Manager Design

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

- Permanent ongoing x 1 role
- Location: Parramatta
- Salary: Clerk Grade 11/12 $ 154,231 up to $ 178,396 + Super + accrued leaves.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Manager, Design to lead a high-performing team and drive complex service design and transformation initiatives across a large, multi-stakeholder government environment.

In this role, you will provide strategic leadership across complex programs of work that shape policy, service reform and investment decisions. You will bring together human-centred design, research, evidence and systems thinking to help the organisation understand complex challenges, identify opportunities and develop practical solutions that improve outcomes for children, families, communities and the broader service system.

You will lead and facilitate complex service and system design processes across divisions, agencies and stakeholder groups, creating the conditions for diverse perspectives to inform strategic recommendations, future service models and implementation roadmaps. You will be comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity, building alignment among senior stakeholders and supporting effective decision-making.

As a people leader, you will directly manage and develop a team of service designers and project staff. You will set clear priorities, manage performance, coach and develop team members, and foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture. You will also play a key role in building organisational capability and embedding a consistent service design and continuous improvement practice.

For further information please click here to view the role description

About you -

- You are an experienced people leader, service designer, transformation professional or strategic design practitioner who can operate confidently in complex environments and bring people together around challenging problems.
- You will have demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex design, transformation or reform initiatives, with the ability to move confidently between strategic thinking and practical delivery. You will be skilled at working across organisational boundaries, managing competing priorities and translating complexity into clear recommendations and actionable plans.




- Substantial experience in applying human-centred design methodologies and practice - including user research, qualitative synthesis, prototyping and facilitation - in a complex service environment, and the ability to coach others to develop these skills
- Demonstrated experience leading complex projects, programs or strategic initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, teams or agencies.
- Robust design and facilitation capability, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build shared understanding and alignment.
- Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, including the ability to synthesise research, evidence, insights and systems perspectives into practical recommendations.
- Experience influencing senior stakeholders and supporting complex decision-making in a government or similarly complex organisational setting.
- Knowledge of, or experience working within, Early Childhood Education and Care, education, social policy or broader education reform will be highly regarded.
- 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

- Degree qualification in related field and/or equivalent service design experience.
- Current and valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) 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 & 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.

If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education, click here for instructions on how to submit 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, 11th October 2026 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact Alissa Mott at [email protected] and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Rajalakshmi Subramanian - [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.

📌 Manager Design 3 (Parramatta)
🏢 Department Of Education
📍 Parramatta