Updated 21 October 2026.
Thirteen current listings bring together executive, statutory and organisation-wide leadership appointments across NSW. They include Professional Standards at Fire and Rescue NSW, policy leadership at The Cabinet Office, biosecurity research and diagnostics, and the Chief Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. The roles below retain three groups based on advertised band or leadership title. Some advertisements cover multiple positions or a talent pool; each card identifies the scope and conditions.
Choose the work you can prove
Start with the responsibilities you can demonstrate at the required scale. Fire and Rescue NSW needs leadership of sensitive conduct and integrity matters; the Opera House needs organisation-wide cultural, commercial and governance leadership; The Cabinet Office needs impartial advice on complex public-policy choices. Specialist scientific, legal and clinical appointments have distinct eligibility requirements, so check those before investing in an application.
Build a specific application example
A large budget or team gives the panel context, but does not show your judgment. Identify a decision you owned, the competing financial, service or public-interest pressures, how you involved the Board or other decision-makers, and the result you can verify. For a hospital appointment, that might be an operational or commissioning decision; for a regulator, a choice about risk, enforcement or reform. Keep the example tied to your authority and the vacancy’s actual questions.
Current roles in this shortlist
SES Band 3 / Chief Executive roles
Advertised Band 3 roles, plus Chief Executive and equivalent agency-head appointments grouped by title. Check each card for the employer’s classification.
Chief Executive, Health Education and Training Institute
HETI supports workforce education and leadership development for more than 140,000 clinical and non-clinical NSW Health staff. Its Band 3 Chief Executive will oversee the organisation’s statutory functions and guide statewide capability programs, including digital learning and the registered training organisation. The role calls for enterprise-level experience improving education or workforce capability in a complex service environment.
Application requirements
Up-to-date resume; Brief cover letter
What to highlight
Leading a complex organisation; Workforce or education reform; Financial and organisational governance; Partnerships across a system.
Added 14 October 2026
Chief Executive Officer, Sydney Opera House
CEO of Sydney Opera House: organisational leadership, governance, commercial sustainability, major capital works and high-level stakeholder management. Requires accomplished CEO/senior leadership experience.
Application requirements
CV; cover letter
What to highlight
You will bring exceptional stakeholder and governance capability, commercial acumen, experience overseeing major capital programs, and a genuine passion for the arts and the public purpose of the Sydney Opera House.; Advance artistic innovation and leadership – strengthen NSW’s cultural reputation by championing Australian creativity and connecting audiences with exceptional international artists.
Added 16 October 2026
Chief Commissioner of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission
Lead an independent oversight body investigating serious misconduct and reviewing law-enforcement conduct in NSW. The appointment requires careful use of extensive investigatory powers, a strong understanding of policing and maladministration, and leadership grounded in integrity. This is a specialist statutory office with judicial eligibility requirements.
Application requirements
Resume of up to five pages and a cover letter of up to two pages addressing the role requirements. Follow the email submission instructions in the official advert.
Conditions to check
Candidates must be, or be qualified for appointment as, a judge of a State or Territory Supreme Court, a Federal Court judge or a High Court justice. Members of Australian parliaments or legislatures are ineligible. Read the full statutory eligibility conditions.
Band 2 / Executive Director roles
Advertised Band 2 roles, plus Executive Director appointments grouped by title. The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital General Manager is included here because its advertised classification is Band 2.
Added 14 October 2026
Executive Director – Learning and Teaching
TAFE NSW is recruiting three permanent Executive Directors of Learning and Teaching across distinct statewide portfolios. The work combines educational delivery, operational performance and partnerships with industry, government and community. Extensive vocational education and training leadership is required; applicants should check the portfolio fit, citizenship conditions, Working with Children Check and other pre-employment requirements.
Application requirements
Current resume and a cover letter of no more than one page explaining how your capabilities, knowledge and experience meet the role requirements.
What to highlight
Known for your ability to build trust, unite diverse stakeholders and navigate complexity, you create environments where people feel connected to a clear purpose and empowered to deliver their best.; Balancing strategic leadership with operational excellence, you will oversee complex service delivery, drive innovation and educational excellence, and contribute to outcomes that have a lasting impact across NSW.
Added 16 October 2026
Executive Director, Policy
The immediate opportunity leads the Energy, Environment and Primary Industries policy branch, advising on issues including energy security, forestry, biosecurity and water. The Executive Director weighs policy and Budget trade-offs and provides impartial advice to senior government decision-makers. A talent pool will also cover other policy branches, so applicants should identify the areas they are interested in leading.
Application requirements
Current CV and a cover letter of up to two pages, noting the policy areas you are interested in leading. Submit through the recruiter using the instructions in the official advert.
Conditions to check
Legal right to work in Australia. Demonstrated executive leadership in public-policy development and reform; energy, environment or primary industries experience is highly regarded for the immediate role.
Band 1 / Director roles
Advertised Band 1 roles, plus Director appointments grouped by title. Health Manager Level 6 and Staff Specialist roles retain their separate advertised classifications.
Added 16 October 2026
Director Animal and Plant Biosecurity Research and Diagnostics
Lead the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute’s research and diagnostics work, with responsibility for around 150 staff and the institute’s Biosafety Committee. The brief connects scientific capability with investment, industry partnerships and preparedness for emerging biosecurity threats. It calls for research-business leadership with operational and commercial judgment, alongside credibility in a relevant biosecurity field.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter addressing your interest and suitability. Obtain the candidate information pack and follow the Derwent Search application instructions linked from the official advert.
Conditions to check
Relevant science qualifications or substantial demonstrated equivalent experience. Regular on-site presence at Menangle is expected; police, health and other assessments may apply.
Added 21 October 2026
Director TestSafe
Lead TestSafe’s accredited testing, certification and technical assurance services. The Band 1 role combines multidisciplinary leadership, technical governance, asset stewardship and relationships with regulators and industry.
Application requirements
A combined resume and cover letter document; Put the cover letter on the first page of the combined document
What to highlight
Show how you led a specialist service, maintained accreditation or assurance standards and balanced delivery with public value.
Added 21 October 2026
Director Operations – Regional North
Lead SafeWork NSW’s regulatory operations across Regional North, including inspections, compliance and harm-prevention work. The role involves dispersed teams, regular regional travel and attendance at central offices.
Application requirements
A current resume; A short cover letter included as the first page of the resume
What to highlight
Use evidence of leading operations at scale, applying risk intelligence and improving outcomes across multiple locations.
Added 16 October 2026
Director/Assistant Commissioner Professional Standards
Lead the professional standards function across workplace conduct, misconduct, complaints and public interest disclosures. Reporting to the Executive Director People and Culture, the role combines oversight of sensitive cases with prevention, education and organisational improvement. Strong evidence of fair decision-making and executive advice will matter alongside experience leading investigations or workplace integrity teams.
Application requirements
Resume of up to five pages and a cover letter of up to two pages addressing your interest and suitability.
Conditions to check
Relevant tertiary qualifications in human resources, employment relations, investigations, law or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience. Check the role description for the complete requirements.
Added 14 October 2026
Director Information, Policy and Community Engagement
Lead information, policy and community-engagement work to improve access to healthcare in rural, regional and remote NSW. The role connects business intelligence, cross-government relationships and community insights with executive decisions and service improvement. It is classified as Health Manager Level 6 and requires relevant qualifications or equivalent professional experience.
Application requirements
Resume of up to five pages, a one-to-two-page cover letter, and responses to two targeted questions within one to two pages in total.
What to highlight
strong analytical skills; excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills; Drive collaboration with data, policy and operational stakeholders to strengthen business intelligence, performance monitoring and evidence-based decision making.; About the role This is a unique executive leadership opportunity to help shape the future of rural, regional and remote healthcare across NSW.; How did you build shared understanding between health professionals and community to achieve a practical outcome? Use the link below to access our Capability Application tool, designed to help you excel in the recruitment process.
Added 21 October 2026
Director Financial Control
Lead financial accounting, statutory reporting, treasury and financial controls across the Department of Customer Service. This fixed-term Senior Executive Band 1 appointment requires relevant tertiary qualifications and membership of a recognised accounting body.
Application requirements
Resume and cover letter of no more than two pages together in one document
What to highlight
Demonstrate financial stewardship at scale, credible executive advice, audit outcomes and leadership of a finance team.
Added 13 October 2026
Director Technology Services & Platforms
An ongoing Senior Executive Band 1 appointment leading Service NSW’s technology platforms and shared services, with a portfolio of around 90 people.
Application requirements
An up-to-date CV clearly detailing relevant skills and experience. A cover letter is optional. If supplied, combine it with the CV in one document. Selection criteria responses are not mandatory.
What to highlight
Enterprise platform leadership; Investment and technical judgement; Resilience during transformation; People and influence.
Director of Medical Services
Medical workforce, research and medical administration are connected in Calvary Mater Newcastle's executive brief. The Director of Medical Services reports to the General Manager and sits on the Executive Team, working with nursing and allied-health directors on organisation-wide governance and service development. The appointment offers clinical executive accountability while retaining a Staff Specialist classification, so its employment category differs from an executive-service band.
Application requirements
Address all selection criteria in the application.
Conditions to check
Current AHPRA registration as a Medical Practitioner; FRACMA, specialist recognition under the Staff Specialists Award, or progress towards FRACMA and/or relevant postgraduate qualifications; senior or executive management experience. Unlimited Australian working rights are required, with pre-employment checks, WWCC checks and immunisation evidence as specified.
NSW senior executive salaries and levels: Bands 1, 2 and 3
NSW Government executive jobs differ in the scale of their decisions, the services they lead and the outcomes they are accountable for. The Public Service senior executive structure places Directors in Band 1, Executive Directors and some agency heads in Band 2, and Deputy Secretaries and major agency heads in Band 3. Band 4 covers Department Secretaries. The employer determines a role’s formal band using the NSW Government Senior Executive Work Level Standards; the title alone does not settle its classification.
2026–27 NSW senior executive salary and remuneration ranges
The following annual ranges took effect on 1 July 2026. They are total remuneration package ranges for each band. A particular vacancy may advertise a narrower range, and its offer depends on the role and appointment arrangements.
| Executive level | Annual total remuneration package |
|---|---|
| Band 3 | $385,171–$542,860 |
| Band 2 | $306,171–$385,170 |
| Band 1 | $214,650–$306,170 |
Source: 2026 SOORT annual determination, Table 1, page 9 (PDF). Checked 16 October 2026. These band-wide figures are a reference; each vacancy card retains the amount published in its advert.
What changes between Director, Executive Director and Chief Executive levels?
Band 1 / Director: Leads a defined portfolio, service, program or specialist function, with responsibility for delivery, resources and operational decisions. Some Band 1 specialists have few direct reports, so team size alone is a poor guide to executive level.
Band 2 / Executive Director: Leads a whole function, professional discipline, smaller agency or substantial regional operation. The work connects strategy, several teams or programs, and changes that affect services and stakeholders across the organisation.
Band 3 / Chief Executive or Deputy Secretary: Leads major agency or departmental outcomes, often across government and other sectors. The focus includes longer-term direction, sensitive public decisions and risks with consequences beyond one business unit. These distinctions follow the official work level characteristics.
Does an executive package include superannuation?
A total remuneration package includes employer superannuation contributions and may include other employment benefits. Salary is one component of that total. An advert quoting a salary plus super therefore needs to be compared differently from an inclusive package; the NSW Government remuneration definitions explain this distinction. Where an advert leaves the inclusions unclear, confirm them with the employer before comparing offers.
How to use the three groups in this shortlist
We use the advertised executive band first, then the role title where no clear band is given. Chief Executive titles can sit in different bands or separate statutory arrangements, so placement in the first group does not confirm Band 3 status. Likewise, the Director group includes Health Manager Level 6 and Staff Specialist appointments, with those classifications preserved on their cards. Use the groups to browse, then read the role description for its actual level, eligibility requirements and advertised pay.
Choose the appointment whose scope matches your experience, then check its classification, specialist eligibility and submission instructions. Application tasks vary: some roles ask for a short cover letter, while others require separate responses to leadership questions. Follow the employer’s current advert and application portal for the final deadline and exact requirements.
Our NSW Government cover letter template can help you organise a focused example. If you want support with a live executive application, ask Team 3Thirty about application support and share the role you are targeting.
NSW Government cover letter template. ask Team 3Thirty about application support.