Manager, Policy and Strategic Co-ordination

• Join a dynamic and newly-established team within a respected integrity agency
• Further your policy, strategy and advisory experience in a unique environment, working directly with senior executive leaders and with flexible working arrangements on offer

About the role

This is a dynamic opportunity to join the newly-established Office of the Electoral Commissioner. This new role will work closely with the Commissioner, senior executives and functional areas across the NSW Electoral Commission, as well as other government agencies. 

The primary purpose of the Manager, Policy and Strategic Co-ordination is to identify, explore and respond to whole-of-organisation strategy and policy priorities.  

Working closely with the Director, the role performs research, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, consultation and engagement to inform policy advice, strategic co-ordination and quality assurance outputs. Priorities are highly likely to vary over time but would illustratively include: contributing to the development of strategic or operational policies; positions on legislative reform issues; and reviewing corporate strategies, procedures and efficiencies.

This role will also co-ordinate the implementation of initiatives related to the corporate strategy and the Commissioner’s strategic priorities, as well as provide advice and support on enterprise-level transformation initiatives. 

This is an ongoing role based at our Sydney CBD office.

About the NSW Electoral Commission

The New South Wales Electoral Commission delivers trusted and independent systems, processes, oversight and engagement that support democracy in New South Wales. Our vision is to maintain confidence in the integrity of the democratic process and make it easy for people to understand and participate.

Our work includes:

• Running and regulating elections
• Communicating and engaging with current and future voters, key NSW community stakeholders and NSW election participants; and
• Investigating possible offences and enforcing electoral and lobbying laws such as the Electoral Act 2017 and the Electoral Funding Act 2018.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on large scale events and assist your local community  
• Career development opportunities through study and face to face training
• Access to self-paced expert-led training via LinkedIn Learning
• Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing support 
• Staff social events to connect with colleagues  
• Work/Life balance (35 hour working week), flex leave, generous holidays and leave conditions
• Access to Fitness Passport for eligible staff 
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Convenient CBD location, access to public transport 

Key knowledge and experience

As the successful candidate, you will have:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in political science, law or a related field, and/or equivalent domain experience in strategy, policy or advisory roles within a relevant public or private sector organisation.
• Highly-developed skills in research, analysis and synthesis of strategic advice, incorporating complex information from multiple sources. 
• Demonstrated experience in regularly managing sensitive information, advising on legislative change and effectively working with executive leadership. 
• Ability to communicate and build effective relationships with a diverse and complex range of stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Highly developed written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills.
• Broad knowledge of the NSW Public Sector, and the Electoral Commission’s functions, structure, programs, stakeholder relationships, mission and values.
• Experience in an integrity agency environment would be an advantage, along with understanding of the NSW electoral system and the role of independent electoral commissions within Australia

Essential Requirements

• No affiliations with political parties, candidates, elected members, third-party campaigners, donors or registered lobbyists that could undermine the political impartiality of the Commission or that are otherwise inconsistent with its Political Neutrality Policy. 
• A national security clearance to at least NV-01 level from the date of appointment, or the ability to hold one within 6 months of that date (if directed to apply). 
• Satisfactory Criminal Record check result.

If you require further information on the role or you require specific arrangements to participate in the recruitment process, please contact Dush Sharma, Director Office of the Commissioner, at dush.sharma@elections.nsw.gov.au. 

How to apply

As part of your application, you must respond to the 2 targeted questions below:

1. Please summarise your experience in providing strategic or policy advice to senior executives within the same organisation (maximum 300 words).
2. Briefly outline an example when you were faced with different views on a particular issue you have worked on. What did you do to bring together and/or resolve the differences? (maximum 300 words)
    

Please include a covering letter with your application summarising your skills, knowledge and work experience, along with an up-to-date resume which clearly detail your skills and experience as relevant to this role.

For further information regarding the role please download the Role Description.

Applying for a role in the NSW Public Service

For more information on how to apply for a role in the NSW Public Service, please refer here.

The NSW Electoral Commission embraces diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the population of New South Wales. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, mature-age people, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply for this role. 

If you have any questions about applying or would benefit from an adjustment to the recruitment process to help you perform your best, please contact talent@elections.nsw.gov.au. For more information on recruitment adjustments visit I Work for NSW Adjustments for individual needs.

Applications received and completed after closing time will not be considered for selection. 

The selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role.

For further information, contact NSW Electoral Commission’s Talent team on talent@elections.nsw.gov.au

Other Information

Your employment will be subject to National Criminal Records Check to determine your suitability for employment.  

The NSW Electoral Commission is committed to maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system. The Commission requires all its employees to refrain from membership of any political party and from engaging in political activity which could be seen as reflecting adversely on the strict political neutrality of the Commission. To maintain political neutrality, applicants for roles with the Commission who are, who have been or who may be perceived to be or have been connected with political activities may also be ineligible for appointment and should disclose such information as part of their application. This does not include voting in a Commonwealth, State or Local Government election, which is compulsory in NSW.  The Commission’s Political Neutrality Policy may be viewed on its website.

This role is based in at our Elizabeth Street, Sydney office with a hybrid work arrangement. 

Please note that we are closed from Thursday 25 December 2025 and will return on Monday 12 January 2026. Shortlisting for interviews is expected to occur in late January 2026. We appreciate your patience during this time and wish you a safe and happy holiday period.

Applications Close: Sunday,18th January 2026 @ 11.59pm