporary Residents may be considered for a fixed term contract for the length of their visa, depending on the requirements of the hiring area and the position.

A Talent Pool (valid for 18 months) may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles