This is a permanent full-time position commencing December 2026

In Western Australia, the Department of Education delivers swimming and water safety programs for all Western Australian young people aged 5 to 17 through both VacSwim and Interm swimming programs.  Interm and VacSwim swimming programs have been in existence for over 100 years and are considered an integral part of Western Australian culture:

The newly established School of Swimming and Water Safety is one of several specialist schools within the Statewide Services division. The School is responsible for high-quality swimming and water safety education across Western Australia.

School staff work in collaboration with schools, parents, and the wider community to provide the services and support required to reinforce water safety skills as key elements of the Western Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum, ensuring vital swimming programs are delivered to 230,000 school students each year.

The School is currently based at the Statewide Services Centre in Padbury, however, the School may be relocating to Tuart College in the near future

The Role

As a member of the school’s leadership team, the Business Operations Manager is responsible for the delivery of quality business and customer services. This includes the management and coordination of school operations, including accurate and timely information and services, ensuring alignment with school objectives and customer-service principles. This includes providing advice and operational input into the development of the school’s operational plans, management of the school’s budget and the impact of Department initiatives, policies and procedures on school operations in relevant areas. 

The Business Operations Manager will contribute to the development and implementation of a workplace plan that incorporates a recruitment strategy, staff induction, leave, succession, performance management and development plans. In addition, delivering quality human resource services, support to staff and ensuring human resource activities comply with Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management, Commissioner’s Instructions, legislation and Department policy.

The Business Operations Manager leads the School’s financial governance by overseeing budget preparation, performance monitoring and financial reporting. The role provides strategic financial advice to the leadership team, ensures robust financial controls are in place and supports long-term financial planning.

The successful applicant will ideally display strong experience with record keeping, managing plans and procedures developing and implementing procedural statements and guidelines for relevant staff.

Professional Benefits

We are conveniently located in Padbury and our employees enjoy a range of benefits which include: 

• 12% employer contributed superannuation.
• Flexible working arrangements are genuinely considered to create healthy work life balance including; working from home or remote, flexible working hours and part-time arrangements
• Generous leave entitlements including annual, personal, long service and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities and study leave/assistance
• Access to salary packaging (in accordance with relevant industrial instruments) 

Want to know more?

Full details of the role, selection criteria and training requirements are listed in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Peter Lillywhite, Principal, School of Swimming & Water Safety on (08) 9403 8724 or by emailing Peter.Lillywhite@education.wa.edu.au

Agency Referrals: Public sector agencies seeking to refer surplus employees should contact Recruitment at centralservices.recruitment@education.wa.edu.au during the advertising period. 

We are committed to building the leadership capability of our people (Building Leadership Impact).

Equity and Diversity

We are committed to an inclusive and culturally responsive workforce reflecting the diversity in our workplaces and the Western Australian community. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people, people of diverse sexualities and genders, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Explore our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 for more details.

Eligibility

To work with us, you must: 

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or have a valid visa with relevant work rights for the term of the appointment.
• consent to a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and obtain a current Screening Clearance Number issued by the Department of Education’s Screening Unit before you start.
• obtain or hold a current Working with Children Check

More information about employment eligibility can be found on our website and in the attached Job Description Form (JDF).

Application Instructions

Apply online in two easy steps:

Step 1: Select Apply for Job

Complete the online application form, including details of two (2) work related referees, preferably one being your current line manager.

Step 2: Attach your documents

Your application should include: 

• A CV of up to three (3) pages outlining your employment history and professional learning summary relevant to this position
• A four (4) page statement addressing the following selection criteria 1,2,3 and 5 as outlined in the attached JDF:

1. Demonstrated well developed skills and experience in managing administration and customer services functions and the ability to contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of business plans.

2. Demonstrated substantial knowledge and experience in financial management and budget preparation and an understanding of the financial regulatory framework, including the Australian Accounting Standards, the Financial Management Act, tax legislatures and other relevant legislation.

3. Demonstrated well developed human resource management skills, including the ability to develop and apply human resource management practices and systems in leading and managing staff across various sites.

5. Demonstrated well developed organisational, problem solving and risk management skills and the ability to identify trends, issues and problems and generate strategies to address them.

Shortlisted applicants will have their skills and experiences in relation to the remaining selection criteria assessed in the further stages of the recruitment process

It is recommended you have your attachments ready before selecting Apply for Job.

Your application must be received before the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

For technical support submitting your application, you can call the Department of Education’s Recruitment team on (08) 9264 4127 for assistance.

Advertised Vacancy Number: DOE1067841

Applicants assessed as suitable may be considered for similar vacancies that arise in our branch within the next 12 months. This includes circumstances where this position becomes subsequently vacant should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised position.

The Department applies a four (4) day breach period to this selection process.

Applications close: 4.30pm (AWST) on Monday, 19 October 2026