Schools Manager

Job Details

Job Title: Schools Manager

Employment Type: Ongoing

Classification: Parliamentary Service Level 6

Closing Date: 11:30pm AEDT, 3 August 2026

Contact: Deb Acland, 0477811817, deb.acland@aph.gov.au

The Opportunity

The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is recruiting a Parliamentary Service Level 6 Schools Manager within the Parliamentary Engagement Branch’s Visitor Engagement team.

The Visitor Engagement section delivers high-quality interpretation and support services to a diverse range of audiences, including parliamentarians, building occupants and visitors. The Schools Manager is responsible for the effective day-to-day operation and delivery of the school tours program, which provides expert guided tours to approximately 117,000 students each year.

Who we are looking for

The Schools Manager plays a leadership role in the Visitor Engagement section, with a focus on the school tour program. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in the ability to work to a deadline and exceptional customer service.

Effective and respectful collaboration will be critical to the success of the position, as you will be working with internal and external stakeholders to manage a highly complex operational environment. As a member of the leadership team, you will engage and motivate staff to deliver high-quality, expert tour content. An in-depth knowledge of, or the ability to obtain an in-depth knowledge of the structure and operation of Parliament are essential to your success in this role. You will possess good communication skills, with the ability to engage a variety of audiences. You also understand the importance of positive stakeholder relationships, both within the team and across DPS and externally, and the ability to work strategically and deliver quality outcomes.

The successful applicant will be required to:
• Obtain and maintain a current working with vulnerable people card (WWVP).
• The position requires walking and standing on a range of surfaces. It also requires talking and interacting with the public and building occupants for extended periods.
• Work on a roster where weekend, public holidays and some after-hours work may be required. 
• The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a Baseline Vetting (Protected/Restricted) security clearance.

At DPS, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that ensures all our people can contribute to our shared purpose. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as neurodivergent, and mature aged people.

Duty Statement

Classification: Parliamentary Service Level 6 

Branch: Parliamentary Engagement 

Section: Visitor Engagement 

Immediate supervisor: Assistant Director, Interpretations

Duty Statement

Under limited/general direction undertake duties in accordance with the agreed standards for the specified classification. The duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Oversee the operational aspects for school tour delivery, including member engagements and child safety.
2. Manage and supervise Visitor Engagement staff in the training, delivery and appraisals of school tours.
3. Effectively develop and support complex relationships with internal and external stakeholders and manage these relationships to achieve the goals of the Parliamentary Engagement Branch.
4. Oversee school administrative tasks, reporting and project work, including but not limited to informal learning activities and educational material.
5. Create and maintain collaborative relationships with the PSL6 managers to enable co-supervision of the Visitor Engagement team and support all areas of front of house operations, specifically school tour delivery.
6. As a member of the Visitor Engagement leadership team undertake duties as requested to support the strategic goals of the Parliamentary Engagement branch.

Selection Criteria 

Shapes strategic thinking

• Understands the Parliamentary Engagement Branch’s organisational goals and the Visitor Engagement Section’s operational goals.

Achieves results

• Proven ability to lead the successful delivery of programs in a strategic and sustainable manner to the satisfaction of stakeholders and the team.
• experience in bringing people together and encouraging input from key stakeholders within the building and in the broader cultural, tourism and education sectors.

Cultivates productive working relationships

• Demonstrated experience developing and leading a public facing team to deliver successful educational programs or related services. Demonstrated experience in supporting a proactive culture of introducing new and improved work practices and projects within your team and your network.

Exemplifies personal drive and integrity

• Demonstrated experience in the application of sound governance in the allocation of resources to support program delivery.

Communicates with influence

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, and with other stakeholders and external parties. 

Employees of DPS are required to be able, and to be seen to be able, to provide professional advice and services to all Senators and Members without favour or prejudice.

How to apply

Please upload a pitch (750 words maximum) describing how your skills and experience would contribute to the role and work of the department. 

Your pitch is an opportunity to tell us why you want to work at DPS, why you are interested in the role and what you can offer in the role. Frame your pitch around the role description and relevant ILS Profile. Make sure to use relevant examples and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform the role. 

For additional guidance when crafting you application, please refer to the the DPS Recruitment Candidate Information Pack, which provides helpful tips on how to structure your pitch and highlight your most relevant skills and experience effectively.

Our purpose and values

We proudly provide innovative, unified, and client-focused services to the Australian Parliament and parliamentarians. We are a values driven department, placing our values at the heart of everything we do; from our service offerings and decision making to our interactions with stakeholders and each other.  

Our people are employed in a broad and unique range of professional, customer service and trade-based roles, all joined by a shared purpose: to make an enduring contribution to Australia’s parliamentary democracy. We have an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. While we come from all walks of life, we share a commitment to care for and protect our iconic workplace. 

Every year, almost one million people visit Australian Parliament House to experience the parliamentary process, the building’s architecture, nationally significant art collections, events, tours, and food and dining experiences – all made possible by our people, who are active participants in an environment where no two days are the same.

What we can offer

Join our community based on innovative, unified, and client-focused services, where your skills and development will be nurtured. You will also enjoy:  

• flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational needs of the roles
• ongoing opportunities to learn and develop new capabilities 
• a competitive remuneration package
• free on-site parking
• free gym membership and access to recreational facilities available at APH
• childcare (pending availability), banking services, post office, value-for-money dining options and more available at APH.

Salary

Currently, the salary range for this position is $101,168 - $113,706 per annum.

Conditions of Employment

Employment opportunities at the department are subject to a range of conditions prescribed in the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 which include:

• Australian citizenship: Section 22 of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 requires that employees of the Parliamentary Service are generally required to be Australian citizens. However, if you are not an Australian citizen you may be considered for engagement on the condition that you are able to gain Australian Citizenship within a specified time. Failure to obtain citizenship within the timeframe could lead to termination of employment.
  
  
• Loss and resumption of Australian citizenship: Under historical provisions of the Australian Citizenship Act 1948 (section 17), some Australian citizens automatically lost their citizenship if they voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country between 26 January 1949 and 3 April 2002. This loss occurred by operation of law and may not have been known to the individual at the time. Although these provisions were repealed in 2002 to allow dual citizenship, the repeal did not restore citizenship that was previously lost. Individuals who believe they may be affected are recommended to seek advice about resuming their Australian citizenship. Further information, is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
• Applicants who progress to the offer stage with our department who have been affected by the loss of citizenship as outlined above will be required to demonstrate within a reasonable time that they have resumed, or are actively undertaking the process to resume, Australian citizenship.
  
  
• Security clearance and character clearance: the preferred applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the level specified, as well as complete and be deemed suitable through a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.
  
  
• Health assessment: a pre-employment health assessment will be required where there are physical or medical requirements for the role.
  
  
• External Work Approval: Employees must seek approval for any paid employment outside the department and declare voluntary activities that could impact their role.