The Senior Officer classification was established in December 1996 to provide additional capacity for NSW public service organisations to recognise the work value of non-Senior Executive Service positions. The classification was also designed to provide Chief Executives with the flexibility of establishing either a Senior Executive Service contract position or a Senior Officer continuous employment position of equal work value, depending on agency needs.

After an initial period during which proposed Senior Officer positions were evaluated by the Public Sector Management Office for benchmarking purposes, this function was devolved to Department Heads in September 1997 (Circular 97-58). As part of the benchmarking process notional limits were determined concerning how many Senior Officer positions each agency could have. Department Heads were advised of these and SES limits in September 1997 with a requirement that any requests for increases in these limits were to be referred to the Director-General, Premier's Department, for approval.

Following a review of the SES and Senior Officer structures in 1999 it has been decided to retain both classifications.

As from the date of this circular the provisions requiring CEOs to seek approval for changes in the Senior Officer profile of their agencies is withdrawn. Senior Officer positions should be created, evaluated and managed in accordance with standard agency practice. It will not be necessary to seek Premier's Department approval to changes in numbers or gradings of Senior Officer positions.

The existing provisions relating to positions classified within the Senior Executive Service remain. CEOs will still be required to seek approval from the Premier's Department in respect of any case for additional SES positions. You should also advise me of any decision to convert SES positions to Senior Officer positions. This is to ensure that agencies' SES profiles are up to date and any necessary changes to Schedule 3B of the Public Sector Management Act can be effected.

C Gellatly
Director-General

Issued: Public Sector Management Office
Contact: Graham Krempin
Telephone: (02) 9228-5222
EMail: [email protected]
Date: 1 March 2001