The Principal Policy Officer at the NSW Ministry of Health leads work that affects maternity and newborn services across the state. This is a senior role for someone who can move between evidence, clinical priorities, stakeholder perspectives and the practical realities of implementation. View the official job ad.
When deciding how to apply for Principal Policy Officer, use the cover letter to demonstrate leadership, not just policy knowledge. Show how you set direction, brought different agencies or disciplines together and turned a complex policy priority into work that could be delivered and evaluated.
The letter must provide evidence against each essential requirement. Select two or three substantial examples that cover policy development, implementation and strategic engagement, then make your personal contribution and the outcome unmistakable.
This full-time role is based in Sydney – North/North West, with advertised salary of $154,231 to $178,369 per year. Applications close Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 11:59pm.
In This Guide
- Role snapshot
- Application requirements
- Candidate requirements
- Example application structure
- Application help
Principal Policy Officer Role Snapshot
| Role title | Principal Policy Officer |
|---|---|
| Organisation | NSW Ministry of Health |
| Job location | Sydney – North/North West |
| Job reference number | REQ683995 |
| Work type | Full-Time |
| Salary | $154,231 to $178,369 per year |
| Closing date | Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 11:59pm |
| Official job ad | View the official job ad |
NSW Government Application Requirements
Document limits are part of the screening process. Follow the advertised instructions and use the written application to demonstrate capability through specific evidence rather than repeating the resume.
Application Requirements For Principal Policy Officer
- Up-to-date resume, maximum 5 pages.
- Cover letter, maximum 2 pages, explaining your interest and motivation and providing evidence against each essential requirement.
Essential Role Requirements
- You must have the right to work in Australia.
- The advertised tertiary qualification or equivalent relevant experience is required.
NSW Government Candidate Requirements
The panel needs an experienced policy leader who understands how to achieve results across a complex health system.
Candidate Requirements For Principal Policy Officer At NSW Ministry of Health
| Requirement or capability from role | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Strategic and clinical policy leadership | Use a major policy or program where you shaped the direction, managed competing considerations and maintained a clear line to better service outcomes. |
| Implementation across a complex system | Explain how you converted policy intent into practical actions, governance, responsibilities and measures of progress. |
| Senior stakeholder engagement | Show how you aligned clinicians, service providers, government agencies and community or consumer perspectives around a difficult issue. |
| Leadership and evaluation | Describe how you led people or a portfolio, monitored results and adjusted the approach when evidence or circumstances changed. |
Example Application Structure For Principal Policy Officer
The application asks for up-to-date resume, maximum 5 pages; cover letter, maximum 2 pages, explaining your interest and motivation and providing evidence against each essential requirement. Use the first part of the application to establish your fit, then develop your strongest evidence in the required document or question responses. The table below shows a clear way to organise the main written component.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening paragraph | Your interest in the role and the two or three strengths that make you a credible Principal Policy Officer. |
| Strategic and clinical policy leadership | Use a major policy or program where you shaped the direction, managed competing considerations and maintained a clear line to better service outcomes. |
| Implementation across a complex system | Explain how you converted policy intent into practical actions, governance, responsibilities and measures of progress. |
| Senior stakeholder engagement | Show how you aligned clinicians, service providers, government agencies and community or consumer perspectives around a difficult issue. |
| Leadership and evaluation | Describe how you led people or a portfolio, monitored results and adjusted the approach when evidence or circumstances changed. |
| Closing paragraph | A concise summary of your fit, motivation and readiness to contribute. |
What The Panel Will Want To See In Your Examples
- Leadership of a complex policy portfolio.
- Credible work in health or another comparable service system.
- Implementation, not policy development alone.
- Strategic influence across agencies and disciplines.
- Evidence against every essential requirement.
Help With Your Principal Policy Officer Application
Use the two-page letter to show the scale of your leadership and the practical difference your policy work made. Use the free NSW cover letter template. For tailored help, request professional application support. Check the official advertisement.