Team Leader Initial Accreditation

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 117,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

CBD location near Wynyard

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) seeks a proactive leader to manage the Assessment Officers that process initial teacher accreditation applications across NSW. You will ensure accurate, timely decisions compliant with legislation while driving continuous service improvements and stakeholder collaboration.

You will guide a high-performing team, oversee performance, and champion data-led improvements in a regulatory environment that impacts education nationwide.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a busy operational or regulatory environment.
• Experience managing high-volume assessment, compliance, customer service or application-processing functions.
• Ability to analyse information, solve problems and make recommendations based on evidence and policy.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills for diverse groups.
• Experience identifying process improvements using data to drive efficiency and customer experience.
• Ability to lead through change and foster a collaborative, customer-focused culture.
• Knowledge of current policies relating to teacher accreditation in NSW.
• Current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance is required before commencing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of Assessment Officers to deliver accurate and timely assessment of initial teacher accreditation applications.
• Monitor team performance, workload distribution and service standards to meet targets.
• Provide guidance on complex accreditation matters, including qualification assessments and eligibility recommendations.
• Coach and develop team capability, fostering collaboration and continuous learning.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and outcomes.
• Analyse performance data and trends to inform improvements and decision making.
• Review and maintain process documentation to ensure compliance with legislation and policy.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support service delivery.
• Contribute to strategic projects and system improvements supporting teacher accreditation.

Skills

Leadership

High-volume processing

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Process improvement

Change management

Policy compliance

WWCC knowledge

Job description

• Full-time, Salary: $116,981 to $129,492 p.a. plus employer’s contribution to superannuation and leave loading
• Ongoing role
• Close to Wynyard station & hybrid work arrangements available

A Talent Pool may be established from this recruitment process that is valid for a period of up to 18 months. Applicants comparatively assessed and appointed to the talent pool may be considered for other vacant temporary or ongoing positions at the same classification level where the role requirements are similar.

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 aunique organisation in NSW (of around740FTE staff) with significant state-wide impact, visit our website to learn more about the important work we do.

About the role

This is an exciting leadership opportunity within the Teacher Education and Accreditation directorate at the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), where you will lead a team responsible for assessing and processing initial teacher accreditation applications across NSW. In this role, you will play a critical part in supporting high-quality teaching standards by ensuring accreditation decisions are accurate, timely and compliant with legislation and policy.

Leading a team of Assessment Officers, you will drive operational excellence, champion continuous improvement initiatives, and work collaboratively with your team and with stakeholders to enhance service delivery and customer experience. This is a fantastic opportunity for a people-focused leader who enjoys balancing operational management, stakeholder engagement, and process improvement while contributing to outcomes that support education across NSW.

On a day-to-day basis you will be responsible for:

• Leading and supporting a team of Assessment Officers to deliver accurate and timely assessment of initial teacher accreditation applications.
• Monitoring team performance, workload distribution and service standards to ensure operational targets are achieved.
• Providing guidance and advice on complex accreditation matters, including qualification assessments and eligibility recommendations.
• Coaching and developing team capability, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous learning.
• Identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality and customer experience.
• Analysing performance data and application trends to inform operational improvements and decision-making.
• Reviewing and maintaining process documentation to ensure compliance with legislation, policy and operational requirements.
• Building productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support effective service delivery and resolve issues.
• Contributing to strategic projects, system improvements and organisational initiatives that support teacher accreditation services.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a busy operational or regulatory environment, with the ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining quality outcomes.
• Experience managing high-volume assessment, compliance, customer service or application-processing functions with a strong focus on accuracy, efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to analyse information, solve complex problems and make sound recommendations based on evidence, policy and legislative requirements.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly, influence outcomes and build productive working relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements, using data and insights to drive operational efficiency and improve customer experience.
• The ability to lead through change, support workforce capability development and foster a collaborative, customer-focused team culture.
• Knowledge of current policies, processes and issues relating to teacher accreditation in NSW.
• 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.

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.

Ready to join us?

Key information: If you are a current NESA employee or from another NSW government agency who use SuccessFactors for Recruitment and myWorkZone for Payroll, it’s important to apply through SuccessFactors to ensure your application reaches our system in the right place. If you need advice on that process, follow this guide.

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

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.

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