Are you a strategic senior policy leader driven to improve outcomes across school environments? AERO seeks an experienced professional to lead a high‑performing team, shape system change, and engage deeply with diverse stakeholders to develop consultative, evidence‑informed advice and policy creation, that influences decisions across Australia’s education landscape.
- Drive system‑level change that empowers teachers and improves learning environments
- Fully remote role, work from home (Australia-wide)
- Offering a competitive base salary starting at $182,915 (commensurate with skills and experience) plus 12% superannuation
About The Organisation
The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) is Australia’s national education evidence body. AERO is working towards excellent and equitable outcomes for all children and young people by generating and making high-quality evidence accessible and enhancing the use of evidence in Australian education.
AERO is bringing together people who are passionate about evidence-informed policy and practice for schools and early childhood services. Our team is collegial, creative and committed to fulfilling AERO’s potential to make an impact. We value agile thinkers who can help shape AERO as a new, dynamic organisation, and team players who enjoy working across projects and in diverse, interdisciplinary teams. Many of our people have ongoing connections to research, policy and practice organisations, helping us to bridge the gap between evidence generation and translation.
For more information about AERO, please see https://edresearch.edu.au
Purpose of the role
The primary objective of the role is to lead strategic policy and engagement for the schools sector, translating AERO’s research into clear, actionable insights that support evidence‑based policy decisions. It provides leadership to a team delivering high‑quality analysis and targeted engagement to maximise the impact and uptake of AERO’s work by policymakers.
Accountabilities:
- Shape and deliver the organisation’s strategy for engaging policymakers, promoting AERO’s research to system stakeholders and influencing the integration of AERO’s work into policy frameworks, programs and professional learning initiatives.
- Identify opportunities where AERO can influence the degree to which significant education policy decisions are evidence-based and drive the development and provision of high-quality policy advice on a wide variety of issues in education, including student outcomes, and evidence use in practice.
- Lead and implement the scoping, planning and designing of advanced policy research and analysis to maximise AERO’s influence on those significant decisions, including investigating and critically analysing issues and opportunities relating to education.
- Lead the management of relevant parts of the advisory structure (e.g. project advisory groups and additional functions as required).
- Lead and manage the preparation of advice and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders that conveys complex concepts and information on education topics in an appropriate format and manner.
- Develop, build and implement strategies to maximise the effectiveness of AERO’s work on service, system and sector programs and policies, including identifying, establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with external stakeholders to ensure the uptake of evidence-based policy.
- Ensure the strategic policy and engagement division compliance with all statutory and corporate governance requirements and with the internal control framework to prevent fraud.
- Lead the performance and professional development of team members, building a highly productive and collaborative team and actively collaborate and identify opportunities to work with internal teams across AERO to ensure consistent messaging and to maximise influence and impact with AERO’s stakeholders.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential requirements:
- Tertiary qualifications in public policy (preferable), education, social sciences or another relevant discipline.
Knowledge and experience:
- Proven experience leading teams to deliver complex, high-quality advice and products under tight timelines and competing priorities.
- Excellent understanding of the Australian education sector, including key stakeholders, policies and framework.
Skills:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to create compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
- Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to translate technical and complex information concisely for diverse audiences.
AERO welcomes applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
How to apply?
Please submit an online application:
- CV and a Cover Letter describing your interest in and
suitability for the role addressing the skills and experience above.
Applications close 11.59pm Wednesday 1 April 2026 (Sydney, AEDT)
Notes
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Respectfully, no agencies please.
- Please only apply for this role if you are an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or have unrestricted work rights in Australia.
- Appointments are subject to a National Criminal Record Check (NCRC) and having or obtaining a current valid working with children check (WWCC).
- If you require any additional information to above or have technical difficulties applying, please contact: recruitment@edresearch.edu.au
