Assistant Secretary, Executive Project Director

Department of Education and Training of Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 260,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education and Training of Australia in Canberra is seeking an Executive Project Director to lead the Ngurra Project, a major cultural precinct for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You will guide a multidisciplinary team to deliver the project on time, within budget, and to required quality with a safety-first mindset.

The role requires strategic governance, risk management, and collaboration with constructors, advisors and government partners, plus representation in

Responsibilities

• Leading, mentoring and motivating a multidisciplinary team to achieve high performance across project delivery.
• Delivering a fit-for-purpose project on-time and on-budget with safety and innovation in mind.
• Providing senior strategic leadership to establish governance and monitor work plans.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance, approvals, and alignment with government policies and standards.
• Maintaining accountability for outcomes and mitigating risks to delivery and reputation.
• Overseeing coordination of dependencies across related projects and resolving conflicts.
• Representing the project in senior government forums and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
• Providing timely and well-judged advice and support to Finance leadership.

Job description

• Commercial Group / Major Projects Division
• Ongoing & Non-ongoing | Full-time

ABOUT THE DIVISION

Within Commercial Group, Major Projects Division is responsible for developing and delivering major capital works projects on behalf of Commonwealth agencies. Key projects currently underway are:

• The National Security Office Precinct located at York Park in Barton, ACT will provide a permanent solution to the critical accommodation and capability requirements of several national security and other Commonwealth agencies including the Office of National Intelligence and parts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• The Ngurra Precinct Project (the Project) is a cultural precinct to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Comprising of the National Resting Place and a National Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Centre, Ngurra will be designed and run by AIATSIS, with the Finance Department to lead the delivery of the Project during the construction phase.

• Canberra, ACT

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a motivated, experienced and highly skilled individual to take up the role of Executive Project Director to the Ngurra Project. The Executive Project Director will be responsible for the delivery of the Project. This will include:

• Leading, mentoring and motivating a multidisciplinary team to achieve high levels of performance across delivery of the Project;
• Delivering a fit-for-purpose Project, on-time, on-budget, to the required quality and with a safety and innovation mindset;
• Providing senior strategic project leadership to establish and operate a governance regime that ensures project delivery objectives by:
  • Working collaboratively with the Constructor/s and advisors to establish and maintain the Project’s work plans, and monitoring and reporting against work plans;
  • Ensuring the Project adheres to regulatory requirements and approvals, government policies and Australian Standards;
  • Maintaining accountability for Project outcomes, and anticipating and actively mitigating risks to Project delivery and reputation;
  • Implementing regular reviews and updates;
  • Overseeing coordination of dependencies across projects within and beyond the Program; and
  • Resolving conflicts that may arise.
• Implementing strategies for continuous improvement and professional development to enhance the capability of the project team;
• Representing the Project in a range of senior government forums as required;
• Maintaining productive working relationships with stakeholders across diverse levels and areas of government, industry and community organisations; and
• Providing direct, timely and well-judged advice and support to the Finance Executive.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a signature outcome for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and a significant infrastructure project for the Canberra region. In addition to what you bring to the Project, you will gain:

• Central agency experience helping Finance influence how the Government’s strategic policy priorities are developed and implemented across the Commonwealth
• A sophisticated understanding of the machinery of Government, the Federal Budget and related processes
• Strategic policy and financial management/analysis skills
• An opportunity to cultivate strong working relationships with Ministers’ Offices and Commonwealth agencies to collectively deliver the Federal Budget and related outcomes
• Experience working within Finance’s leadership team.

Given the requirements of the Project, this position is Canberra-based.

This selection process will also be used to establish a merit pool that may be used to fill roles as they become available within the following 18-month period.

DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION

For detailed information about this role including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

ELIGIBILITY ADVICE & CANDIDATE NOTES

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
• Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated in the downloadable job pack. All Finance staff are required to have a minimum baseline security clearance prior to commencement.
• This role is being advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing. Roles may be offered as either ongoing or non-ongoing subject to operational requirements. Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for a specified term of up to 12 months. Specified term vacancies may be extended up to a maximum period of 18 months.
• We encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with Disability, LGBTQI+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and mature aged people.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• For specific questions relating to this job vacancy (including requests for adjustments), please refer to the details on the contact officer located in the downloadable job pack.
• We can provide adjustments, including alternate formats of the application form, to the recruitment process for candidates including individuals with disability. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process (including alternate formats or have an enquiry about the support provided, please contact the SES Unit via [e-mail] or call [phone] between 8:30am - 5:00pm AEDT Monday to Friday.
• For questions relating to the online lodgement of your application, please email the SES Unit via [e-mail] or call [phone] between 8:30am - 5:00pm AEDT Monday to Friday.

Frequently Asked Questions Opens in new window

Frequently Asked Questions Opens in new window

People Capability Framework SES Band 1 Opens in new window

Job Pack Opens in new window

Job Pack Opens in new window