Careers at TAFE NSW

Project Manager – Manufacturing Centres of Excellence

Location negotiable across NSW (subject to campus availability) 

Temporary Full-time until June 2028

$205,590 salary package - includes base salary ($181,324), plus employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

At TAFE NSW, we are dedicated to life-changing impact. 

That’s why we offer world-class training and education that delivers the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow. 

The TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence (MCoE), are National Centres of Excellence, a joint initiative between the Australian Government and NSW Government under the National Skills Agreement.

MCoEs are an innovative education model to tackle the manufacturing skills challenge for NSW and Australia. Located in Western Sydney, the Hunter, and the Illawarra, each centre specialises in different areas. These include advanced manufacturing with robotics and 3D printing, supporting clean energy in net zero manufacturing and sustainable manufacturing practices, supporting the heavy manufacturing industry, and supporting new and existing workforce build the skills they need for the future. 

By partnering with other CoEs, TAFEs, universities, and industry, these nationally networked centres ensure training aligns with real-world job requirements. The MCoEs offer short courses, microskills, and will soon deliver higher apprenticeships to help individuals become job-ready or enhance their skills for future opportunities.

Learn more about this initiative by visiting TAFE NSW Manufacturing Centres of Excellence.

About the role

As Project Manager at the MCoE, you will lead the end-to-end management of projects focused on higher apprenticeships. This includes overseeing course design and development in collaboration with education designers, ensuring alignment with TEQSA or AQSA guidelines, and maintaining rigorous project governance. You will manage timelines using project management tools and engage with partner universities and stakeholders to deliver high-quality learning experiences. Your role will be pivotal in driving innovation in course design and fostering strong relationships to achieve strategic outcomes.

The successful candidate must be willing to travel regionally as required to the three MCoE campuses at Newcastle, Wetherill Park and Wollongong, as well as for occasional Interstate travel for video production and partner meetings as part of your dynamic approach to achieving excellence.

About You 

You are an experienced project manager with a strong background in higher education and course development. Your expertise spans learning design, structural design, and resource development, complemented by a sound understanding of TEQSA or AQSA standards. You bring exceptional leadership, collaboration, and communication skills, with the ability to negotiate and influence effectively. Highly organised and emotionally intelligent, you thrive in stakeholder engagement and team mentoring. Proficiency in project management software and a commitment to delivering results within scope and timelines are essential.

To be successful in this role you will hold a:

• Degree qualification in project management/related field OR equivalent significant experience.
• Strong experience in all phases of project management from design to implementation and evaluation within a complex service delivery environment.
• Significant record of achievement delivering complex business focused (non-technology based) projects to achieve business or operational related objectives.
• Demonstrated high level stakeholder management skills to positively engage and collaborate on project activities.

Highly Regarded:

• Demonstrated leadership in educational development and management of large-scale projects.
• Demonstrated evidence of learning design and project management.
• Proven experience collaborating with subject matter experts in educational development.
• Proven experience in developing processes to streamline the production of educational resources.

To find out more about the role, click to view the  Position Description.

A career of life-changing impact awaits you. Apply now! 

Applications close 11.55pm AEDT Wednesday 28 January 2026

To apply for this role, click on 'apply now' and provide:

• Your current resume
• Copies of your qualifications (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies preferred; these will be required if successful for the role.
• Response to one targeted question when prompted in the application form (max 300 words)

TARGETED QUESTION:  Describe a time you delivered a complex higher‑education project with competing university stakeholder priorities—how did you negotiate consensus, analyse options to solve the key issues, and ensure on‑time, on‑budget, TEQSA‑quality outcomes?

General recruitment and adjustment enquiries: contact Talent Acquisition Advisor, Ravinder Mansfield via Email: ravinder.mansfield1@tafensw.edu.au or Tel: (02) 7921 2973.  

Role-specific enquiries: contact Mike Keppell, Senior Manager, MCoE Curriculum, via Email: mike.keppell@tafensw.edu.au

For helpful insights into preparing your application, TAFE NSW’s recruitment process, and getting interview ready, read through our Application Process and the interactive Capability Application Tool. 

Our commitment to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a culturally safe and accessible workplace where dignity, trust, respect, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion are valued, so you can safely bring your whole self to work and connect with your community through our many diverse employee networks.

If you require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor listed above.

This is a child-related position. A Working with Children Check is a prerequisite for anyone in child-related work. It involves a national criminal history check and review of findings of workplace misconduct. 

To be eligible for positions at TAFE NSW, you need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport.

A talent pool, valid for 18 months, may be created for this position, and position(s) of the same classification that subsequently becomes vacant, may be filled via this recruitment.

Location is negotiable across our TAFE NSW campuses. Please note your preferred campus location is not guaranteed and is subject to campus availability at the time of offer.

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