Introduction
The Senior Contract and Supplier Relationship Officer at the NSW Education Standards Authority manages the agreements and supplier relationships that support critical organisational services. You will monitor performance, advise on contract conditions and manage risks or disputes. The ongoing role is based near Wynyard in Sydney, with hybrid arrangements available.
The application asks you to demonstrate how you act when performance slips and how you improve contract management. Select examples where your actions changed a supplier outcome or strengthened the way contracts were managed. Keep the obligations and commercial consequences clear so the reader can understand your judgement.
You need a resume of no more than five pages and a cover letter of no more than two pages. There are also two targeted answers in the online application, with a maximum of 500 words per response. Organise the evidence before writing so the letter and answers each contribute useful information.
View the official job ad before preparing your application.
In this guide
Role snapshot
| Role detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Role | Senior Contract and Supplier Relationship Officer |
| Organisation | NSW Education Standards Authority |
| Location | Sydney CBD near Wynyard; hybrid arrangements available |
| Reference | 87111 |
| Work type | Ongoing full time |
| Remuneration | Clerk Grade 9/10, $133,348 to $146,945 per annum plus superannuation and leave loading |
| Closing date | 22 October 2026 |
| Official job ad | View the official job ad |
Application requirements
Keep the targeted responses in the online application where requested. Use the cover letter to connect your broader contract experience with NESA’s needs, while each answer develops a specific example. Include the compliance requirements and what you did personally when explaining the result.
- Resume, maximum 5 pages
- Cover letter, maximum 2 pages
- Responses to 2 targeted questions in the online application, maximum 500 words per response
Targeted questions
Answer both questions in the online application, with a maximum of 500 words per response.
- Describe a time when you managed a contract or supplier relationship that was not meeting expectations. What actions did you take to address the issue, and what was the outcome?
- Provide an example of a contract management initiative or improvement you have led that delivered better outcomes for your organisation. What was your approach and what impact did it have?
Eligibility and role conditions
- Visa sponsorship not available
- For this ongoing role: Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident
Candidate evidence
Use these role-specific evidence areas to choose examples for your application.
| Evidence area | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Complex contracts and supplier relationships | Describe the agreement you managed, its operational significance and the obligations you needed to meet. Explain how you maintained compliance and value. |
| Strategic advice | Use a variation or performance recommendation to show how you assessed options and helped a stakeholder make an informed decision. |
| Performance and risk | Explain the warning signs you identified, the action you took with the supplier and how you tracked improvement. |
| Communication and influence | Show how you explained a contractual issue to people with different interests and gained agreement on the next action. |
| Governance and problem solving | Describe how procurement principles, contract terms or risk controls shaped the decision you made. |
Application structure
Use the two-page cover letter to introduce your contract experience and the way you advise stakeholders. Keep each online targeted answer within 500 words and the resume within five pages. The outline below separates the letter from the two detailed examples.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening | Identify your relevant contract portfolio and why the responsibilities at NESA fit your experience. |
| Contract governance and advice | Describe the scale and complexity of your work and how you advise stakeholders while maintaining compliance. |
| Supplier relationships | Explain your approach to performance monitoring, risk and productive supplier engagement. |
| Closing | Confirm relevant ongoing-role eligibility and your interest in improving contract value at NESA. |
Responses to targeted questions
Answer each question in the online application, with a maximum of 500 words per response.
| Targeted question | What a strong response would include |
|---|---|
| Describe a time when you managed a contract or supplier relationship that was not meeting expectations. What actions did you take to address the issue, and what was the outcome? | Identify the expectation the supplier or contract was failing to meet and the risk this created. Describe how you used the agreement, engaged the supplier and followed up performance; finish with the outcome and how you measured it. |
| Provide an example of a contract management initiative or improvement you have led that delivered better outcomes for your organisation. What was your approach and what impact did it have? | Choose an improvement you led and explain the problem it addressed. Show how you developed the approach, obtained support and implemented it, then quantify the improvement in value, performance or governance where you can. |
Before you submit
- Upload a resume within 5 pages and a cover letter within 2 pages.
- Enter both targeted answers online, keeping each within 500 words.
- Check the employer portal’s exact deadline and timezone before 22 October 2026.
- Confirm that you meet ongoing-role work-rights requirements; visa sponsorship is unavailable.
Read the official vacancy instructions and check the application form before submitting. If you want support with the written application, Team 3Thirty can help you prepare the application. The NSW cover letter template can also help you organise your draft.