Manager Operations in Melbourne

Education Services Australia (ESA) is a ministerial not-for-profit company committed to making a positive difference in the lives and learning of Australian students. ESA delivers products and services for clients including the Australian government, State and Territory education authorities, and a variety of not-for-profit and government organisations.

ESA’s Assessment team is responsible for the development and delivery of national online initiatives across all of Australia, with NAPLAN being the key event each year. The Assessment team operates as the technology provider and technical support for the states and territories during all NAPLAN testing and associated events.

Why work with us

• NAPLAN is a high-profile national program that offers great challenges and career growth opportunities.
• Work for a not-for-profit organization that provides true impact for students, teachers, parents, and carers.
• Enjoy a flexible working policy, with 40% of your working time spent in the office and a 35-hour week.
• Benefit from a convenient location in the heart of the CBD.

The role involves operational management and delivery of the National Assessment Program (NAP) events, including NAPLAN, NAP Sample Assessment, and ACARA Research events. Reporting to the Program Director, you will have a high degree of autonomy and be a key point of contact for external stakeholders and the broader project team to meet key deliverables.

Your key focus will include:

• Providing leadership to the operational team of eight, made up of project managers, product manager, operational specialists, and help desk.
• Managing the Assessment work streams of Operational Support and Projects.
• Overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of NAPLAN operational activities for ESA.
• Supporting the Program Director as a key point of contact for operational activities within the scope of NAPLAN.
• Overseeing the management of triaging issues for the platform and leading the prioritisation of issues for resolution.
• Identifying risks and raising issues in a timely manner, while working with the Program Director to manage and mitigate risks.
• Coordinating the work effort and output of ESA contractors regarding configuration, environments, resolution of Jira issues, and deployments for the program.
• Overseeing preparation activities to ensure user documentation and training are produced and delivered prior to the NAPLAN events.
• Ensuring support services are prepared prior to the NAPLAN events.
• Ensuring appropriate application and infrastructure are available for the NAPLAN events.
• Reviewing and documenting team processes.

About you

• You have strong leadership skills in team building, task allocation, prioritisation, and risk assessment.
• You have a broad knowledge of NAPLAN operational processes and governance.
• You have significant project management experience working in online environments.
• You are a confident and nuanced communicator with a proven ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders.
• You possess high-level organisational skills and a proven ability to manage complex tasks concurrently within strict deadlines.
• You can remain calm under pressure and deal with emergency situations.
• You have experience working with multiple projects that have a high level of complexity in a collaborative environment.

What ESA offers

At ESA, we want everyone to succeed, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, physical ability, or age. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In addition to a competitive remuneration package, ESA offers lifestyle benefits and a culture that allows people and ideas to flourish.

Application Process

If you have project/operational experience but don’t feel that your skills match all that's required above, we would still love to hear from you. Please send your resume and cover letter through.