Assistant Director-General

Queensland Government; City of Brisbane; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Queensland Government is seeking an accomplished executive to lead QBuild through its next phase of operational, commercial and cultural maturity.

Reporting to the Deputy Director-General, Public Works, you will provide statewide leadership, balance public value with financial performance, and drive safety, governance and workforce capability.

You will engage with Ministers, local governments and unions to deliver high‑quality services across metropolitan, regional and remote communities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a large, complex and geographically dispersed workforce.

Responsibilities

• Drive statewide operational performance and service delivery outcomes.
• Ensure commercial sustainability, financial stewardship and strong business performance.
• Provide strategic advice on infrastructure, asset management, procurement and service delivery matters.
• Lead workforce capability, safety, organisational culture and employee relations initiatives.
• Build productive relationships with government agencies, local governments, elected representatives, unions, industry partners and community stakeholders.
• Support the ongoing modernisation of systems, processes and business practices.
• Maintain strong governance, probity and risk management frameworks.
• Champion a culture where safety, accountability and respectful behaviours remain non-negotiable.

Skills

Proven experience leading large, range

Job description

• Lead one of Queensland Government's largest operational businesses
• Shape strategy, culture, safety and business performance
• Regional Queensland candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

QBuild is one of Queensland's largest and most diverse operational service delivery businesses, employing more than 2,000 people across metropolitan, regional and remote communities and managing an annual budget exceeding $1.7 billion. The organisation occupies a unique position within government, combining commercial disciplines with public purpose to deliver building maintenance, construction, asset management and training services across the state.

An opportunity now exists for an accomplished executive to lead QBuild through its next phase of operational, commercial and cultural maturity.

Reporting to the Deputy Director-General, Public Works, the Assistant Director-General is accountable for the statewide leadership of QBuild, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver high-quality services while maintaining commercial sustainability and alignment with government priorities.

This is a role that requires both strategic perspective and operational judgement.

On any given day, you may be contributing to long-term workforce and business transformation initiatives, engaging with Ministers, local governments and senior stakeholders, overseeing significant financial and operational performance outcomes, negotiating complex issues with unions, or responding to sensitive client matters requiring pragmatic leadership.

The breadth of the portfolio demands an executive who understands that success comes from balancing commercial performance, public sector accountability, workforce leadership and customer outcomes.

What You'll Lead

You will provide executive leadership across a geographically dispersed workforce and be responsible for:

• Driving statewide operational performance and service delivery outcomes.
• Ensuring commercial sustainability, financial stewardship and strong business performance.
• Providing strategic advice on infrastructure, asset management, procurement and service delivery matters.
• Leading workforce capability, safety, organisational culture and employee relations initiatives.
• Building productive relationships with government agencies, local governments, elected representatives, unions, industry partners and community stakeholders.
• Supporting the ongoing modernisation of systems, processes and business practices.
• Maintaining strong governance, probity and risk management frameworks.
• Championing a culture where safety, accountability and respectful behaviours remain non-negotiable.

About You

The successful executive will understand the nuances of operating within a government-owned service delivery environment where stakeholder management, public accountability, governance and workforce leadership are equally as important as operational outcomes.

You Will Bring

• Proven experience leading a large, complex and geographically dispersed workforce.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance service delivery, financial performance and public value.
• Experience working within government, statutory authorities, utilities, regulated environments or similarly complex stakeholder settings.
• Exceptional relationship management skills and the capacity to engage confidently across senior government, local governments, industry and workforce stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability managing union relationships and industrial matters with confidence, firmness and respect.
• Experience leading cultural and organisational change while maintaining workforce engagement.
• Sound judgement, resilience and the ability to navigate both strategic and operational challenges.
• A strong commitment to health, safety, wellbeing, ethical leadership and professional standards.

Experience across infrastructure maintenance, asset management, facilities management, utilities, construction services or similar operational environments will be highly regarded.

Applications close: Midnight, Sunday 11th October 2026

Occupational group

Construction & Architecture