Principal School Leadership - Various

Temporary full time appointments up to 26 January 2026. (Commencing on or after 29 April 2024)
Location: Various Office locations statewide
Opportunities have become available for substantive NSW Department of Education (DoE) school principals, as well as, former DoE principals and former DoE directors, who are interested in applying for a temporary appointment to a full time Principal, School Leadership position for up to two years.
About the Department of Education
The Department of Education is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population.
For more information about the Department of Education, please visit NSW Department of Education
About the role
The Principal, School Leadership (PSL) role provides differentiated support to principals through coaching, mentoring and professional learning activities to build required skillset to lead and manage their schools with a clear focus on strategic school improvement.
Note:
Former principals or former directors with the NSW Department of Education (DoE), not currently permanently employed by the Department and who separated from that employment after 27 January 2022 or who will be separating with their last day of service being 29 January 2024, or prior, are eligible to apply. (Former DoE principals and former DoE directors who separated from their permanent employment with the Department outside of this timeframe can apply and must demonstrate an understanding of the current School Leadership environment and the educational currency the applicant would bring to the role in their application).
Officers currently in a long-term Principal, School Leadership position and ceasing their appointment/employment in January 2024 will not be eligible to apply for the same role (please refer to ‘Exception to the rule for PSL officers only’ in the attached Applicant Employment Fact Sheet). Acting or relieving principals are ineligible to apply.
How to Apply
Applicants apply online via iworkfor.nsw.The application must be submitted in PDF Format: including a resume (maximum 2 pages) and an additional 4 pages (maximum) clearly outlining the skills, knowledge and experiences in response to each of the selection criteria with reference to the Key Accountabilities.
Include contact details of three referees; one must be your most recent Director, Educational Leadership or Executive Director (if applicable).
Please refer to for formatting guidelines.
Please note that:
· applications significantly exceeding page length may be excluded
· it is a requirement that all candidates submit their applications online. No paper based, email based or late applications will be accepted.
Please refer to and read; Position Description, PSL – Primary Objectives and Applicant Employment Fact Sheet available through the following links:
To undertake this role you are required to hold:
· An Approval to Teach
· Current NSW Driver’s licence
Conditions
The conditions of employment for a Principal, School Leadership role are currently corporate roles under school based conditions of employment as provided for under the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2022, the Teachers Handbook and other relevant policies and procedures of the Department.
This is a child-related role. If you are the successful applicant you will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) Clearance number as a condition of employment (if you do not already have this). For more information, visit the website for more information. In addition your employment may be subject to the Department’s National Criminal Records Check to determine your suitability for employment.
We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team (dandi@det.nsw.edu.au) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.
Eligibility List
An eligibility list (which is valid for 12 months) will be created through this recruitment process and considered when vacancies occur or additional short term needs arise across the state for principal support.
Activation of the eligibility list and term of appointment is at the discretion of the Director, Principals, School Leadership and External Validation and based on the business needs at the point in time the vacancy or additional need occurs and based on the geographical need for principal support (i.e. not automatically appointed for up to a two year term).
Key Application Responses

• Current employment with the NSW Department of Education (DoE) as a substantive school principal or employment as a former principal or former director with the NSW DoE, not currently permanently employed by the Department and who separated from that employment after 27 January 2022 or who will be separating with their last day of service being 29 January 2024, or prior. (Former DoE principals and former DoE directors who separated from their permanent employment with the Department outside of this timeframe can apply and must demonstrate an understanding of the current School Leadership environment and the educational currency the applicant would bring to the role in their application).
• Tertiary qualifications, extensive recent educational leadership experience, and a demonstrated understanding of the current leadership context of NSW government schools and the role of a system’s leader and the role of principals.
• Within your current school and wider network, experience in and a deep knowledge of evidence-based strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes, including a demonstrated understanding of the use of data to inform teaching and learning for student growth and attainment and school improvement.
• Understanding of and experience in applying current educational leadership, learning and organisational research to support innovative change in schools.
• Demonstrated capacity to engage and work collaboratively with DELs, PSL colleagues, Principal, Coach-Mentors, principals, school executive teams and other key stakeholders to continuously focus on strategic school improvement through the School Excellence policy.
• Within your current school and wider network, high level communication and interpersonal skills, with experience in dealing with complex issues and managing difficult conversations and demonstrated skills in mentoring and coaching to build leadership and organisational effectiveness
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead staff in implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.