Imagine guiding dedicated teachers, support staff, and administrators into roles where they can truly transform students’ lives. In the NSW Department Of Education you can do just that—every call you take and every placement you finalise translates directly into improving public education outcomes across the state.
If you’re looking for a rewarding way to advance your HR career in the NSW Public Sector, the Department of Education is offering multiple Recruitment Officer positions for individuals eager to make a tangible impact in school staffing. These roles represent an incredible opportunity to align your human resources expertise with a meaningful mission: supporting local schools, teachers, and ultimately, students.
This recruitment includes multiple roles, including Recruitment Officer (Grade 5/6), Senior Recruitment Officer (Grade 7/8) and Lead, School Recruitment (9/10). There are multiple opportunities at all levels, which gives you a great chance to secure a key role in the NSW Department of Education.
As part of one of the largest government agencies in Australia, these openings combine the fast-paced, multitasking world of recruitment with the stability and values-driven focus of the NSW Public Sector. From flexible work arrangements to generous benefits, this NSW Department of Education job provides the perfect balance of professional growth and work–life harmony.
If you’re new to public sector recruitment, check out this unofficial guide to NSW Public Sector recruitment for insider tips and context.
Table of Contents
Recruitment Officer Salary and Role Overview
| Position Title | Recruitment Officer, Senior Recruitment Officer, Lead School Recruitment |
|---|---|
| Organisation/Entity | NSW Department of Education |
| Job Location | Parramatta CBD (Sydney – Inner West) |
| Work Type | Ongoing and Temporary Roles |
| Base Pay | Recruitment Officer: $97,027 – $107,059 Senior Recruitment Officer: $110,266 – $122,058 Lead School Recruitment: $125,693 – $138,510 |
| Closing Date | Sunday 30 March 2025, 11:59pm |
About the Recruitment Opportunities at the NSW Department of Education
Working as a Recruitment Officer for the NSW Department of Education means stepping into a dynamic human resources officer role that supports public schools across NSW. Your day-to-day tasks will involve partnering with school principals and administrative leaders to ensure that staffing policies, Awards, and the Department’s Staffing Agreement are followed.
In practice, this includes providing expert guidance on the recruitment and selection of teachers, support staff, and casual relief personnel. While your focus is on placing the right people in the right roles, you’ll also collaborate with HR teams to maintain consistent standards and respond to policy updates. By facilitating school recruitment, you help foster an environment where students receive the best education possible.
As part of the NSW Public Sector, you’ll be joining a workforce of nearly 100,000 employees, all committed to high-quality public education. It’s not just a job; it’s a long-term HR career path with plenty of options for progression or lateral movement—perfect for those seeking professional development in a structured yet flexible work environment.
Recruitment Officers in the public sector face unique demands. While the role may be similar to a private-sector recruitment job, the volume of calls, tight timelines, and strict adherence to departmental policies create a fast-paced setting. You might find yourself juggling multiple phone inquiries in a single hour, resolving complex staffing issues, and ensuring compliance with legal and policy frameworks.
Why the Recruitment Officer Role Is a Great Opportunity
This recruitment drive with the NSW Department of Education presents a major opportunity for anyone looking to break into or progress within the public sector.
With multiple Recruitment Officer roles available across a range of levels—from Grade 5/6 through to Grade 9/10—you have the chance to apply for several positions through a single, well-prepared application. More roles mean more pathways to success, and this kind of bulk recruitment gives you significantly improved odds of landing a secure and rewarding government job.
Application Requirements for Recruitment Officer
Before you apply, it’s essential to be crystal-clear on what the NSW Department of Education is looking for and how to submit a strong government job application. Below is a breakdown of everything you need. For all of the below, I am going to use the Recruitment Officer Grade 5/6 position as an example. If you’re applying for one of the other roles, make sure you check out the job ad and note any differences.
Application Process
To apply for this role you will need to prepare:
- Resume up to 5 pages
- Cover Letter with a maximum 2 pages
What To Include In Your NSW Department Of Education Cover Letter
To get shortlisted in this role, you will need a strong covering letter that confirms you meet the below essential role requirements:
- A tertiary qualification or relevant experience in Human Resource Management, Operations, Customer Service, or a related discipline.
- A strong understanding of and commitment to the value of public education—demonstrate this in your application.
- A willingness and ability to implement the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy, reinforcing cultural sensitivity and effective partnerships with Aboriginal communities.
You should also give STAR structured examples on how you meet the below dot points from the job ad’s “about you” section:
- Possess time management and multitasking skills, enabling you to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and deadlines. This includes answering multiple calls throughout the day and working within a rostered phone-based system while meeting the daily requirements of the position.
- Demonstrate excellent communication and customer service skills, maintain a positive, can-do attitude, and take accountability as a dedicated recruitment contact for a school network.
- Have great attention to detail and enjoy building trusting relationships and collaborating with school communities.
- Be adaptable, flexible and forward thinking.
- Be a self-starter who is motivated to provide meaningful outcomes for children in NSW public schools.
- Build and sustain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders with competing and time priorities and tight deadlines in a high pressure, dynamic working environment.
Use a free cover letter template if you’re new to public sector formats. A structured approach can significantly boost your application’s credibility.
NSW Department Of Education Application Checklist
| Checklist Item | Action |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Read the full job ad | View job ad |
| ✔️ Review the role description | Check the link inside the ad for detailed info |
| ✔️ Write your resume | Maximum 5 pages, emphasising relevant experience |
| ✔️ Write your cover letter | Maximum 2 pages addressing essential criteria |
| ✔️ Use a free cover letter template | Download here |
| ✔️ Get your cover letter reviewed | Only $29 – Click here |
| ✔️ Submit via iWorkforNSW | Hit the “Apply Now” button before the deadline |
A thorough cover letter review is a small investment ($29) that can significantly boost your chances of securing an interview. It ensures your key attributes align clearly with the Department of Education’s expectations.
Candidate Profile
Meet Claire, an HR Coordinator who’s spent three years working in a private-sector recruitment agency. She now seeks a more mission-driven environment where her efforts directly benefit her community. This Department of Education job resonates with her values: promoting quality education, diversity, and inclusion.
Claire is comfortable juggling phone-based enquiries, scheduling interviews, and coordinating with busy stakeholders—skills that align perfectly with a fast-paced role in education recruitment. She wants to explore a broader HR career within the government, and the School Workforce Directorate offers ample scope for professional development.
NSW Department Of Education Recruitment Officer Example Cover Letter
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to apply for the Recruitment Officer position at the NSW Department of Education. After three years as an HR Coordinator in a private-sector recruitment agency, I am eager to transition into a more mission-driven environment where I can use my organisational, communication, and collaborative skills to support meaningful outcomes for children and school communities across NSW.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and three years of practical experience in recruitment, selection, and onboarding. During this time, I have become adept at juggling multiple priorities, scheduling interviews with busy candidates and managers, and delivering a consistently high level of customer service. My passion for public education motivates me to ensure that every student has equitable access to quality learning—a value I see reflected in the Department’s commitment to inclusivity and service. In my previous role, I partnered with vocational training institutions to source talent for education-oriented clients, which gave me an early appreciation of how crucial dedicated staffing is to the quality of learning environments. I am excited to bring that same dedication to this role, where I can facilitate the recruitment of diverse, capable professionals who share the Department’s vision for public schools.
I also recognise the importance of respecting and embracing Aboriginal perspectives in education. I have read the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and understand the crucial role it plays in celebrating Aboriginal identity, culture, and language in every school community. I take this responsibility seriously and have made a point of deepening my cultural awareness through workshops and self-directed learning. I am committed to strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal communities, listening proactively to feedback, and ensuring that recruitment processes are inclusive and respectful. This approach aligns with my personal belief that education should honour and reflect the cultural backgrounds of all learners.
Throughout my career, I have been responsible for managing high-volume recruitment cycles that required me to balance phone calls, emails, and in-person duties simultaneously. One of my proudest moments illustrates my ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment: The agency I worked for experienced a sudden surge in client demand at the same time as a staffing shortfall. We were at risk of missing client deadlines and compromising candidate experience.
I was tasked with streamlining how we tracked applications and coordinated interviews. I introduced a shared calendar system that consolidated all bookings, synchronised availability across teams, and provided real-time alerts for urgent vacancies. I also agreed to cover additional rostered phone shifts, ensuring enquiries were answered promptly.
We not only met every client’s deadline but saw a measurable improvement in our feedback metrics, with candidates appreciating the seamless communication. This hands-on approach to recruitment—staying attentive to detail, meeting deadlines, and remaining positive under pressure—will be invaluable in a phone-based system where I might field enquiries from principals, teachers, and department administrators throughout the day.
Communication and customer service have always been cornerstones of my professional style. Whether on the phone with a stakeholder who needs assistance navigating an application form or greeting a new candidate at reception, I believe in providing clear, accurate information and treating each person with respect. I maintain a welcoming and can-do attitude, even when managing conflicting requests or unexpected schedule changes.
My experiences have also taught me the importance of taking accountability: if an issue arises, I take ownership swiftly, seek the necessary support, and follow through until the matter is resolved. In one instance at my previous agency, a major client’s interview schedule was accidentally double-booked, leaving multiple candidates confused about their times.
I was responsible for resolving this scheduling conflict without disrupting the client’s operations or compromising the candidate experience. I quickly reached out to each affected candidate, offering clear rescheduling options, and coordinated directly with the client to confirm alternative interview slots. I maintained open communication throughout, ensuring everyone had up-to-date information.
Despite the initial setback, the interviews proceeded smoothly, and the client praised our agency for how efficiently the problem was handled. This experience reinforced my commitment to owning issues until they are completely resolved, which I will carry forward in my work with the NSW Department of Education.
I pride myself on building authentic relationships with diverse stakeholders, recognising that each school community has its own culture and unique challenges. I look forward to partnering with principals, school administrative staff, and any external agencies that may be integral to this role. Creating trust and fostering collaboration in a high-pressure, rapidly changing environment requires adaptability, forward thinking, and above all, a sincere commitment to helping each school run at its best.
I am a self-starter who is energised by the idea of making a tangible difference for students and educators in NSW public schools. While I enjoyed my time in the private sector, I’m driven to channel my skills into a setting where I can contribute to something larger—ensuring that teachers, administrators, and support staff are well-supported so children receive the best possible education. My aim is to strengthen each recruitment process from end to end, supporting positive experiences for all parties involved and preserving the Department’s high standards.
I would love the chance to contribute my blend of HR expertise, passion for public education, and proven recruitment skills to this role. I appreciate your time reviewing my credentials and look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your team.
Yours sincerely,
Claire
Explain the STAR Technique
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. This structured method is particularly valuable in the NSW Public Sector recruitment process, where clarity and focus capabilities matter. Each STAR scenario in your application or interview should describe:
- Situation: The context or background
- Task: What you needed to achieve
- Action: The steps you took
- Result: The measurable outcome or lesson learned
Notice how the STAR examples in the cover letter strengthen the candidate’s application by clearly demonstrating real-world impact. That’s exactly the approach you should aim for in a public sector résumé or interview—clear, concise, and results-focused storytelling that highlights your capabilities.
How to Prepare for a Public Sector Interview
Public sector interviews centre on demonstrating the specific focus capabilities mentioned in the role description. Here are some practical tips:
- Review the Focus Capabilities: Familiarise yourself with the focus capabilities for the job you are applying for.
- Brainstorm Examples: Reflect on times when you handled challenges in HR, customer service, or compliance settings.
- Match to Indicators: Align your stories with the behavioural indicators stated for each focus capability
- Use the STAR Method: Structure each answer with Situation, Task, Action, and Result for clarity.
- Practice and Organize: If the interview format allows notes, have a bullet-pointed list ready. If not, thoroughly rehearse your STAR examples beforehand.
Three Possible Interview Questions:
- Tell us about a time you managed multiple competing deadlines in recruitment.
- Describe how you maintain high-quality communication over phone-based rosters.
- How do you handle a situation where school principals or stakeholders have conflicting needs?
Example Talking Points (STAR Approach): “During my previous role, we faced overlapping deadlines from two key clients (Situation). My responsibility was to prioritize candidate screenings and coordinate interviews with minimal scheduling delays (Task). I created a shared calendar, set up automated reminders, and worked closely with each client to ensure timely feedback (Action). We met both deadlines without compromising candidate quality, and client satisfaction ratings improved significantly (Result).”
For more insights, download the Public Sector Interview Questions & Answers Workbook. For the Grade 5/6 role, be sure to download the Intermediate Level Interview Workbook to prepare for the appropriate level of each capability. For the more senior roles—Senior Recruitment Officer and Lead, School Recruitment—you’ll need to demonstrate a mix of Intermediate and Adept level focus capabilities. In that case, we recommend downloading the complete workbook bundle, which includes all levels, to ensure you’re fully prepared.
Get Your Recruitment Application Ready
Ready to pursue this NSW Department of Education job? Here are some immediate next steps:
- Click here to apply for the Recruitment Officer position
- Get your cover letter reviewed for only $29 – it’s the easiest way to significantly improve your application’s chances.
- Download a free public sector cover letter template if you need more guidance on structure and wording.
- Access the government interview workbook and ensure you’re fully prepared to demonstrate your HR career capabilities.
