Hr Payroll Lead

At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.

• Full-time employment opportunities in a vibrant and supportive team
• Based in Newcastle with flexible work arrangements available
• Remuneration of $116,981 - $129,492 plus super and leave loading

About the Opportunities

We are excited to announce future openings for multiple HR Lead Payroll Input roles – Clerk Grade 7/8, within our Shared Services HR Team.

We welcome applications from individuals with demonstrated expertise in supporting and guiding payroll teams, enhancing operational efficiency and engaging effectively with various stakeholders. From this recruitment process, a large recruitment pool will be created to fill upcoming temporary and ongoing HR Lead roles across EDConnect Directorate.

About the role

The HR Payroll Lead will motivate and guide the team to deliver accurate, timely and customer-focused payroll services that empower employees and support the organisation's success. The role drives continuous improvement, ensures compliance, and fosters a collaborative environment to achieve operational excellence.

About you

The ideal candidate should have the ability to:

• Lead and oversee daily payroll operations to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and quality standards aligned with organisational goals.
• Drive adoption of updated workflows and technologies, ensuring team proficiency for high-quality payroll services.
• Analyse and validate payroll data, producing detailed reports to inform management, customers, and regulatory bodies.
• Collaborate on improving payroll policies and compliance, mentor team members, and maintain strong stakeholder relationships to support business reforms and service delivery.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to 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.

For further information please view the role description.

Essential requirements of the role

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in Human Resources or Business Administration or a relevant discipline or demonstrated successful experience in stakeholder/customer engagement in a Shared Services/Payroll environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements (including work from home, available upon successful completion of an initial two-month full-time training and development period.)
• 35 hour working week
• Competitive, salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
• Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
• Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth

How to apply

Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare their application materials independently. The selection panel values authentic and personally written responses that reflect your own experience, insights and alignment with the Department’s values and priorities.

Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.

All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now’.

Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.

As a condition of employment, successful candidates not currently employed by the Department must provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance number. Renewal is not required after the WWCC expires, as long as you remain in a non–child-related role. Employer obligations only apply while the WWCC is valid.

Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.

Closing date: Wednesday 23/09/2026 at 11:59pm.

For role enquiries please contact John Slobodniuk, Assistant Manager Shared Services HR at John.Slobodniuk@det.nsw.edu.au, and for recruitment process enquiries please contact Alexis Katombe at alexispaul.katombe@det.nsw.edu.au

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.

A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.