Senior Education Policy Manager

Education Program, Policy Innovation

Australia’s education system faces real challenges, with student outcomes declining and equity gaps widening. Yet, these challenges also create a powerful opportunity. McKinnon is committed to driving bold, evidence-based innovation to help all young Australians — especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds — reach their full potential. By playing a catalytic role, we can help reimagine education as a tool for opportunity, excellence, and national renewal.

McKinnon is building and applying a local evidence base of what works in Australia, informed by international best practice. We identify promising ideas, support their real-world testing through pilots, and translate learnings into practical, scalable solutions. Our work is designed to cut through systemic barriers and accelerate impact — so every student benefits from an education system that’s dynamic, effective, and future-ready.

Role purpose

The role will help design and deliver our strategy to build strong school systems across Australia.

You will lead education policy design to support the new Multi-School Organisation (MSO) model and the wider system architecture required to enable the model to succeed.

An MSO is a strong family of schools under shared leadership and governance, with a shared education and operation blueprint to improve student outcomes. The model is inspired by England's highest performing multi-academy trusts, adapted for Australia. Tasmania launched a trial of the model in 2026 in partnership with McKinnon, and we are exploring further trials with other jurisdictions.

The role requires exceptional program leadership, collaborative problem-solving, and the ability to translate ambitious policy into practical impact for systems, schools, teachers, and students. You must be confident engaging directly with Ministers, Departmental Secretaries, teachers and other key stakeholders. This is a ‘hands on’ role that will suit someone who thrives in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments.

Key responsibilities

Strategy Development and Policy Design

• Support the development of McKinnon’s education reform strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long-term objectives.

• Lead the detailed design of the policy frameworks for the MSO model, including what decision-making authority is delegated to MSOs, how they are governed, and how they are held accountable for improving student outcomes.

• Adapt international research and best practice to the Australian context, ensuring initiatives are evidence-informed and practically implementable.

• Design innovative proposals to address strategic challenges, including policy recommendations and pilots.

• Translate high-level strategies into clear objectives, deliverables, and implementation plans.

• Codify lessons and insights from the Tasmanian trial into guidance for future MSOs in other states.

Program Management, Implementation and Reporting

• Plan and run workstreams from start to finish, with clear plans, budgets and risk management.

• Manage contracts with consultants, researchers and delivery partners, and hold them to scope, quality and budget.

• Run advisory groups and workshops to support engagement with McKinnon’s research and policy recommendations.

• Draft high-quality research reports, strategy and position documents aligned with McKinnon strategic objectives

• Deliver program update and progress papers of a high standard as required, including reports, Board papers to tight deadlines, including sole or lead authorship

• Collaborate with other McKinnon staff, contract researchers, agencies, and partners to produce high-quality outputs, including reports, presentations, and web content.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

• Establish and maintain relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders, including federal and state political leaders and policymakers, to gather insights, promote collaboration and influence and deliver reforms.

• Identify opportunities to build relationships with key stakeholders, such as workshops and roundtables.

• Help shape public debate on school reform through roundtables, events and writing, with McKinnon's communications team.

Experience and Capabilities

Skills and Experience