NSW schools can't find $230k IT man

Highly-skilled IT managers short in supply?

The NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) has extended the application deadline in its search for a new ICT executive.

Its General Manager ICT position became vacant in November 2009, when the former occupant resigned to relocate to the country.

According to DET's job description, the new hire would be tasked with managing 356 employees who were responsible for technologies that supported more than 1.5 million students in the state.

The successful candidate would report to CIO Stephen Wilson and play a key role in delivering Government initiatives, which could include the Digital Education Revolution and controversial MySchool project.

He or she would also oversee projects like the Learning Management and Business Reform (LMBR) system, which integrated department-wide information and was slated for implementation in early 2010.

As with other senior executive service positions at DET, the general manager contract could span up to five years.

The position paid a maximum package of $231,950 and required "substantial" executive-level management experience, tertiary qualifications in a technology-related discipline, as well as qualifications or sufficient experience in managment or education.

When the job was first advertised in January 2010, the call for applications was expected to close on 19 February.

The deadline was extended to 1 March in response to requests from applicants and because the "original advertisement on public sites was difficult to find", a DET spokesperson said.