Director, Business Analysis and Cost Modelling

Department of Education and Training of Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Education and Training of Australia seeks an EL 2 Director, Business Analysis and Cost Modelling to provide strategic leadership for cost recovery through evidence-based analysis, activity-based costing and cost modelling.

The role oversees key deliverables, engages across business areas, and drives continuous improvement in costing methods, documentation and evidence to support departmental decision‑making and compliance with the Australian Government Charging Framework.

Job description

Director, Business Analysis and Cost Modelling

The Business Analysis and Cost Modelling Team is leading the department’s cost recovery maturity uplift through a rolling program of bottom‑up activity‑based costing, enhanced cost driver analysis and improved costing methodologies. The section is building sustainable capability to support transparent, evidence‑based and compliant cost recovery arrangements strengthening decision making and financial sustainability.

Why YOU are important to us and what impact will you have on the Finance & Investment Division and the departments’ goal.

Our division ensures the department remains financially sustainable, compliant, and well‑equipped to meet its goals. We provide expert financial advice, tools, and support to help teams manage budgets, make informed decisions, and use public resources responsibly. By partnering across the department, we help align financial processes with strategic priorities. We also support ministers and stakeholders with clear, accurate financial insights that drive effective policy and program delivery.

The Funding and Revenue Branch is responsible for leading and delivering cost recovery services and advice, external budgets and costing support, portfolio agency engagement on financial matters, levies policy and administration, levies compliance functions and oversee the delivery of the finance improvement strategy. Our work requires public service professionals in administrative, policy and financial roles that come together under the leadership of our directors. We are the perfect place to come if you are a policy, operational or administrative officer who is looking to add some corporate experience to your resume. Our work is often high profile, and we get to engage directly with the department's external stakeholders including industry, representative groups, and our Minister.

This is where you play an important role.

The EL 2 Director, Business Analysis and Cost Modelling provides strategic leadership to strengthen the department’s approach to cost recovery through evidence‑based business analysis, activity‑based costing and cost modelling. The role oversees key deliverables, supports engagement across business areas, and drives continuous improvement in costing methods, documentation and evidence to support departmental decision‑making and compliance with the Australian Government Charging Framework. The role requires strong financial and/or cost recovery acumen, sound judgement, accountability and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, influence senior stakeholders and deliver high‑quality outcomes in a complex and dynamic operating environment.

The role will include but not limited to:

Who we are looking for

Key skills and capabilities

Our ideal candidate will have:

Mandatory Qualifications:

VetPaths The Australian Public Service (APS) values the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that veterans gain during their Australian Defence Force (ADF) employment and encourage veterans to apply. Support may be available to veterans transitioning to meaningful APS careers through participation in VetPaths, which offers veterans an opportunity to participate in a six‑month program offering formal learning and development, career mentoring and activities for wellness and peer support. More information can be found here .

Please note that the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.