At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.
- Ongoing Full time
- Located in Sydney with flexible working arrangements available
- Salary: Clerk Grade 11/12 with salary ranging from $149,739 to $173,174 + super and annual leave loading
- Be part of a dynamic, growing division where your ideas and expertise make a real impact
About Cleaning Services
The NSW Government’s reforms to public sector cleaning services entail the NSW Department of Education taking over management of the state’s Whole-of-Government cleaning contracts from January 1, 2026.
A team has been established to deliver an enhanced Whole-of-Government cleaning contract for alignment and delivery of all program streams. Including Governance, ITD, Recruitment and Risk Management.
About the role
The role is responsible for the contract compliance and the assurance program for the Whole-of-Government Cleaning Services. This includes ensuring performance meets contractual, KPI, and legislative obligations, including modern slavery, WHS, and Fair Work requirements. The role is responsible for any performance issues that are identified and escalated as well as assurance activities are in place to support service quality, compliance and value for money.
The role is based in the new Cleaning Services directorate where procedures and frameworks are still being refined. The role would suit someone who is strategic however not afraid to get into the detail.
For further information please click here to view the role description
Some of the main responsibilities are however not limited to:
- Actively design and lead audit programs covering scheduled inspections as well as deep-dive into investigations that are high-risk or underperforming areas
- Create and maintain contract assurance procedures for the collection of reporting data and provide future recommendations
- Establish risk-based monitoring processes to detect, assess, and escalate modern slavery and ethical sourcing risks which include subcontractor arrangements
- Advise senior leadership on contract compliance trends, systemic risks, and recommended improvements to contractual controls, service delivery, and supplier governance
- Maintain accurate, auditable records of all assurance activities in line with contractual and legislative requirements, ensuring they are available for internal and external scrutiny
- Lead a high-performance team of three that is customer focused and solutions oriented
About you
- Demonstrated experience in a similar leadership as well as strategic compliance & assurance role
- Demonstrated experience working in a newly established team and in an environment of change
- Be able to influence stakeholders at all levels from the Executive team to front line staff
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
Key knowledge and experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of contract compliance, and assurance frameworks.
- Experience in audit, performance monitoring, and risk management.
- 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.
Essential requirements of the role
- Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent workplace experience in contract management, compliance, audit, or a related field.
- Current and valid Working with Children Check clearance for paid employment.
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
Benefits
- 35 hour working week
- Competitive, salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
- Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
- Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth
How to apply
Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role. Please also answer the targeted question below:
- Tell us about a time you led a contract compliance or assurance activity for a large, multi‑site service contract. Describe the specific compliance risks you identified (such as WHS, Fair Work, or modern slavery), the audit or monitoring approach you designed, how you engaged stakeholders or suppliers, and the measurable improvements or outcomes that resulted?
Applicants are encouraged to prepare their application materials independently. The selection panel values authentic and personally written responses that reflect your own experience, insights and alignment with the Department’s values and priorities.
Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.
If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education,
All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now’.
Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.
This is a child-related role. As a condition of employment you will be required to provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number (for paid employment). Visit the website for more information.
Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.
Closing date: 23 July 2026 at 11:59pm.
For recruitment process enquiries, please contact Sonia Buidan via email at
[email protected]
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.
A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.
