- Executive Leadership Opportunity
- Full time, 3-year executive contract
- Location: Adelaide metropolitan area / Kaurna Country
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As South Australia’s largest vocational education and training provider, TAFE SA is seeking an accomplished executive leader to play a pivotal role in redefining vocational education, strengthening industry alignment and driving innovation, while upholding the highest standards of academic governance, quality and regulatory compliance across the organisation.
The Executive Director: Industry and Innovation leads TAFE SA’s strategic engagement with industry and drives innovation in training products, curriculum design and quality. This ensures the organisation remains industry-led, future-focused and responsive to South Australia’s evolving workforce and economic priorities.
The role holds executive accountability for academic governance, quality and regulatory compliance across vocational and higher education, maintaining high standards of integrity and industry relevance. It also oversees hubs for research, innovation and training for both, Early Childhood Education and Care and National Security on a national scale. The role also shapes teaching and learning standards, and fosters strategic engagement with industry, government and peak bodies to identify emerging skill needs and inform future training solutions.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Executive team, you will:
- Lead strategic industry engagement and partnerships, positioning TAFE SA as a trusted workforce partner across priority sectors and influencing state and national economic priorities.
- Drive industry-led innovation in training solutions and curriculum, ensuring programs are contemporary, responsive, and aligned to current and future workforce needs.
- Provide executive oversight of educational quality, academic governance and regulatory compliance, maintaining high standards across vocational and higher education delivery.
- Champion innovation to build South Australia’s workforce capability, including new training models, emerging technologies, and future-focused education offerings.
- Oversee and leverage Centres of Excellence to strengthen industry collaboration, drive applied learning, and support sector leadership and workforce development.
- Deliver strong organisational leadership, leading high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and contributing to TAFE SA’s strategic direction, reform and continuous improvement.
About You
You are a respected senior executive with:
- Demonstrated success operating within large, complex and highly regulated environments, with a strong track record in strategy development, implementation and delivery of results.
- Proven experience as a senior executive leader, with strong strategic thinking capability, sound judgement and the ability to analyse complex issues, develop solutions and deliver well-founded recommendations.
- Highly developed political and organisational awareness, with the ability to anticipate and manage strategic, operational and reputational risks and navigate government policy and processes.
- Proven leadership capability to drive change and continuous improvement, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and the ability to lead performance uplift in dynamic environments.
- Deep understanding of equity, diversity, and cultural safety, particularly in working with First Nations communities
Qualifications:
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field (e.g. business, public administration, education, law, policy, economics)
- Postgraduate or executive leadership qualifications highly desirable
Why Join TAFE SA?
This is a rare opportunity to influence education at scale and contribute directly to the prosperity and wellbeing of South Australia. You will lead with purpose, shape the future workforce, and leave a legacy of impact through public education.
At TAFE SA, our values shape how we work — We Work As One, We Do What Matters, and We Step Up.
Learn more about our values and what it’s like to work at TAFE SA: TAFESA Values
Conditions: National Police Check, South Australia DHS Working with Children Check, eligibility to work in Australia, and availability for out-of-hours and interstate/international travel.
Ready to Take your Next Step?
Applications must be submitted online and should include a brief cover letter (1–2 pages) and a copy of your CV
For enquiries and a copy of the Candidate Briefing Document, please contact Grace Cultura - Talent Acquisition Manager, People & Culture via email at [email protected]
Inclusion and Flexibility Statement
Be you, be valued, be included. At TAFE SA, we celebrate diversity and encourage all applicants including First Nations peoples, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, people with disability, and neurodiverse talent. Need support applying? Let us know!
Empower. Impact. Reconcile. Discover our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan
Want to know more about TAFE SA? Follow Us On:
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Website: TAFE SA | Website
