NSW Skills Board

NSW Skills Board – Member/Chair

Do you want to help guide NSW to deliver excellence in vocational learning and tackle critical skills shortages? We are looking for experienced and skilled leaders to apply for positions on the NSW Skills Board.

The NSW Skills Board’s vision is for NSW to have a skilled and future-ready workforce supported by a strong skills system that addresses the needs of industries, employers, students and communities across NSW.

Through this process the Chair of the Board and 5 Members of the Board will be appointed. The Chair of the Board provides leadership to the Board as its presiding member and is the main point of contact between the Board and the NSW Government. 

About the role

Board members are expected to utilise their knowledge, skills and experience to support the Minister by:

• supporting future workforce planning and productivity by identifying how to better align workforce supply and demand within NSW to support the state’s economic growth and drawing on labour market intelligence
• setting strategic direction for the NSW skills sector, including demonstrating thought-leadership and developing future-focused strategies for the NSW skills system
• providing oversight of skills system performance through tracking of performance against strategic goals outlined in strategic skills plans and advising the Minister on progress against public NSW skills priorities and/or commitments
• reviewing the department's stakeholder engagement processes to ensure industry voice is integrated into skills system strategy and decision-making.

The Chair of the Board facilitates the above responsibilities by setting the Board’s agenda in conjunction with key stakeholders in the NSW skills system.  

Remuneration

The Board is classified as a C4 level Board under the Classification and Remuneration Framework for NSW Government Boards and Committees. In line with this framework, renumeration for the Chair of the Board is $60,000 p.a. plus superannuation and renumeration for board members is $35,000 p.a. plus superannuation.

Board appointments are scheduled to commence on 1 July 2026. Board members are appointed for terms of up to three years.

About you

The NSW Skills Board provides impactful strategic advice on and oversight of the NSW skills system; therefore you must have significant tertiary sector experience, including:

• demonstrated knowledge of the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Higher education knowledge or experience is also highly regarded.
• proven experience in developing, implementing, or advising on education/VET policy and programs. Experience in training sector market operations, economic modelling, and/or improving outcomes for equity and disadvantaged groups is highly valued

In addition to skills sector experience, you should also have knowledge, skills and experience in one or more of the following:

• ability to effectively engage with a wide range of stakeholders in order to build consensus, navigate competing interests and ensure stakeholder voices are appropriately represented
• demonstrated ability to provide thought leadership, influence high-impact stakeholders and set strategic direction
• proven ability to develop and implement strategies or processes to hold stakeholders to account
• strong understanding of current and emerging trends impacting the NSW skills system and NSW workforce and ability to interpret data into clear advice
• strong experience in priority industries such as construction, digital, net zero, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and the care sector
• experience serving on boards, councils or committees in a leadership, advisory or governance role is highly regarded.

It is expected that all board members have a proven ability to provide independent, impartial advice, free from conflicts of interest, have a sound understanding of NSW Government public sector ethics and values, and have a desire to work in the public interest.

In addition to the above, the Chair of the Board must have the demonstrated ability to lead others and summarise complex information and arguments. 

To help ensure the NSW Skills Board reflects the diversity of the NSW skills communities it serves, we encourage applications from all ages and genders, especially young people; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; culturally and linguistically diverse groups; the LGBTQIA+ community; veterans; refugees; people with disability; and people from regional, rural or remote communities.

If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better enable you to shine, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Team ([email protected]) or visit NSW Department of Education Diversity and Inclusion.

How to apply

Applications through I work for NSW close at 11:59pm Tuesday 17 February 2026

To apply for this role, you must provide: 

• a current resume (max 5 pages)
• a cover letter outlining your interest in joining the Board in the capacity as a Member and/or the Chair and what you can offer, including your skills sector experience and other relevant knowledge, skills or experience to match the requirements of the role (max 2 pages)

More information

More information can be found in the Candidate Information Pack . If you have any questions about the role or require an adjustment to the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].