Careers at TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW Life-Changing Careers

Senior Manager School Programs

Location negotiable across NSW (subject to campus availability)

Permanent Full Time

$231,082 salary package - includes base salary $(203,592) 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.

Life-changing impact starts with an incredible team that sees their career as an opportunity to transform someone’s world. Whether that’s inspiring students, supporting each other, or helping our communities and industries flourish. 

We live by TAFE NSW values: Customer Focus, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence. They define who we are, how we work, and inspire our performance.   

We invest in our people

At TAFE NSW, you will discover a diverse, dynamic, and collaborative environment, where you can innovate, create value, and do meaningful work.

We provide you with tools, ongoing training and professional development, health and wellbeing programs.

About the role

As the Senior Manager School Programs, you will lead the statewide operating model, governance framework and delivery of school-sector programs that create vocational education and training pathways for secondary school students across NSW. Working in a complex and evolving environment, you will provide strategic leadership to a large, geographically dispersed team that has recently transitioned to a centralised operating model. You will oversee stakeholder engagement, contract and compliance obligations, operational reporting and escalation management, while building strong partnerships with the NSW Department of Education, schools, faculties and senior internal leaders. This role offers the opportunity to drive sustainable improvements, simplify complex business challenges and shape the future delivery of school-based programs that support positive student outcomes.

About you 

You are a highly experienced people leader with a proven ability to lead large teams and deliver operational outcomes in complex education, training or public sector environments. You bring strong change management capability, sound judgement and the agility to navigate competing priorities while meeting tight timeframes. An exceptional communicator, you can build trusted relationships, negotiate effectively and influence a broad range of stakeholders, even when interests differ. You are skilled at bringing structure to complex environments and developing practical and sustainable solutions. Experience working within, or across, education settings and managing relationships with multiple stakeholder groups will be highly regarded.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Degree in a relevant discipline OR equivalent skills, knowledge and experience.
• Extensive experience leading the implementation and delivery of high-quality education or training services, including translating strategic and operational priorities into practice.
• Demonstrated strong communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Highly Regarded:

• Experience working within, or across, education settings.

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

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

TAFE NSW is committed to building a culturally safe and inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage you to apply. If you require adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor listed below.

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

• Your current resume
• Copies of your qualifications, where applicable (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies preferred; these will be required if successful for the role

• A response to the below targeted question when prompted in the application form (max. 300 words)

Targeted Question: Describe the skills, experience and background that have prepared you for this role. Include how you have worked effectively with people from different backgrounds or with differing perspectives, and how you fostered an inclusive and equitable workplace.

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

Applications close 11:55pm AEDT Tuesday 27 October 2026

Additional Information:

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

Role-specific enquiries: Contact Sara Hodges, Director Education Contract Management, via email: sara.hodges3@tafensw.edu.au

For support with preparing your application and understanding the recruitment process, visit our Application Process page, and explore the helpful resources available through I Work for NSW.

This is a child-related position. Successful candidates must hold a valid NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) prior to commencing. TAFE NSW will also conduct an Australian National Criminal Record Check on the preferred applicant as part of the pre‑employment process.

To be eligible for a position at TAFE NSW, you must be an Australian citizen, a 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 used to fill future vacancies.

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

Considering a move to Regional NSW? The Welcome Experience is a free service offering personalised support to help you settle in, connecting you with local communities, essential services, and lifestyle opportunities.