Job Overview
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 opportunity
* Salary ranges from $129,464 to $142,665 p.a. plus super and annual leave loading
* 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.
About The Role
As a Senior Assurance Officer, Schools, you will play a key role in shaping the integrity of public education by planning, managing, and conducting thorough assurance reviews across schools. This includes both financial and non-financial areas such as child safety, work health and safety, and procurement.
Your expertise will ensure schools comply with relevant policies, legislation, and standards.
Responsibilities
* Strengthen processes, controls, and corruption prevention strategies to safeguard school operations
* Build strong professional relationships with Principals, school staff, and Directors of Educational Leadership, providing expert advice on strategic priorities and emerging challenges
* Deliver training sessions on compliance and best practices, prepare insightful reports with actionable recommendations, and work collaboratively with Principals to implement improvements
* Lead and mentor a team of two direct reports
* Identify opportunities at the departmental level to enhance compliance and support schools across the region
About You
We are seeking a professional with an assurance-focused mindset who can proactively identify opportunities to support and strengthen schools beyond the traditional compliance approach.
You Will Also Have
* Proven experience in delivering compliance programs and methodologies, ideally within schools or the public sector
* A strong understanding of governance, risk management, and internal controls, with the ability to identify deficiencies, determine root causes, and recommend improvements
* Confidence as a communicator with well-developed interpersonal skills, skilled in influencing stakeholders, and preparing clear, structured reports
* Advanced Excel skills with demonstrated experience analysing large data sets
* Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department's Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department's Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG 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 salary sacrificing, employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
* Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays and leave conditions
* Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth
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'.
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.
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.
Closing date: Tuesday, 2 June 2026 at 11:59pm.
Contact
Role enquiries: Mark Sueli at Mark.Sueli@det.nsw.edu.au
Recruitment process enquiries: projectrecruitment@det.nsw.edu.au
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