Principal Policy & Programs Officer

Shape your world through meaningful work in local government!

• Ongoing full-time opportunity (35 hours/5 days per week)
• NSW Office location negotiable with flexible working supported
• Salary relative to experience and ranges from $129,464.00 to $142,665.00 plus super (Clerk Grade 9/10)

Join our team for a fantastic culture with dynamic collaboration and genuine long-term career support. We offer flexibility in work arrangements, diverse and fulfilling assignments, and prioritise work/life balance and wellbeing with initiatives like flex leave and access to support programs. Additionally, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to succeed.

The Office of Local Government is a diverse agency of professionals invested in creating healthy and prosperous communities across NSW. Through the development of policy, programs, strong relationships, engagement and intervention, OLG is a driver of reform and uplift across the state, with a purpose of fostering a strong and sustainable local government sector.

There’s never been a better time to join a diverse, welcoming and fulfilling agency that helps build healthy and prosperous communities across NSW.

The role
As the Principal Policy and Programs Officer, you will lead and contribute to legislative reform and policy projects that support responsible pet ownership and effective companion animal management across NSW. The role requires an experienced policy professional who can work confidently with legislation, analyse complex issues, develop practical reform options and prepare clear, persuasive advice for decision-makers.

You will contribute to legislative review, reform development, Cabinet and Ministerial processes, consultation, implementation planning and stakeholder engagement. You will translate complex legal, policy and operational issues into clear written products for senior executives, Ministers, government agencies, councils, sector stakeholders and the community. You will also be able to manage competing priorities in an ever changing and complex operating environment, while maintaining key stakeholder relationships in a sector with often diverse and strongly held views.

For more information read the full Role Description: Principal Policy & Programs Officer

What you will bring to the role

• Demonstrated experience contributing to legislative reform, regulatory improvement or complex policy projects within NSW Government or another government setting.
• Strong ability to interpret and apply legislation, regulatory frameworks and policy settings to identify issues, develop options and support implementation.
• Excellent policy and critical analysis skills, including the ability to assess evidence, identify risks and impacts, test assumptions and provide balanced advice on complex or sensitive issues.
• Well-developed drafting skills, including experience preparing briefing notes, Cabinet or Ministerial documents, consultation papers, correspondence, policy papers, reports, guidance material and drafting instructions.
• Exceptional writing skills, with the ability to adapt structure, tone and level of detail for different audiences, purposes and levels of technical understanding.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to work constructively with councils, agencies, legal advisers and stakeholders with differing views.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgement and deliver accurate, high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Highly regarded knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of NSW Government machinery, legislative and Cabinet processes, or equivalent government processes in another jurisdiction.
• Tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience in policy, law, public administration, regulation or a related field. Legal qualifications are desirable but not essential.            

Essential requirements

• Experience supporting legislative reform projects, including policy analysis, drafting instructions, consultation, implementation planning or governance processes.

About us

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) improves the liveability and prosperity of NSW. To achieve this, we: create vibrant, productive spaces and precincts; manage lands, assets and property effectively and deliver affordable and diverse housing. We strive to be a high-performing, world-class public service organisation that celebrates and reflects the full diversity of the community we serve and builds the cultural capability of our department to improve outcomes with and for Aboriginal people, communities and entities. 

We are an inclusive and accessible workplace, where your individual contributions are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to feel a sense of connection and belonging. DPHI supports various employee affinity groups, practices flexible working, offers job share and workplace adjustments.

As part of DPHI, the Office of Local Government is the NSW Government’s frontline interface with councils, their 50,000 employees, and their elected officials across the state. Its goal is to build a strong, responsible and sustainable local government sector, with its purpose to ensure councils all over NSW can continue to effectively deliver infrastructure, services and civic leadership to their communities.

Join us

If this opportunity interests you, we look forward to receiving your application, including a copy of your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and suitability for the role. In your cover letter, please include specific examples of legislative reform or regulatory policy projects you have worked on, including your role in analysing issues, preparing written advice or drafting material, and tailoring communication for different audiences.

Applications close Monday, 31 August 2026 at 11:55PM. Should you require further information about the role please contact Mitch Harris, Manager Policy and Programs on mitch.harris@olg.nsw.gov.au.

A talent pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months. 

Check out our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for the role or contact our Aboriginal Career pathways team for a yarn. 

We encourage and support applications from people with disability. Please reach out to us to discuss any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed during the recruitment process, ensuring that you have every opportunity to showcase your talent, skills, and potential. Contact the Talent Team via talent.acquisition@dpie.nsw.gov.au or (02) 63637676​ - HR Support, option 2, DPHI People Advisory, option 1 and reference 'Request an Adjustment - Job Title and Reference Number'. 

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment. This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including a criminal record check.