Regional Education Project Lead
Job closing date: 10:00AM, 28 April 2026
Join us at the Australian Museum and help us achieve our Mission to ignite wonder, inspire debate and drive change
About the Project
The Australian Museum has developed the Mini Museum, an innovative educational loans program that brings hands-on museum learning experiences directly to preschools in regional NSW. Museum learning kits can be borrowed from local regional hubs and are supported by age-appropriate digital learning resources and teaching ideas. The program aims to connect and nurture preschoolers to understand their shared responsibility for the world around them and the power they have to protect it. The program is currently piloting in two regional locations.
Building on the successful Mini Museum pilot program, we're expanding our reach and influence across regional NSW. This project changes the way that the Australian Museum connects with communities across NSW, particularly focusing on early years learners, teachers, and families in regional areas. You'll be leading the development of a sustainable delivery model that brings museum collections, knowledges, and experiences beyond our walls, working collaboratively with communities to co-design programs and resources that reflect their unique needs and interests.
About the Role
We're looking for an experienced education project manager to lead the development and delivery of innovative, high-quality education programs for regional audiences. As the Regional Education Project Lead, you'll build meaningful relationships with libraries, museums, community organisations, and local government partners across NSW. Working with diverse communities, including First Nations peoples, you'll demonstrate cultural competency in all aspects of program design and delivery, guided by principles of co-design and genuine community engagement.
This role requires strong budget management and external funding experience. You'll be responsible for managing project budgets, identifying funding opportunities, and developing program concepts and budget justification for grant proposals. Working collaboratively with the Development and Partnerships teams, you'll contribute the program and budget expertise needed for funding applications, maintain funder relationships, and provide financial and program reporting. Your ability to articulate program impact to funders and stakeholders will be essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of this important work.
You'll also directly manage two staff members – an Education Project Officer, Early Years and Access, and an Education Engagement Officer, First Nations – providing leadership, performance management, and professional development to ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery across regional locations. Depending on project demands, you may also manage additional team members and contractors.
This is your opportunity to shape something new – designing pedagogically sound programs that showcase both Australian Museum expertise and community knowledge. You'll work closely with our scientists, First Nations staff and Education team to create engaging learning experiences to create accessible learning experiences for preschool aged students and their carers and educators.
This role is based at the Australian Museum, in Sydney, Australia.
Employment Status:
* Clerk Grade 7/8
* Fixed term until 30 June 2027
* Full time (35 hours per week/5 days)
Click on the following links to begin the journey to find your new career at the AM
* Role Description
* AM Candidate Pack
You will be paid a total remuneration package of $128,906 - $142,692, including an annual salary of $113,574 - $125,720, plus employer's contribution to superannuation (currently 12%) and annual leave loading.
About you
We are seeking a passionate education professional with a proven track record in program development, project management, and relationship building in regional or community settings. You understand early childhood pedagogy and demonstrate cultural competency in your work. Critically, you bring demonstrated experience managing budgets, identifying funding opportunities and developing program concepts and budget justifications, as well as experience supervising or managing staff in education, cultural, or community contexts.
You can balance creative education design with the practical requirements of financial management and accountability, and you thrive on collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups in dynamic environments.
Knowledge & Experience
* Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, identifying funding opportunities, and developing program concepts and budget justifications for grant or funding proposals
* Experience supervising or managing staff in an education, cultural, or community context
* Demonstrated experience in education program delivery and project management, particularly in informal learning environments
* Proven ability to create and foster productive working relationships with diverse organisations including government, community groups, and cultural institutions
* Understanding of the unique context, opportunities and challenges facing regional communities in NSW
* Experience with program evaluation, social impact measurement, and communicating outcomes to funders
* Knowledge of early childhood pedagogy and the Early Years Learning Framework
* Ability to balance multiple priorities and work independently while meeting deadlines and quality standards
* Ability to travel for short periods to regional NSW would be an advantage
Essential requirements
* Appropriate tertiary qualification/s or relevant, equivalent professional experience coordinating projects in an informal learning environment such as a museum, cultural or scientific institution
* Hold a valid NSW Working with Children Clearance
About The Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is truly a great place to work. We aim to be a leading voice for the richness of life, the Earth and culture in Australia and the Pacific. We commit to transform the conversation around climate change, the environment and wildlife conservation; be a strong advocate for First Nations' culture; and continue to develop world-leading science, collections, exhibitions and education programs.
Recent staff survey results confirm that our staff feel valued, accepted and supported and that they believe the AM is an inclusive workplace. AM staff also report a high level of job satisfaction.
The AM is located on the homelands of the Gadigal people and acknowledges and pays respect to the Gadigal people as the custodians of the land, sky and waterways, paying respect to Elders past and present.
Check out our current exhibitions and events here.
Benefits
Besides working together with other like-minded people, you will have access to professional development and dedicated Wellbeing programs.
How to apply
Applicants must submit (if submitted as attachment, please upload as PDF):
* A one to two page covering letter which addresses the role description's essential requirements, key knowledge and experience.
* Resume
As part of the online application process, you will be prompted to answer two targeted questions.
* Describe a time when you worked with First Nations communities, Elders, or knowledge holders on a program or project. What did you do to ensure your approach was culturally appropriate? What did you learn from this experience and how has it changed the way you work? (300 words maximum)
* Describe a time when you identified a funding opportunity and developed the program concept, budget, or justification for a grant or funding proposal (even if someone else wrote the final application). What was your role in shaping what was proposed, and what was the outcome? (300 words maximum)
The successful candidate applicant will be subject to national criminal records check. As recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Australian Museum encourages all applicants who can be safely vaccinated for COVID-19, to be so.
Contact person: Vanessa Gardos, Head of Education,
Inclusive and welcoming
The Australian Museum is an NSW Public Service organisation and aims to attract and retain the right people for the right jobs. The AM is a diverse and inclusive workplace where genuine participation and contribution is enabled, and everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances is valued, accepted and supported to thrive at work.
This means that we are embedding diversity and inclusion in everything we do on a daily basis, whether it be our recruitment processes, workplace culture, career development programs, customer service or policies and procedures. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment process to better enable you to shine, please reach out to the contact person or note this in your application.