Executive Director, Application and Data Services

• Full time ongoing role
• Join a leadership group transforming education in NSW and make a difference to students in NSW
• Exceptional opportunity to lead one of the largest and most complex Enterprise Application and Data environments in Australia
• Ongoing Public Service senior executive band 2 role with a remuneration range of $304069 - $341488 per annum
• Based in Eveleigh with flexible work options

About us

At the NSW Department of Education we educate and inspire lifelong learners from early childhood through schooling to vocational education and training.

We ensure young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. We unlock excellence and unleash the potential of two-thirds of school children in NSW. Were proudly public and the largest education system in Australia. We nurture opportunities for every learner to develop the skills needed for their chosen career path helping shape the industries of tomorrow.

We respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Peoples of Australia.

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the largest and most complex Enterprise Applications and Data environments in Australia - at real scale with real impact for students and educators across NSW.

Reporting to the CIO the Executive Director will lead the shift to a DevSecOps operating model powered by GenAI-assisted development. You will lead the team responsible for the Departments business-critical application integration and data platforms - balancing operational excellence and resilience with a bold modernisation agenda.

You will be working across enterprise platforms and ecosystems at genuine scale including:

• SAP (ERP and HCM)
• Salesforce (CRM and service/digital engagement)
• Adobe (digital experience platforms)
• Google for Education (collaboration and education ecosystem)
• Apple (device and platform ecosystem)
• Core integration data analytics and AI engineering capabilities that are keeping NSW public education at the forefront of safe responsible GenAI adoption
• And a technology environment that includesAustralias largest desktop/device fleet - approaching 1 million devices across Windows Chromebook Mac and iPads

For more details about this role please click here to view the Role Description.

About you

We are looking for a dynamic people-first (servant) leader with deep enterprise applications experience. You are someone who can:

• Lead high-performing accountable teams in a complex environment.
• Drive modernisation (cloud SaaS integration patterns DevSecOps) while protecting stability.
• Bring strategic thinking and operational discipline.
• Create a culture of service delivery continuous improvement and outcomes focus.

To be successful in this role you will also have:

• Proven experience either delivering DevSecOps/GenAI shift or leading large enterprise application environments through major operating model change.
• Demonstrated extensive experience at a senior level in management in a large complex organisation.
• Wide-ranging experience in enterprise application modernisation cloud strategies SaaS migration and integration architectures (API-led microservices event-driven).
• Strong experience in secure software development lifecycle (SSDLC) DevSecOps and scaling enterprise-grade products and platforms to market.
• Experience in application security resilience and compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 NIST CSF and the Essential Eight.
• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline and/or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
• Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Departments Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Departments Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.

As a condition of employment successful candidates who have not previously worked for the department will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number. This option would allow the WWCC to naturally expire without further communication needed with the employee. The employer obligations under the WWCC would apply for duration of the WWCCs validity (up to 5 years).

Interested

To apply for this role please submit an online application and attach your resume along with a cover letter which describes how your capabilities knowledge and experience make you the best person for this role.

Applications Close: 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 July 2026

Contact: For enquiries about the recruitment of this role please contact Sabrina Lau

Please note:
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people people of any age or gender people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA community veterans refugees people with disability people with sensory differences and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment details listed above. For more information visit the NSW Department of Educations Diversity equity and inclusion webpage.

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months. Candidates on a talent pool may be chosen and directly offered employment in other or similar roles (ongoing or term) in the near future.