Closes: 02 November 2026

Classification: Executive Level 2.3

Position No: E717

Directorate: Education

Advertised (Gazettal date): 14 October 2026

Contact Officer: Jo Wood on [email protected]

Details: The Education Directorate has a long-term chance to fill the position of Chief Operating Officer from 14 December 2026.

The Chief Operating Officer plays a critical role in enabling delivery of the Directorate's strategic priorities. As a member of the Executive Governance Committee, the Chief Operating Officer leads the Directorate's governance, people and capability, finance and procurement, risk and assurance, ministerial support and government accountability functions.

The role provides strategic stewardship of the Directorate's enabling services, ensuring that workforce capability, governance frameworks, financial sustainability and organisational performance support the successful delivery of reform and improved outcomes for children and young people across the ACT.

The Chief Operating Officer leads a team of senior management specialists in human resources, administration, strategic finance and procurement, governance, and communications, ministerial services and coordination.

The Chief Operating Officer will work with the Director-General and the ACT Government to:

- Shape enterprise strategy and provide frank, timely and evidence-informed advice to the Minister, Government and Directorate Executive;
- Steward the Directorate’s people, finances, governance and organisational capability with integrity and a long-term system perspective;
- Transform corporate services and operating models to deliver consistent, efficient and sustainable support to schools and regulatory functions;
- Build a united, culturally capable leadership culture that values people, strengthens accountability and supports continuous improvement; and
- Foster collaboration across schools, government, communities and partners to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for:
- Enterprise leadership and strategy:



Lead the Directorate’s enabling functions, translate strategic priorities into coordinated delivery, and contribute to collective executive decisions and stewardship.
- People, culture and capability: Build workforce and leadership capability; foster wellbeing, inclusion, cultural safety and high performance; and sustain a culture of learning and accountability.
- Governance, integrity and resilience: Lead governance, assurance, audit, risk, compliance, integrity, legal liaison, security and emergency management to support sound, ethical and transparent decisions.
- Financial and resource stewardship: Direct financial strategy, budget management, school resourcing and procurement, ensuring resources are allocated equitably, sustainably and with probity.
- Service transformation and performance: Design and improve corporate services and operating models so schools can focus on teaching, learning and wellbeing; use data, evaluation and reporting to improve performance and demonstrate impact.
- Government, community and stakeholder engagement: Provide high-quality ministerial, Cabinet, Assembly and statutory support, and build trusted relationships across government, schools, communities and partner organisations.
- Closing the Gap and cultural safety: Embed the closing the gap principle in strategy, governance, workforce practice and service delivery; strengthen cultural capability; and support shared accountability with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The successful candidate will be a strategic, values-led executive with extensive experience in complex public sector or service-delivery environments. They will demonstrate system thinking,



sound judgement and the ability to lead transformation, align enabling services with strategic outcomes, develop people and organisational capability, steward public resources, and build partnerships that improve community outcomes.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a high level of cultural capability and be committed to continuous learning to strengthen our organisations individual and organisational capability under Priority Reform Three – Transforming Government Organisations. You will be an active champion across the executive cohort and embed the Closing the Gap principles to enhance cultural safety and improve cultural capability of our workforce and ways of working to deliver outcomes aligned to the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement and the National Closing the Gap Agreement within the ACT Public Service.

In addition, commencing 1 July 2026 Senior Executive Service (SES) Members must do their job in accordance with the closing the gap principle. Further information about the closing the gap principle is included in section 8(4) of the Public Sector Management Act

Remuneration: The position attracts a remuneration package ranging from $363,688 - $374,925 depending on current superannuation arrangements of the successful applicant. This includes a cash component of $321,056.

Contract: The successful applicant will be engaged under a performance-based long-term contract for a period of up to five years. Prospective applicants should be aware that long-term engagements are tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a pitch of no more than two pages addressing the ACT Public Service Executive Capabilities, outlining what you could contribute to this critical role as well as a current curriculum vitae and contact details for referees, please include supervisor, direct report, peer/colleague and stakeholder to support a 360 degree referee process.

Applications should be submitted via the Apply Now button below.

📌 Chief Operating Officer Full-time Executive (Canberra)
🏢 Education
📍 Canberra