Assistant Director, Engagement

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

Job summary

ACT Government in Canberra seeks an Assistant Director, Engagement to strengthen the community voice in government decision-making and lead whole-of-government engagement initiatives. You will help embed a consistent and responsive approach to community involvement across agencies.

The role focuses on coordination, capability, continuous improvement and delivery across the ACT Public Service, supporting governance and YourSay Conversations, and contributing to professional development for

Qualifications

• Qualifications in engagement, communications, public policy, stakeholder engagement or a related discipline.
• Accreditation or qualifications under the Engage Institute (formerly IAP2) is highly desirable.
• Experience managing projects and delivering outcomes across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead whole-of-government engagement initiatives to strengthen how the ACT Government connects with the Canberra community.
• Support engagement governance across government and drive continuous improvement across practices.
• Oversee the YourSay Conversations platform and contribute to practitioner capability-building.

Job description

Classification: Senior Officer Grade C
Salary: $127,597 - $136,873 plus superannuation
Position No: 59258
Directorate: Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development
Advertised (Gazettal date): 23 October 2026

Details: We are reimagining how we engage with our community—and we're looking for someone who wants to help us lead that change.

About the role

Are you passionate about strengthening the community voice in government decision-making? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your work directly impacts how government connects with the people it serves?

CMTEDD Communications and Engagement is seeking an experienced and motivated Assistant Director, Engagement to help lead whole-of-government engagement initiatives. In this role you will play a central role in strengthening how the ACT Government connects with the Canberra community. You will work across the ACT Public Service to improve engagement practices, foster cultural change, and embed a more consistent and responsive approach to community involvement.

You will contribute to the implementation of a refreshed whole-of-government Engagement Framework, support key strategic projects, and help deliver engagement governance across government. You will also support a small team supporting the ACT Government's online engagement platform, YourSay Conversations, and contribute to professional development and capability-building initiatives for engagement practitioners across government.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the improvement of engagement practice across government and how we listen to, involve and respond to the Canberra community.

What we're looking for

We are seeking an experienced professional who can bring together people, ideas and projects to deliver meaningful outcomes. While an understanding of community engagement is important, this role is focused primarily on coordination, capability, continuous improvement and project delivery at a whole-of-government level.

• Experience leading and delivering complex projects in a dynamic environment.
• Strong understanding of community and stakeholder engagement practice.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• The ability to influence, collaborate and build partnerships across organisational boundaries
• Experience developing frameworks, guidance materials, governance processes or strategic initiative.
• Strong organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Most importantly, you'll be a proactive and collaborative professional who is motivated by improving government practice and achieving better outcomes for the community.

What we offer

• Influence engagement practice across the ACT Public Service.
• Lead projects with broad organisational impact.
• Work with a diverse range of stakeholders across government.
• Contribute to strategic reforms and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build your leadership capability in a supportive and collaborative environment.
• Help shape how government works with and listens to the Canberra community.

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.

Eligibility/Other Requirements

• Qualifications in engagement, communications, public policy, stakeholder engagement or a related discipline.
• Accreditation or qualifications under the Engage Institute (formerly the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2)) is highly desirable.
• Experience managing projects and delivering outcomes across multiple stakeholders.

Notes

This is a temporary position available immediately for a period of 12 months with the possibility of extension and/or permanency.

This role is in addition to the recently advertised position (closed) with the same title.

A merit pool may be established from this selection process and may be used to fill identical or similar vacancies over the next 12 months.

The selection process may include an interview, work-related assessment and referee checks.

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

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.

Closes: 06 November 2026