Assistant Director

Council Jobs; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 128,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Council Jobs in Canberra is seeking an Assistant Director-style candidate for the Justice and Community Safety directorate. You will help develop and implement strategic policy initiatives that enhance community safety and support vulnerable people within the justice system.

The role focuses on policy research, analysis, and the preparation of briefs and submissions, with cross-agency collaboration and potential involvement in emergency response planning.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in criminology, law, social science or a related field.
• Ability to be recalled to duty, including after hours and weekends.
• Eligibility to work in the ACT Public Service (citizenship/residency/visa as required).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic policy initiatives and funding arrangements to improve community safety.
• Conduct policy research and analysis and prepare high-quality briefs and submissions.
• Support governance arrangements across government and advise on policing policy.
• Collaborate with government agencies and community partners to deliver outcomes.
• Assist whole-of-government disaster and crisis management during significant emergencies.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Strategic thinking

Written and verbal communication

Education

Criminology or Law or Social Science degree

Job description

Classification: Senior Officer Grade C
Salary: $127,597 - $136,873 plus superannuation
Position No: 11083
Directorate: Justice and Community Safety
Advertised (Gazettal date): 02 November 2026
Contact Officer: Victor Khaw on***********@act.gov.auor(02) 6205 3***

Details: The Assistant Director, Crime Prevention and Policing, will support the Director, Crime Prevention and Policing in the development and implementation of strategic policy initiatives, programs and funding arrangements that enhance community safety and improve outcomes for vulnerable people in contact with the justice system. The role operates within the Public Safety and Emergency Management Branch and contributes to the delivery of evidence-based justice policy and programs that are culturally safe, restorative, gender and trauma informed.

Working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, the Assistant Director will undertake policy research and analysis, develop strategic advice, prepare high-quality briefs and submissions, and support governance arrangements across government. The Assistant Director will provide advice on policing policy and support negotiating and managing the ACT Government’s arrangements for ACT Policing

The position requires strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with government agencies, community organisations and other partners to deliver meaningful justice and community safety outcomes. The successful applicant may also be required to support whole-of-government response and recovery activities during significant emergencies.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where people with diverse thoughts, lived experience, and perspectives can thrive and contribute their unique talents to the ACTPS and ACT community. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans, younger and older workers, and people with diverse genders, sexes and sexualities to apply.

The position would suit candidates with diverse experience and expertise including criminology and sociology, social policy development, legal qualifications or program development and management.

Our hybrid work policy allows flexibility while maintaining collaboration.

Eligibility/Other requirements:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in criminology, law, social science or a related field, or significant study towards gaining qualifications, would be highly desirable.
• The ability, as required, to be recalled to duty - including working out of hours or on weekends to support the Public Safety and Emergency Management Branch’s whole-of-government disaster and crisis management functions.
• To be eligible for permanent or temporary employment within the ACT Public Service (ACTPS) you must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or hold a valid work visa. If an officer no longer holds a visa that permits them to work in Australia, their employment with the ACT Public Service (ACTPS) will be terminated.

Note: A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months.

This position is in a workplace designed for activity-based working (ABW). Under ABW arrangements, officers will not have a designated workstation/desk.

Opportunities for flexible working options could include hybrid working, being a combination of working from home, designated office based and FlexiSpace working locations across the ACT, part‑time hours, job‑sharing, flexible start, and finish times.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal.