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
- The role’s head office is Newcastle. A current driver’s licence and the ability to undertake extensive weekly travel across the North Coast region, including periodic overnight stays of up to four nights, are essential requirements for this role.
- Salary ranges from $116,981 to $129,492 p.a. plus superannuation and annual leave loading
About the role
As an Assurance Officer, schools, you will play a key role in improving governance, risk management and compliance across NSW public schools. This includes both financial and non-financial areas such as child safety, work health and safety, and procurement. You will:
- Plan, manage and conduct assurance reviews to assess schools are meeting department policies and requirements
- Identify risk and areas of improvements at the departmental level to enhance compliance and support schools across the region
- Provide practical advice and recommendations to principals and school staff on identified risk and non-compliance
- Prepare clear, evidence-based reports outlining findings, priorities and recommended actions
- Build strong and effective collaborative relationships with internal team’s, principals and school staff to implement improvements
- Conduct professional Learning training sessions with Principal Network Groups and SAM Network Groups.
Through your work, you will strengthen accountability, integrity and good practice across schools, contributing to fair, safe and high-quality schooling environment for children and young people across NSW
About you
As an assurance professional, you will bring proven experience in governance, risk management and compliance. You proactively identify opportunities to strengthen schools’ practices and drive practical and meaningful compliance improvements.
You will demonstrate:
- Proven experience in delivering compliance programs and methodologies, ideally within schools or the public sector
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, navigate difficult conversations and prepare clear, structured reports
- Strong knowledge of governance, risk management and internal controls, with ability to identify deficiencies, root causes and recommend improvements
- Analytical and critical thinking skills to assess information, identify risk and make sound judgements
- Proficiency in Excel with demonstrated experience analysing large datasets
- 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
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, such as Public Administration, Accounting, Management, Education or a related field and/or equivalent workplace experience.
- Current driver’s licence, and willingness and ability to travel extensively.
- Current and valid Working with Children Check Clearance for paid employment.
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements
- 35 hour working week
- Competitive remuneration, 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.
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.
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 Sunday 13 September 2026 at 11:59pm.
For role enquiries please contact Emily Greenbury at [email protected] and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Jenny Nguyen 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.
