Work Level Standards
Six key factors by band
Band 1: Deliverers of agency services and outcomes
Purpose: Lead defined areas of work to deliver programs, services or specialist advice that supports agency objectives
Expertise
- High-level technical or professional knowledge in one or more disciplines
- Ability to plan and develop team members to improve workforce performance and diversity
- Sound knowledge of financial reporting, authorising environment, procurement and contract management requirements
- Strong understanding of government objectives and ability to manage risks to programs and initiatives
Accountability
- Lead and manage a defined portfolio or service, which may include large or multidisciplinary teams
- Deliver agreed outcomes within established budget, policy and service standards
- Plan, allocate and manage resources effectively
- Make operational decisions and commitments within delegated authority
- Operate with agility to work within changing resource, budgetary and operating requirements
Scope
- Manage large and/or multidisciplinary team to deliver priorities
- Coordinate linked activities with other teams and agencies
- Own and deliver a portfolio of integrated services/programs tied to agency objectives
- Actively collaborate to resolve issues and improve service outcomes
- Foster a safe, resilient, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
- Uphold the Ethical Framework for the government sector and respond to complaints and breaches
Key relationships
- Influence, negotiate and represent the agency with internal and external stakeholders
- Approach stakeholder engagement in a fair and considered way to achieve desired outcomes
- Engage with Minister’s office and at times, the Minister directly
- Build sustainable relationships with stakeholders and handle sensitive issues respectfully
- Actively engage employees in change processes and encourage input to improved outcomes
Operating environment
- Work in a complex environment with changing and competing priorities
- Monitor external factors, respond to risks and changing environment accordingly
- Drive business/process improvements and adapt systems or policies
- Manage specialised and large programs that create sustained value and impact
Judgement & independence
- Operate with considerable autonomy within approved frameworks and make evidence-based decisions
- Analyse options and develop solutions to solve problems,
- Manage operational risks and operate within an authorised risk appetite to improve outcomes
Band 2: Deliverers of system outcomes
Purpose: Lead major functions or smaller agencies to deliver outcomes aligned to government priorities, with system-wide influence.
Expertise
- Provide authoritative advice related to relevant professional, technical or operational discipline
- Lead across disciplines and resolve complex organisational challenges
- Strong financial management, planning, risk management and governance capabilities
- Manage large-scale resources and contracts
- Translate government objectives into programs, policies and organisational goals
- Optimise business outcomes through strategic workforce planning that is aligned to broader workforce objectives including diversity and capability needs
Accountability
- Direct and lead programs and initiatives to achieve government priorities
- Manage senior executive direct reports across integrated teams and in some cases head a smaller agency
- Anticipate and manage significant operational and strategic risks
- Responsible for significant commitments on behalf of the agency
Scope
- Manage integrated functions or technical discipline at an agency or portfolio level
- Align service delivery and priorities to government priorities
- Deliver the implementation of multiple change initiatives with outcomes that significantly impact communities, stakeholders and services
- Shape organisational culture by implementing ways of working that are safe, inclusive, productive, collaborative and innovative
Key relationships
- Lead and oversee stakeholder engagement at senior levels advocating for and influencing outcomes ensuring cooperation over priorities
- Build and lead cross-government and external partnerships
- Engage with Ministers and senior leaders on critical issues
- Create shared sense of direction and performance culture
- Represent agency or government to advocate on key positions and strategies
- Champion leadership and performance development, talent management and succession planning initiatives
Operating environment
- Anticipate and respond to emerging trends, impact of policy shifts and external changes
- Develop strategies in response to critical time pressures and conflicting priorities
- Solve complex problems without clear precedent leaning into innovative or emerging technologies or strategies
- Manage risks and develop contingencies for delivering government priorities
Judgement & independence
- Operate with high independence within broad government priorities
- Shape policy and initiate new approaches to delivery or practice
- Responsible for program design, planning and quality assurance, and resolving issues
- Coach leaders to navigate complex environments and deliver risk-based decisions
Band 3: Outcome drivers
Purpose: Lead across Departments and agencies to deliver long-term, whole-of-government outcomes with state-wide or national significance.
Expertise
- Provide comprehensive executive leadership and expertise across a range of disciplines
- Demonstrate leadership experience in service delivery, policy or regulatory roles with sector-wide impacts
- Set and optimise workforce strategy to drive high performance outcomes and services
- Advanced financial governance, and funding strategy capabilities
- Exhaustive understanding and stewardship related to finance, funding strategies and governance
- Lead an effective and proactive risk management framework to respond to strategic and systemic risks in ambiguous and politically sensitive contexts
- Manage whole-of-government procurement and contract management within NSW procurement frameworks
Accountability
- Lead multiple integrated functions across a large and complex agency or head of a government agency responsible for a significant range of services
- Develop systems for accountability across portfolio or sector
- Make major commitments with state-wide or national implications
- Accountability for agency success and achievement of government priorities
- Provide critical expect advice and decisions that can have sector or state-wide impact
Scope
- Head of an agency or lead major frontline or corporate functions with a large department or agency
- Steward organisational culture that is inclusive, innovative, high performing and embed the Ethical Framework for the government sector through effective leadership and practices
- Ensure the health and safety of employees and others
- Integrate services and programs state-wide or nationally
- Focus on long-term, contentious or politically sensitive whole-of-government issues
- Operate with broad direction to generate focussed priorities, initiatives and advice to guide the government
Key relationships
- Act as principal government representative in critical negotiations
- Engage with multiple Ministers directly across multiple outcome areas
- Build and maintain high-level relationships with sector, industry and community leaders
- Resolve barriers to collaboration across government
- Inspire and empower senior leaders to deliver transformational change with a focus on sustainable workforce capability and inclusive leadership
Operating environment
- Lead in complex, high-stakes contexts with state, national or international reach
- Monitor and respond to political, social and economic changes affecting the sector
- Create a high-performance culture that operations with innovation, adaptability and continuous improvement
- Manage major projects and programs with enduring system-wide impact
Judgement & independence
- Exercise broad independence in setting organisational direction
- Provide authoritative advice shaping state and national policy
- Challenge existing paradigms and set new standards or methodologies
- Work without precedent or clear guidance delivering innovative solutions.
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Download NSW Government Sector Work Level Standards
Current as of Monday, 01 December 2025.
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