Senior executive roles are sometimes described as falling within a particular contribution stream. The information below provides additional context about the nature of work typically undertaken within each contribution stream and may assist agencies when applying the Work Level Standards to determine the appropriate band for a role.
Service or operational delivery roles
Band 1
- Deliver defined services or programs.
- Manage budgets, resourcing allocation, contracts and operational compliance.
- Lead large or multi-disciplinary teams.
- Achieve program delivery, effectiveness, performance standards and client satisfaction.
Band 2
- Focus on initiation, implementation and integration of large agency programs.
- Shape service models, define resourcing requirements and assess long term sustainability and viability.
- Collaborate and negotiation on behalf of the agency with other jurisdictions and external stakeholders
- Align programs to government priorities and respond to stakeholder needs
Band 3
- Lead sector wide or national integrated service systems or major service delivery within a Department.
- Influence and negotiate with key stakeholders including resolving conflict resolution at national and international levels.
- Evaluate long-term influences in strategic planning and decision-making.
- Act as a point of escalation for highly sensitive, contentious and state-wide issues.
Policy roles
Band 1
- Lead small or multi-disciplinary project teams.
- Align policy with government objectives.
- Lead research and analysis in defined policy areas.
- Apply risk frameworks to assess impacts of policy options.
- Lead consultation and respond effectively to government and stakeholder feedback.
- Maintain a deep understanding of emerging issues and operating environment.
- Be accountable for delivery and quality of projects, briefs and advice.
- Deliver effective and high-quality public policy in a specific area.
- Lead support of policy decisions through comprehensive, factual and technically reliable recommendations.
Band 2
- Lead policy development frameworks and processes in a major area of government policy.
- Explore and recommend policy options to achieve government’s objectives.
- Act as the primary representative for the agency or portfolio on major issues related to a policy area and its implementation.
- Provide expert advice direct to Secretary and Minister, or in conjunction with a band 3 senior executive, on specific policy or implementation issues.
- Act as an authoritative source in one or more major areas of public policy content.
Band 3
- Integrate policy across sector and national agendas.
- Lead the policy process, including application and evaluation of effective governance frameworks for policy research, analysis, development and evaluation across a portfolio.
- Lead advice on issues of social, or economic significance.
- Engage Secretary and Ministers on a broad policy issues at a whole-of-government level.
- Act as an authority on policy frameworks, systems and processes.
- Lead support for effective outcomes for the State in development of state and national policy agendas.
Regulatory or compliance roles
Band 1
- Lead one or more significant regulatory/ compliance programs at an agency or portfolio level.
- Direct a range of functions related to implementation, stakeholder and community education, enforcement and compliance.
- Articulate standards of practice for professional conduct, systemic integrity and independence.
- Leads significant enforcement, compliance, audit or monitoring programs.
- Contribute to and development and review of governance frameworks.
- Set performance standards and measures.
Band 2
- Lead a substantial portfolio of regulatory or compliance programs at a portfolio or cross-sector level.
- Evaluate and ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory frameworks.
- Provide recognised authoritative advice on issues of compliance, risk management and intelligence assessment.
- Review and improve regulatory programs through assessment of trends and emerging issues.
- Define professional standards of professional conduct and independence.
- Ensure regulatory and compliance programs respond rapidly and proactively to changing context and emerging trends.
- Have impact so that programs are implemented and managed with the highest professional standards and genuine independence.
Band 3
- onlead a sector wide portfolio of diverse regulatory functions and programs.
- Be accountable for governance frameworks, program integrity and effective implementation of government’s regulatory regime.
- Direct diverse sector-wide regulatory and compliance functions and their integration.
Professional or technical specialist roles
Band 1
- Provide professional or technical leadership within a defined discipline for the sector or executive direction for one of more professional or specialist functions at a large agency level.
- Direct a significant single function at a large agency level.
- Act as the appropriate escalation point for the discipline within the portfolio or large agency.
- For corporate services roles, only those with additional broader accountability would be at this level.
- For scientific, technical or professional disciplines, manage a significant professional practice or agency within a portfolio.
- Provide advice replied on to shape the sector’s response to major issues or initiatives.
Band 2
- Drive professional, technical or scientific standards and practices at a state-wide level or provide executive direction of a diverse set of professional or specialist functions within a portfolio.
- Act as the highest escalation point for the specific discipline within the sector.
- Provide strategic advice that influences the sector’s position.
- Lead a corporate services function at portfolio and large agency level.
- Consistent application of professional standards and practices across the state.
- For enabling services, ensure agencies are supported with best practice services.
Band 3
- Lead a broad professional, technical or scientific discipline including determining professional standards and advising government’s decisions or
- Provide executive direction of a diverse set of professional or specialist functions at a portfolio or cross-agency level.
- Lead cross-sector and cross-government collaboration and coordination, and in scientific disciplines, national and international connection.
- Manage significant professional practice within an agency or portfolio.
- Navigate unprecedented situations.
- Advise in a way that shapes the sector’s response to major issues or initiatives.
- Be accountable beyond any corporate services functions.
Agency heads
Band 2
- Lead smaller delivery agencies or statutory bodies.
- Oversee integrated programs or services across NSW or a region.
- More commonly report to a Deputy Secretary.
- Lead related services to broad client base, or diverse programs and services to a specific defined client base.
Band 3
- Head a large delivery agency within a portfolio, accountable to a Secretary or Minister.
- Manage significant budget appropriation which may be supplemented by agency-based revenue sources.
- Lead a substantial workforce, usually 5,000+ FTE.
- Leading a major delivery agency responsible for a significant range of services for the State.
- Operate across multiple sites and a broad, diverse client base, including strong regional presence.
- Represent a substantial part of overall portfolio responsibilities.