Highly rewarding and valuable role, helping to shape the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant experience for children with disability and developmental delay and their families.
Lead complex reform and work programs with significant national strategic significance.
About the role
As a General Manager Children’s Strategy and Services, you have the unique opportunity to directly shape the design and operation of the NDIS for children and support a high-performing organisation.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Children, Specialised Services and Scheme Interfaces Group, the General Manager of Children’s Strategy and Services is an SES Band 2 position and has 3 direct reports and responsibility for a Division of approximately 670 staff located across various locations.
This role can be performed from Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Canberra or Adelaide.
This role is accountable for:
leading the Children’s Strategy and Services Division to build focus and capability (Agency, partner, market) in supporting children aged 0-18 years and their families, so that their NDIS experience is responsive to key life stages and outcomes of early intervention in line with best practice.
designing and implementing a children’s pathway to deliver best practice evidence-based supports that enable children with disability and developmental delay to participate, and be included, in the community.
establishing practical and effective mechanisms to improve and strengthen the connection between the NDIS, foundational supports and mainstream systems so that children with disability and developmental delay receive the right support from the right system, and those supports are appropriately integrated.
providing policy, practice and planning leadership for the NDIA on evidence-based best interventions for children with disability and developmental delay.
working across the Agency, with participants, families and representative organisations, so that reforms to the participant pathway and associated Agency systems and processes take into account the specific needs of children and families.
supporting children younger than 9 and their families/carers by developing, reassessing and finalising NDIS plans to meet their support needs in accordance with legislation, policy and best practice principles.
delivering person centred outcomes aligned to best practice approaches in early childhood to enable young children and their families to access supports early in their life.
Please refer to the SES Work Level Standards. These have general statements about the broad requirements for each classification level.
About the Division
The Children’s Strategy and Services Division plays a critical role in building Agency and sector capability to deliver outcomes for children with disability and developmental delay in the NDIS. The Division is leading the design of the new early intervention pathway for children, informed by the recommendations and findings of the NDIS Review.
The Division is also responsible for co-designing a system of best practice early childhood supports that are connected to others outside the Scheme, such as health and education, and align the Agency’s early childhood approach relevant national strategies, including the Government’s Early Years Strategy and the National Autism Strategy.
The Division also provides frontline services to early childhood participants and their families/carers, in accordance with legislation, policy and the principles of best practice early childhood intervention.
The Division is made up of the following teams:
Children’s Practice Branch
Children’s Policy and Pathways Branch
National Early Childhood Branch.
About you
The role is a functional and strategic leadership position within the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) that leads highly complex reform projects and service delivery that has strategic operational significance across the organisation.
You are intelligence-led, ethically and values driven, with the ability to solve complex issues in a rapidly changing environment. You enjoy working with people, for people, and bring energy and commitment to our shared passion for driving social outcomes for people with a disability, their families and carers. Your excellent leadership capability means you value partnership, genuine codesign and respect diverse views and perspectives, and promote inclusion and diversity in your decisions and your teams.
You are an innovative, authentic and energetic leader with a proven track-record for managing large scale and complex social policy reform and participant experience design functions, ideally within a government agency, large social or healthcare service provider or related areas. Experience in leading large operational teams, along with related policy, strategy and design functions would be advantageous.
Other important attributes we are seeking include:
strategic thinking and the ability to set priorities and explain direction for the team to deliver outcomes against accountabilities.
ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead policy and service reform in a complex environment.
a highly developed understanding of national and global evidence and best practice approaches to early intervention and foundational supports for children.
a track record of collaboration and great relationship building, with proven capability to lead genuine co-design and engagement with stakeholders, build partnerships and maintain effective relationships.
ability to be innovative, flexible, agile and resilient and deliver results in an environment of ongoing change.
demonstrates integrity and respectful standards of behaviour, reflects on their own biases and behaviours, and demonstrates how they are contributing to promoting a respectful culture, workplace, programs and policies that empower staff and puts participants at the heart of everything we do.
Operating as a trusted internal advisor, it is imperative you possess an ability to innovate and to influence change. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and acting on multi-dimensional and complex issues. You are decisive yet diplomatic, with a unique ability to build consensus and deliver exceptional customer service that enables you to navigate across the agency with authority whilst fostering a sense of shared purpose among your team and stakeholders.
Finally, you understand that we put participants at the heart of everything we do. You understand that for the Scheme to succeed, it is critical that we listen to and work with our participants, their families and carers and the disability community to make sure each improvement is a step in the right direction and the Scheme is available for generations to come.
For more information regarding the capabilities required of SES APS leaders, please consider the relevant Leadership Profile in line with the APS Integrated Leadership System (linked).
About the NDIA
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is an independent statutory agency of the Australian Government responsible for implementing the world leading National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This is one of the biggest social reforms in Australia’s history. The NDIS is designed to enhance the quality of life and increase economic and social participation for people with disability. It provides peace of mind for every Australian.
What you should know
To be eligible for employment with the NDIA, you must be an Australian citizen. A candidate’s suitability for employment with the Agency will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This will include a criminal history check and the ability to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance, at the Negative Vetting 1 level. This will be arranged for you, if successful.
The NDIA will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the requirements of the role.
We strongly and actively encourage applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, including people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and LGBTIQA+.
Application Instructions
Please apply via: https://watermarksearchinternational.snapforms.com.au/form/ndia
Your application should include:
A complete current resume
A one-page pitch (maximum 750 words) quoting reference A005961
2 reference nominees
Your pitch should highlight relevant examples and accomplishments that demonstrate:
Why you want to work in the General Manager, Children’s Strategy and Services position.
What you will contribute to the role.
How you will build and champion the NDIA’s vision to improve outcomes for children with disability through innovation and collaboration.
The closing date for applications is 11.59 pm AEST Sunday, 15th June 2025.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activities for the vacancy if you choose to opt-in to the scheme, declare you have a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy. All requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and managed in consultation with you.
Further information can be found at https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
Reasonable adjustments and support for applicants
Reasonable adjustments are available to support applicants through the process.
Reasonable adjustments could include:
An Auslan interpreter
Extra reading time during assessment activities, or
Accessible software.
If you would like to receive a comprehensive candidate pack, receive this information in another format or would like to discuss the provision of reasonable adjustments please contact Chris Grant on 0493 714 171 or Bronwen Kerr (02) 9233 1200 using the National Relay Service 133 677 if required https://www.accesshub.gov.au/about-the-nrs or email search@watermarksearch.com.au.