ASO8 - Principal Policy and Project Officer

Department for Education
Job reference: 852868
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Why work with us

Every child and young person deserves a great education.

We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child’s potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world-leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.

Together we will make our education system the best it can be.

When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.

About the role

The Student Pathways and Careers Division supports secondary schools in delivering a consistent approach to engage, retain and transition young people to employment, vocational learning and higher education. 

Reporting to the Manager, Projects, Improvement and Reporting, the Principal Policy and Project Officer provides high level policy, project and program management leadership to a range of career education and pathways initiatives. The role provides expert advice, project management leadership, and direction to ensure projects are research informed, and delivered on time and within budget.  

The role works collaboratively with staff across the Student Pathways and Careers (SP&C) Division, the department, and a range of stakeholders, to determine project visions, goals, outcomes, priorities and budget within the framework of corporate plans and objectives of the directorate, division and department. 

The role will provide timely, strategic, informed, best practice advice and management to build both systems. level support and secondary schools’ capacity to provide a consistent approach to engage, retain and transition young people to employment, vocational learning and higher education. 

Qualifications

Essential: NIL

Desirable: Relevant Tertiary Qualifications and/or Career Development qualification.

Special conditions

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry.

The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN –EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years. 

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached Position Description.
Remuneration

ASO8 $130,046 - $134,956 per annum (1.0 FTE) + superannuation (12%) and leave loading

Enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to Tanya Meyer, Manager, Projects, Improvement and Reporting, via tel: (08) 8204 14***or email: ************@sa.gov.au

Application instructions

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration, and a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the key competencies in the attached position description.

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional note

This is a full-time contract role (1.0 FTE), initial 12-month term contract.

Applications close: 24/08/2026 11:30 PM

Attachments:
- ASO8 Principal Policy and Project Officer - Student Pathways and Careers - Position Description - Aug 2026.pdf
- Application Cover Sheet - PSAct..pdf
- How to Apply PS Act guidelines.pdf
- VL233 Pre-employment declaration.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.