- Employment Type: Ongoing
- Classification / Grade / Band: Clerk Grade 11/12
- Remuneration: $149,739 - $173,174; plus Superannuation and Leave Loading
- Location: Sydney CBD, Flexible working options available
- Applications Close: Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at 9:59 am
Role impact & contribution
As a Principal Economist, you will take a leading role in the Competition & Regulatory Policy Branch, a high-impact team within the Markets & Regulation Division in the Economic Strategy & Productivity Group.
You will lead a small, high-performing regulatory economics team to deliver rigorous, evidence-based advice on some of the most interesting and complex policy challenges facing NSW. You will maintain relationships across NSW Government agencies to improve the quality and performance of regulation in NSW, promote efficient markets, and shape reform that will have meaningful impacts on NSW individuals and businesses.
Read more about your future Group and Division.
Your day-to-day
In this role, you will:
- Lead a team across multiple projects from scoping through to delivery, including sequencing work, managing risks and meeting tight timeframes
- Apply economic and policy frameworks, including cost-benefit analysis, to develop practical, evidence-based solutions to policy and regulatory issues
- Provide clear, timely and influential advice through high-quality briefings, reports and presentations to senior decision-makers, including the Treasurer, Cabinet and Treasury Executive
- Lead and develop a small team, managing their work programs, and building their capability in economic frameworks, policy analysis and communication
- Build and maintain strong relationships across government and external stakeholders, leading consultation, negotiation and collaboration to shape policy outcomes.
You can read more about the role in the role description here.
Projects you could work on
You will contribute to a diverse and high-impact work program. Current priorities across Competition and Regulatory Policy Branch include:
- Regulatory reform – supporting NSW Government agencies in the design and evaluation of regulation, applying an economic lens to identify opportunities to improve policy effectiveness and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden
- National Competition Policy – shaping and delivering a long-term reform agenda to boost competition, productivity and cost-of-living outcomes (see NSW Treasury Competition policy)
- Sector reviews – supporting the NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner to deliver impactful deep dive analysis into specific sectors and markets, understanding market functioning and identifying opportunities to improve Government policy (such as the current Hospitality Review and recent Strata Commissions Review)
What you can bring to the role.
You will be successful in this role if you bring:
- Strong analytical capability, including applying economic frameworks (e.g. cost-benefit analysis, market analysis) to real-world policy problems
- Experience leading complex policy work and delivering high-quality economic advice
- Ability to exercise judgement under ambiguity, including identifying key issues and distilling them into clear recommendations
- Strong skills in leading and developing teams, including coaching and building capability
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues clearly and influence senior stakeholders.
What you can expect from us
The team you will join is made up of a diverse and welcoming group of people. We understand what starting a new job is like, and to ensure you have the most positive experience we will ‘Buddy’ you up with a team member to help settle you in.
Just some of the benefits of working with Treasury include:
- Flexible work at our Sydney office with 35-hour standard weeks
- Accrual of flex time for extra hours worked, promoting work-life balance.
- Ongoing learning opportunities through expert-led sessions and online training
- Wellbeing programs to support your mental and physical health.
- Various leave options, including paid parental and carers leave.
Read more about our benefits and how we invest in you.
Enrich your career with the NSW Treasury
You will have an invaluable opportunity to create a positive impact for the people of New South Wales. You will be challenged to provide the best outcomes possible in this role while developing and growing your own skills.
When you join Treasury, you join an organisation that is a whole-of-government financial and economic advisor. Treasury is a critical component of the government and provides advice that informs a wide range of financial, economic and policy driven work for the state of NSW.
As you contribute your expertise, you’ll engage in continuous professional development, with opportunities to build skills such as:
- Modelling and policy evaluation techniques
- Leadership, coaching and team development skills
- Stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing capability
- Strategic thinking and decision-making in complex policy environments.
Gather more insights about Careers at Treasury and learn more about how you can transform your career in a central government agency invested in you.
Interested in working with us
Read the role description to learn more about the role and submit your application ONLY via the I Work for NSW jobs platform.
Application process:
- An up-to-date resume detailing your knowledge, skills, and experience in relation to the role.
- Complete pre-screening questions as part of the application process.
- Partake in a behavioural based interview and undergo additional assessments if shortlisted
A talent pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities in the same role or grade that may become available over the next 18 months.
Read more about what to expect in the hiring process.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
NSW Treasury is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve, where everyone feels welcome, supported and able to contribute and do their best work.
We are committed to fair and equitable recruitment processes and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including First Nations peoples, people with disability, people of all ages and genders, LGBTQIA+ people, and people from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
We actively support workplace and recruitment adjustments to remove barriers and enable equitable participation. If you require an adjustment or assistance at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Talent Advisor listed on the job advertisement or visit the following link for more information: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-treasury/about-us/careers
- As a Disability Confident Recruiter, NSW Treasury is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment and supports adjustments so candidates with disability can participate fairly at every stage.
- As a Level 1 Activate Carer Employer, we recognise and support employees with caring responsibilities through inclusive and flexible workplace practices.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for ongoing employment at NSW Treasury, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
NSW Treasury does not provide relocation expenses, nor can we support employer-sponsored work visas unless specifically referenced in the advertisement.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo background checks and provide confirmation of tertiary academic qualifications before commencement.
Any questions?
Visit our Careers Centre or contact our Talent Advisor David Pryde at
[email protected].
Close of applications: Tuesday, 23 June 2026 at 9:59 am
A concurrent search is also underway.
Click “Apply” to start your application.
