Director, CEO Office

Australian Sports Commission; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Sports Commission in Canberra seeks a Director, CEO Office to coordinate government engagement, enterprise strategy and high‑level projects. The role provides strategic advice to the CEO and supports executive decision‑making with option‑driven recommendations.

You will anticipate issues, integrate cross‑organisation expertise, and deliver timely guidance on sensitive matters while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and governance standards.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate will have senior experience in government relations, public policy, a central agency, a ministerial office or a senior executive advisory environment.
• Highly developed strategic judgement and critical thinking with the ability to analyse complex matters, challenge assumptions and develop clear options and recommendations.
• Exceptional judgement, political awareness and discretion, including the ability to analyse complex information, test assumptions and provide independent and contestable advice on sensitive and high-risk matters.
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes and maintain effective relationships with senior government and organisational stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing concise and persuasive advice, briefings and speaking materials for a CEO, Board, Minister or senior executive.
• Strong knowledge of Australian Government processes and stakeholder environments.

Responsibilities

• The Director, CEO Office, is accountable for the effective coordination and delivery of government engagement, enterprise strategy, priority project and executive support functions.
• The role supports the CEO by integrating government engagement, strategic advice, executive coordination and project delivery activities.
• Working with independence, provide authoritative, timely and contestable advice to the CEO on complex matters affecting the ASC.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Government relations

Policy analysis

Stakeholder management

Written communication

Education

Tertiary qualifications in public policy, government, law, communications, business or related discipline

Job description

Australian Sports Commission – Canberra ACT

The Australian Sports Commission is embarking on the Green and Gold decade. An exciting time filled with international sporting competitions on home soil, including the Mens and Womens Rugby World Cup, and culminating in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have an ambitious new Strategic Vision and we need the best players on our team to help us deliver real results for the sporting sector and all Australians.

Are you up for the challenge?

About the team

The CEO Office sits at the centre of the ASC, connecting organisational priorities, government engagement, strategic opportunities and executive decision-making. Working closely with the CEO and leaders from across the organisation, the CEO Office helps ensure priorities remain visible, coordinated and focused on delivering the ASCs broader strategic agenda.

About the role

The Director, CEO Office, is accountable for the effective coordination and delivery of government engagement, enterprise strategy, priority project and executive support functions. The role supports the CEO by integrating government engagement, strategic advice, executive coordination and project delivery activities, ensuring CEO priorities are translated into coordinated organisational action.

Working with a high degree of independence, professional judgement and discretion, the Director provides authoritative, timely and contestable advice to the CEO on complex government, policy, stakeholder and organisational matters affecting the ASC. The role anticipates emerging issues and opportunities, integrates expertise from across the organisation and develops clear options and recommendations that support CEO and organisational decision-making.

About you

You will be a trusted strategic adviser, providing independent, timely and considered advice on complex government, policy, stakeholder and organisational matters. You’ll look beyond the immediate issue, anticipate emerging risks and opportunities, challenge thinking and draw together different perspectives to provide clear options and recommendations. You will bring political awareness, sound judgement and discretion, with the ability to build strong relationships and translate complex issues into clear, practical advice and action.

The successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated senior experience in government relations, public policy, a central agency, a ministerial office or a senior executive advisory environment.
• Highly developed strategic judgement and critical thinking, with the ability to analyse complex matters, challenge assumptions and develop clear options and recommendations.
• Exceptional judgement, political awareness and discretion, including the ability to analyse complex information, test assumptions and provide independent and contestable advice on sensitive and high-risk matters.
• Demonstrated ability to influence outcomes and maintain effective relationships with senior government and organisational stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing concise and persuasive advice, briefings and speaking materials for a CEO, Board, Minister or senior executive.
• Strong knowledge of Australian Government processes and stakeholder environments, including the respective roles of ministerial offices, portfolio departments and government agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex organisational input while maintaining clear accountability, effective governance and appropriate clearance arrangements.
• Strong organisational capability, including the ability to prioritise competing demands, undertake forward planning, monitor commitments and escalat...

The below criteria are desired

• Tertiary qualifications in public policy, government, law, communications, business or a related discipline.
• A growth mindset and solutions focused approach, with the ability to anticipate opportunities, bring forward ideas and help shape solutions.
• Knowledge of the Australian sport system and the ASCs operating environment.
• Experience supporting parliamentary, Cabinet, Budget or Senate Estimates processes.
• Experience working directly with a departmental secretary, agency head, chief executive,
• minister, board or comparable senior decision-maker.

This role is offered as an ONGOING position.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where its offices are located, the Ngunnawal people and recognises any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the people of the Yugambeh Nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The ASC extends this acknowledgement to all the Traditional Custodians of the lands and First Nations peoples throughout Australia and would like to pay respects to all Elders past and present. The ASC recognises the outstanding contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make to society and sport in Australia and celebrates the power of sport to promote reconciliation and reduce inequality.