Assistant Director-General Operations - SES Band 1

Australian Secret Intelligence Service; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Secret Intelligence Service seeks an experienced Senior leader for the role of Assistant Director-General Operations. The position drives strategic direction, manages an operational branch and coordinates diverse intelligence activities to deliver outcomes for the Australian Government.

The role requires high-pressure leadership, robust risk management, and effective stakeholder engagement across national and international partners.

Qualifications

• Experience directing intelligence programs and teams at senior levels.
• Strong strategic thinking with ability to translate government priorities into operational plans.
• Proven ability to manage risk, budgets and resources in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the support to and coordination of a diverse program of intelligence activities.
• Lead and set direction for the Operational Branch and its staff.
• Contribute to ASIS’s overall strategic direction and objectives.
• Build and sustain senior-level professional relationships with customers and stakeholders.
• Manage Branch resources, including people, finances, technology and other assets.

Skills

SES Band 1 leadership

Strategic leadership

Intelligence operations

Stakeholder management

Cross-cultural collaboration

Resource management

Education

Executive Level 2 leadership

Leadership experience in intelligence

National security understanding

Job description

Assistant Director-General Operations - SES Band 1

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.

Role responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the Assistant Director-General Operations role 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 outcomes
  • Representing 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

We encourage applicants with the following skills and attributes to apply:

• 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

The following education, qualifications and/or experience are mandatory:

• 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

To be eligible for a role you must:

• 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