Chief Procurement Officer

Company description:

The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. For more information about the Department of Education, please visit http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/.

Job description:

• Join a leadership group transforming education in NSW, and make a difference to students in NSW
• Full time, ongoing Public Service Senior Executive Band 2 role with a remuneration range of $313,308 - $349,462 per annum
• Based in Parramatta with flexible work options

About us

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners - from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We unlock excellence and unleash the potential of two-thirds of school children in NSW. We're proudly public and the largest education system in Australia. We nurture opportunities for every learner to develop the skills needed for their chosen career path, helping shape the industries of tomorrow.

We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Peoples of Australia.

About the role

The Chief Procurement Officer provides leadership, vision, direction and structure to the procurement function to drive effective, efficient and value-add procurement planning, sourcing and contract management aligned with the organisation's strategic priorities and business needs and government directions on procurement.

This senior leadership role leads the development of robust, transparent procurement frameworks that drive strong governance and deliver value across the department. A key focus is collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to deliver innovative, risk-aware solutions that support strategic direction, enabling high-impact education outcomes.

About you

You are a highly strategic, collaborative and values driven leader with deep expertise in complex procurement environments. Your expertise spans the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, from planning and sourcing contract negotiation and performance management.

You thrive on improving systems and processes, navigating ambiguity and leading change.

With a strong understanding of legislative and policy frameworks, you bring sound judgement, commercial acumen and a passion for driving meaningful, system-level outcomes.

You lead with integrity, inspire high performing teams and are committed to advancing transparency, inclusion and best practice across all aspects of procurement.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated extensive experience at a senior level in the management of a large complex organisation.
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department's Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.
• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as education, business, management, social sciences or communications, and/or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Hold a valid clearance to work with children (Working with Children Check).
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates who have not previously worked for the department will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number. This option would allow the WWCC to naturally expire without further communication needed with the employee. The employer obligations under the WWCC would apply for duration of the WWCC's validity (up to 5 years).

Interested?

To apply for this role, please submit an online application and attach your resume (maximum of 5 pages) along with a cover letter (maximum of 2 pages) which describes how your capabilities, knowledge and experience make you the best person for this role.

Applications Close: 11:59pm on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.

Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role, please contact Zara Weiss - [emailprotected].

Please note:

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 ( [emailprotected]) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

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.