OVERVIEW The Placement Coordinator role at the University of Sydney supports Education Professional Experience programs by coordinating student placements in schools across teacher education courses. This casual position sits within the Sydney School of Education and Social Work and involves close collaboration with academic and professional staff. The role requires strong administrative capability, stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to manage complex placement processes in a high-volume environment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES – Coordinate and carry out negotiations and administrative processes associated with securing and facilitating student placements in schools across all teacher education courses, including arranging internships – Liaise with schools to address queries, resolve procedural issues, and maintain strong partnerships while developing new ones – Maintain accurate database records on all aspects of professional experience placements, including reports and results – Provide guidance and support to students on placement-related matters and collaborate with academic coordinators and the Director – Negotiate and manage relationships with existing schools and establish links with new schools – Act as the primary point of contact for placement-related enquiries, resolving issues and providing timely, accurate advice to students, staff, and external stakeholders REQUIREMENTS – Experience in negotiating and managing relationships with stakeholders – Demonstrated high level organisational and advanced administrative skills – Excellent interpersonal, phone, and written communication skills – Demonstrated capacity to assess priorities and manage a range of tasks and complex issues simultaneously – Demonstrated ability to work calmly and constructively under sustained pressure – Ability to meet strict deadlines and prioritise work in a high-volume environment – Excellent database and word processing skills – Experience of working within tertiary education (desirable) – Experience using the software Sonia or similar placement systems (desirable) – Unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of employment, as visa sponsorship is not available WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS Professional experience placements are a core requirement of teacher education programs and directly influence students’ readiness for the workforce. This role ensures that placements are well-organised, compliant, and supported, benefiting both students and partner schools. By maintaining strong relationships and reliable systems, the Placement Coordinator helps uphold the quality and reputation of professional education programs. BONUS: APPLICATION ADVICE – Clearly demonstrate your experience coordinating placements, internships, or similar programs, particularly where multiple stakeholders were involved – Use concrete examples to show how you manage competing deadlines and high volumes of administrative work – Highlight any experience working with schools, tertiary education providers, or professional experience programs – Emphasise your communication skills, especially situations where you resolved issues or provided advice to students or external partners – If applicable, mention familiarity with placement management systems such as Sonia and how you have used databases to maintain accurate records – Ensure your application addresses work rights in Australia and includes all requested documents, such as a tailored cover letter and up-to-date CV