Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives & Innovation - School Improvement Branch
Posted: Oct 16, 2025
Job Description
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for contributing to a progressive, high-performing education system? As Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives and Innovation you will lead a large team contributing to excellence in Queensland state schools through a range of state-wide initiatives including digital learning and capability, strategies for rural and remote schools and communities, the Queensland Virtual Academy (partnering with the principal) and a number of key curriculum areas including respectful relationships education and STEM projects.Make a lasting impact on Queensland state schools! Join us as Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and play a key leadership role in creating an equitable, inclusive and high-performing education system.About The Department Of EducationWorking for the Queensland Department of Education means joining an organisation that values its people and promotes leadership and innovation. Be part of an environment that respects professionalism and diversity, offers training and development opportunities and embraces flexible careers and work-life balance. Find out more about working with us .Key ResponsibilitiesLead and formulate departmental strategy, policy, and direction consistent with the achievement of Queensland Government objectives for the community and the successful implementation of the department's education strategy.Provide timely, insightful advice to the Assistant Director-General, School Improvement and Deputy Director-General, State Schools Strategy on a range of curriculum, teaching and learning and school improvement areas.Collaboratively develop and lead system initiatives from issue or opportunity identification through solution development and supported implementation, aligned to principles of best practice policy development and underpinned by sound governance.Partner with Regional Directors, School Supervisors, Executive Directors - Regional Operations and other key regional officers to implement policy, frameworks and key prioritised initiatives into schools and classrooms.Lead the development of capability activities linked with strategic initiatives and innovation and partner with the Education Futures Institute (EFI) to deliver differentiated professional learning for teachers, school leaders and key regional personnel.Support implementation of system strategic initiatives, including through cross-department and state-wide engagement and mobilisation of resources and teams to support schools and early childhood settings.Lead and oversee performance monitoring and evaluation and proactively identify and implement improvement strategies for optimised school, centre, and system performance.Engage effectively and authentically with stakeholders to ensure the appropriateness of policies, initiatives and interventions and to secure support for their implementation.Oversee effective transformational and cultural change to re-shape the department's service delivery through a shared focus on educational achievement, wellbeing and engagement and culture and inclusion.Represent the department and the Queensland Government effectively in a range of formal and informal settings to promote and retain support for the delivery of departmental objectives.About YouProven ability to consult and work collaboratively with key stakeholders including Regional Directors, Assistant Directors-General, Business Partners, regional teams and central office branches, and school communities to strengthen outcomes and ensure consistency of approach; with a focus on delivering outcomes and improvement for the system.Experience engaging, leading and influencing stakeholders to successfully implement change initiatives, reforms and programs to ensure the provision of improvement and high performance.Proven ability to build and sustain effective networks with colleagues, clients and key stakeholders, including the non-state school sector, sustain the national quality agenda and achieve positive outcomes for the department.Ability to provide authoritative and evidence-based advice and direction to senior leadership on strategic and operational education reform agendas.Interested? To Apply:Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history)Attach a written application (2 pages maximum) against the Leadership Competencies for Queensland We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive.Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.Occupational group Executive
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