Sector Partnerships Lead

Department of State Development
Job reference: 857657
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

About us:

The Department of State Development is the South Australian Government’s lead economic development agency.

Our mission is to drive sustainable economic growth in South Australia by increasing industrial and workforce capability, capacity, collaboration and resilience. We take pride in hiring the right people for the right jobs and offer an attractive, flexible workplace.

For more information about our agency, please visit:

Department of State Development | statedevelopment.sa.gov.au

About the role:

Skills SA oversees South Australia’s vocational education and training system, working with stakeholders to align training with workforce needs, support employers, and help individuals gain skills for employment and career development.

The Sector Partnerships Lead leads, provides strategic leadership of sector and learner engagement in Skills SA and coordinates and chairs the VET Student Advisory Network (VSAN). The role drives stakeholder and learner engagement excellence by embedding a formal, system-level student voice mechanism that informs policy design, implementation and evaluation. The position provides advice to senior leaders in Skills SA and manages engagement activities requiring sound judgement, diplomacy and political awareness.

As the Sector Partnerships Lead, you will:

1. Lead the establishment, delivery and continuous improvement of the VET Student Advisory Network (VSAN)
2. Chair and coordinate VSAN core group meetings and oversee issue-based working groups and broader engagement activities
3. Ensure learner voice is embedded in policy design, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement
4. Develop and maintain governance structures, terms of reference, and engagement processes aligned to lived-experience best practice
5. Oversee recruitment, onboarding and support of diverse VSAN participants including core members and extended networks

Key Competencies:

To apply and succeed in the role, you will have:

• Significant experience managing the delivery of engagement processes to support the design and implementation of projects, programs, and strategies.
• Demonstrated capability in leading large-scale engagements and consultations and providing strategic advice to senior leaders on engagement and consultation practices.
• Highly developed written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including a proven ability to build and maintain effective networks with internal and external stakeholders, and to operate with political astuteness, diplomacy and discretion in sensitive environments.
• Demonstrated ability to apply conceptual and analytical thinking including experience in researching, analysing and recommending practical solutions and recommendations to resolve issues.

Remuneration:

Competitive salary of ASO8 p.a. plus superannuation

Benefits:

Bringing your talent to the Department of State Development will see you rewarded with a wide variety of benefits such as:

• A variety of leave arrangements
• Work-life balance with a flexible hybrid work arrangement
• Access to great customised training and career development opportunities.

Qualifications:

• Essential: Nil
• Desirable: A tertiary qualification in a field relevant to the position.

Special Conditions:

• The role will be offered full-time (1.0 FTE) for up to 28 months
• Satisfactory Department of Human Services Criminal History Check or National Police Check (NPC) and Working with Children Check (WWCC) is required prior to employment.

Enquiries:

For confidential enquiries / further information about the role, please contact Warwick Cheatle, Manager Projects via

View email address on au.fitly.work.

How to Apply:

All applications must be submitted through the I Work For SA website.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover letter demonstrating the suitability for the role by addressing the key competencies (2 pages max)
• Curriculum Vitae (4 pages max)
• Prepare 3 referees (at least one should be current or recent line manager), to be provided on request.
• Pre-employment Declaration Form – find the attachment on the job advert.

Applications close: 27/09/2026 11:00 PM

Attachments:
- DSD Role Description - ASO8 Sector Partnerships Lead.pdf
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.