Assistant Director-General Operations

Australian Secret Intelligence Service; Canberra; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Secret Intelligence Service seeks an Assistant Director-General Operations to lead its Operational Branch, delivering high‑level intelligence outcomes for government priorities. The role requires strategic direction, senior leadership, and collaboration across the Service, with exposure to international engagement and cross‑agency coordination.

The successful candidate will drive planning, compliance, and resource management, ensuring effective use of people, money, and assets while

Qualifications

• Experience in planning, conduct and management of intelligence operations.
• Proven leadership delivering intelligence outcomes at senior levels.
• Strong understanding of national security issues.

Responsibilities

• Oversee support and coordination of a diverse program of intelligence activities.
• Ensure complex operational planning and risk management aligned with government requirements.
• Lead and set direction for the Operational Branch and its staff.
• Support operational outcomes contributing to national interests.
• Ensure branch outcomes comply with regulatory frameworks.
• Contribute to ASIS’s strategic direction and decision making as part of SLT.
• Build senior-level relationships with customers and stakeholders.
• Promote Whole-of-Government intelligence outcomes domestically and overseas.

Skills

SES-level leadership

Intelligence operations

Strategic direction

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Policy & compliance

Job description

Assistant Director-Generals are senior leaders within ASIS responsible for strategically leading their function to deliver on key organisational objectives.

The role of Assistant Director-General Operations requires an ability to thrive in a demanding and high-pressure environment, to manage a range of capabilities and resources and to enable the delivery of successful operational outcomes in response to priority government requirements.

The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute actively to the broader strategic leadership of ASIS as key members of its Senior Leadership Team.

The successful applicant will have extensive experience in the planning, conduct and management of intelligence operations; and have a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively, anticipate opportunities, encourage creativity, resolve complex issues and provide outstanding strategic direction and leadership across the Branch and the Service.Communication skills of the highest order are an essential requirement, as is the ability to operate in accordance with, and actively promote, ASIS's values and ethical standards.

Given the nature of ASIS's work, effective and efficient management of our human, financial, communication, physical and other resources is fundamental to the success of the Service in delivering its unique product for the Australian Government.The position of influence that the successful candidate will occupy within the Service will reflect this importance and will be a guiding consideration during the selection process.

Assistant Director-Generals are senior leaders within ASIS responsible for strategically leading their function to deliver on key organisational objectives.

The role of Assistant Director-General Operations requires an ability to thrive in a demanding and high-pressure environment, to manage a range of capabilities and resources and to enable the delivery of successful operational outcomes in response to priority government requirements.

The successful applicant will also be expected to contribute actively to the broader strategic leadership of ASIS as key members of its Senior Leadership Team.

The successful applicant will have extensive experience in the planning, conduct and management of intelligence operations; and have a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively, anticipate opportunities, encourage creativity, resolve complex issues and provide outstanding strategic direction and leadership across the Branch and the Service.Communication skills of the highest order are an essential requirement, as is the ability to operate in accordance with, and actively promote, ASIS's values and ethical standards.

Given the nature of ASIS's work, effective and efficient management of our human, financial, communication, physical and other resources is fundamental to the success of the Service in delivering its unique product for the Australian Government.The position of influence that the successful candidate will occupy within the Service will reflect this importance and will be a guiding consideration during the selection process.

The key duties of the position include:

• Oversee the support to and coordination of a diverse program of intelligence activities.
• Ensuring complex operational planning, superior risk management, and compliance with relevant internal guidelines / policy and external legislation
• Lead and set direction for the Operational Branch and its staff
• Ensuring the support to and coordination of operational outcomes that contribute to the national interest in accordance with government priorities
• Ensuring branch outcomes are achieved in compliance with the regulatory framework in which ASIS operates
• Contribute to ASIS’s overall strategic direction and objectives
• Participating actively in the ASIS Senior Leadership Team, and contributing to strategic decision making
• Enacting ASIS strategic direction daily
• Build and sustain senior‑level professional relationships with customers and stakeholders
• Creating and contributing to cooperative relationships that facilitate Whole-of-Government intelligence outcomes in Australia and overseas
• Working effectively across cultural and social divides to deliver successful intelligence outcomesRepresenting ASIS at inter‑agency and international fora on key intelligence, policy and operational issues
• Manage Branch resources, including people, finances, technology and other assets
• Promoting an environment of ongoing staff engagement, innovation and professional excellence
• Ensuring efficient and effective use of all resources in line with approved budgets and plans
• Commitment to and promotion of the ASIS Values

Core skills

• Demonstrated performance at SES Band 1 level in accordance with APSC Integrated Leadership System, Work Level Standard and the Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours
• Proven ability to provide strategic direction and senior leadership, particularly in an intelligence capacity
• Experience in the planning, conduct and management of intelligence operations, including as an Executive Level 2 officer and overseas
• Exceptional people, leadership and change management skills
• Superior coaching and mentoring skills
• A demonstrated ability to deliver organisational and government outcomes against complex work programs
• An ability to build and maintain strategic relationships
• Demonstrated experience in managing corporate and operational risk

Education and qualification requirements

• Experience in the planning, conduct and management of intelligence operations, including as an Executive Level 2 officer and overseas.
• Experience planning, delivering and managing foreign intelligence operations is highly desirable.
• Considerable leadership experience in delivering intelligence outcomes
• A comprehensive understanding of national security issues
• Recent professional development.

Eligibility

• Be an Australian citizen
• Be assessed as suitable to hold and maintain a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access security clearance

For more information on eligibility please see the Protective Security Policy Framework which is publicly accessible at protectivesecurity.gov.au, Release 2026 section 18.5 provides information on Eligibility and suitability

The position is Canberra based, with conditions similar to those in the Australian Public service including superannuation.

Notes

ASIS is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for candidates to participate in all stages of the selection process. Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process and we will work with you to manage this throughout. If you are successful in gaining employment, reasonable adjustments can also be made available to you in performing your role.

Please note: ASIS does not provide feedback to applicants

Getting to know the Australian Secret Intelligence Service

ASIS is Australia’s overseas secret intelligence collection agency. Its mission is to protect and promote Australia’s vital interests through the provision of intelligence services as directed by the Government. Its work can involve collecting intelligence relating to national security, international relations and economic issues. It also contributes to Australia’s coordinated national efforts against terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and trans‑national issues such as people smuggling.