Introduction
The Strategic Planning Officer at the NSW Department of Education helps School Infrastructure respond to growth and development across NSW. Two full-time roles are available in Eveleigh, one ongoing and one temporary for up to four years. The work involves planning advice, research and relationships with councils, agencies and developers.
To plan how to apply for Strategic Planning Officer, prepare a resume of no more than five pages and a cover letter of no more than two pages. There are also three pre-screening prompts. The first two ask for examples within 300 words each; the third asks whether you prefer temporary or ongoing employment.
Your application should connect planning experience to evidence-based recommendations about future school infrastructure needs. Use the letter to explain your broader fit, while the two example responses show how you analysed an unexpected challenge and communicated in a team. Keep every answer grounded in work you personally completed.
View the official job ad while you prepare.
Strategic Planning Officer role snapshot
| Role | Strategic Planning Officer |
| Organisation | NSW Department of Education |
| Location | Eveleigh, with flexible working arrangements available |
| Employment | Two full-time roles: one ongoing and one temporary for up to four years |
| Salary or grade | $116,981 to $129,492 per annum plus super and leave loading |
| Job ID | 602397 |
| Closing date | Tuesday 13 October 2026, 11:59pm |
NSW Government application requirements
Check the requested documents and response limits before choosing your examples. Give each written task enough space in your preparation so the final submission addresses the instructions and the work of this role.
Application requirements for Strategic Planning Officer
- Resume, maximum five pages
- Cover letter, maximum two pages, addressing role requirements and capabilities
- Answers to three pre-screening prompts; maximum 300 words each for Questions 1 and 2
Question 3 records your employment preference and has no stated word limit. Keep the two example answers separate and use the application form’s designated fields.
Written application questions
| Question | Limit and preparation |
|---|---|
| Select a project or a task where you faced a challenge that was not anticipated and describe your approach to analyse the issue. How did this lead you to your recommendation? | Maximum 300 words. Explain the unexpected issue, the evidence you examined and why your analysis supported the final recommendation. |
| Give an example of verbal or written communication you have undertaken in order to get your point across in a team environment. | Maximum 300 words. Identify the message, your audience, how you adapted the communication and the result for the team. |
| Please specify if you are open to both temporary and ongoing employment, or if you have a particular preference. | State your preference directly and make it consistent with your interest in the two advertised positions. |
Role conditions and qualifications
- Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or strategic planning experience in urban design, placemaking and public space design
- A valid Working with Children Check clearance number for successful candidates joining the Department
- Australian work rights; ongoing roles are open to Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens
- Pre-employment screening includes a National Criminal History Check
Candidate evidence for Strategic Planning Officer
The evidence areas below help you choose examples for the work described in this role.
| Evidence area | How to demonstrate it |
|---|---|
| Strategic planning experience | Explain relevant urban development, placemaking or land-use planning work and its implications for infrastructure. |
| Research and analysis | Describe the evidence you gathered, the unexpected issue and how it led to your recommendation. |
| Stakeholder relationships | Show how you worked with councils, agencies, developers or internal teams to coordinate planning outcomes. |
| Planning legislation and regulation | Explain how the relevant regulatory setting affected an assessment or piece of advice. |
| Public education and Aboriginal education commitments | Connect your work to public education and explain your understanding of the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and partnership with the NSW AECG. |
Example application structure for Strategic Planning Officer
Use the two-page letter to explain your planning background, stakeholder work and commitment to public education. The separate pre-screening answers should give the detail requested by each prompt within the two 300-word limits. Avoid using the same paragraph for the letter and the examples.
| Application section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Letter opening | Identify your relevant planning experience and why School Infrastructure interests you. |
| Planning and regulatory evidence | Describe a planning assessment or recommendation and the legislative setting you worked within. |
| Stakeholder and education context | Explain how you coordinated advice and how your approach supports public education and Aboriginal education commitments. |
| Question 1 | Give one unexpected challenge, your analysis and the recommendation within 300 words. |
| Question 2 | Give one clear communication example and its result within 300 words. |
| Question 3 | State whether you are open to both employment types or have a preference. |
Plan each written response
| Question | What your response should explain |
|---|---|
| Select a project or a task where you faced a challenge that was not anticipated and describe your approach to analyse the issue. How did this lead you to your recommendation? | Maximum 300 words. Explain the unexpected issue, the evidence you examined and why your analysis supported the final recommendation. |
| Give an example of verbal or written communication you have undertaken in order to get your point across in a team environment. | Maximum 300 words. Identify the message, your audience, how you adapted the communication and the result for the team. |
| Please specify if you are open to both temporary and ongoing employment, or if you have a particular preference. | State your preference directly and make it consistent with your interest in the two advertised positions. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- A clear link between research and the recommendation
- Relevant planning or regulatory experience
- Your personal contribution to stakeholder communication
- Authentic examples consistent with your resume
Before you submit
Check the five-page resume and two-page cover letter limits, then count Questions 1 and 2 to 300 words each. Answer the employment-preference prompt and confirm that the examples reflect your own experience. Applications close at 11:59pm on 13 October.
Return to the official vacancy to check the deadline and final application instructions.
Help with your Strategic Planning Officer application
If the application calls for a cover letter, the NSW Government cover letter template can help organise your evidence. For help choosing examples and preparing the written documents around your own experience, request application support from Team 3Thirty.