Careers at TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW: A career of life-changing impact

Team Leader Children’s Education – Higher Education

Location Negotiable (subject to team locations and campus availability)

Permanent Full Time

$181,520 salary package - includes base salary ($159,926), 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 colleagues, or helping communities and industries thrive, every role at TAFE NSW contributes to meaningful outcomes.

We live by our values of Customer Focus, Integrity, Collaboration and Excellence. These values guide how we work, connect with others and deliver on our commitment to students and communities across NSW.

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 

The key focus of this role is to provide active and innovative leadership across the educational process, in accordance with internal TAFE policy and external regulatory requirements. This will be achieved by guiding and enhancing professional competence, educational standards, and program delivery to enable students to achieve their learning outcomes. 

This role has specific responsibilities for leading program delivery within the discipline area of Children’s Education – Higher Education, including responding to emerging skill needs and providing mentoring and guidance to teaching staff. 

Location: This role supports the delivery of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education & Care (Birth - 5) across the following key delivery locations: Glendale, Nirimba, Randwick Shellharbour, St Leonards and Ultimo

Candidates will be asked to nominate their preferred work location as part of the application process, as they provide the opportunity to work closely with established on-campus teams. Other nearby TAFE NSW locations may be considered, subject to operational requirements and agreement.

About You 

To succeed in this role, you are an ambitious high functioning experienced Leader within an educational setting, looking to take the next step in a rewarding career. You have the ability to manage and lead a passionate and diverse team of Head Teachers and their delivery teams who are dispersed across TAFE NSW communities, and who are subject matter experts in their fields.  

You will have demonstrated experience in delivering high-quality training in an adult learning environment and have demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with stakeholders within the industry.  

To be considered for appointment to a Head Teacher Band 3 position the applicant must possess:

• Qualification in Early Childhood Education & Care (minimum Birth-5) at AQF level 8 or above
• an educational qualification at the Diploma level or above, and demonstrate continued professional and leadership development; and
• Post graduate qualification relating to one of the following:
• Industry or technical (early childhood education, education leadership, inclusive education, out of school hours care, child protection, child and family practice, psychology or related discipline); or
• Educational Specialisation – assessment & evaluation; higher education; technology; flexible learning; or
• VET Pedagogy
• Demonstrated high level educational leadership capabilities in VET teaching, learning and assessment practice.
• Demonstrated current knowledge and skills in a relevant industry, discipline. professional practices and technologies.
• Established and effective current links to industry and the community including demonstrated record of building and developing strategic networks, partnerships and alliances and a demonstrated ability to identify, plan and implement relevant courses and services.
• High level understanding of current issues relating to the VET and/or higher education sector including policies and legislation and a demonstrated capacity to lead and develop a team of professional staff members and to undertake initiatives and incorporate successful outcomes into the teaching and learning environment.
• Demonstrated experience in an educational environment at both a strategic and operational level with sound administrative skills, and ability to plan, manage and monitor financial, human and physical resources and experience in setting work priorities, problem solving and meeting deadlines in a high workload environment.

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.

Together we can change lives! Apply now!

Applications close Wednesday 11 November 2026 at 11.55pm AEDT

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

• Your current resume
• Copies of your qualifications (upload as one PDF file). Certified copies are preferred and will be required if successful for the role.
• A response to the Targeted Question when prompted in the application form (max. 400 words) 

Targeted Question: This Team Leader role is responsible for leading the recently formed portfolio for TAFE NSW’s delivery of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education & Care (Birth-5). TAFE NSW currently enrols approximately 1500 new students per year into our 2.5 year and 4 year Bachelor program across 5 delivery locations. Demonstrate your experience in leading and developing a team of professional staff members in a complex teaching and learning environment and how you have been able to lead initiatives that deliver successful outcomes.       

Additional Information: 

General recruitment and adjustment enquiries: Please contact Clinton Debreceny, Talent Acquisition Advisor, via email at clinton.debreceny1@tafensw.edu.au or 02 7921 1310. 

Role-specific enquiries: Please contact Alicia Bales, Director Learning and Teaching via email at alicia.bales1@tafensw.edu.au or 0439 882 809. 

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 that are accessible to the delivery locations of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education & Care (Birth - 5) – Glendale, Nirimba, Randwick Shellharbour, St Leonards and Ultimo. Please note that preferred campus location is not guaranteed and is subject to campus availability at the time of offer.