Director, Indigenous Electoral Participation Program – Affirmative Measures

Ourmob.com.au Chemistry Pty; Canberra; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Electoral Commission invites applications for the role of Director of the Indigenous Electoral Participation Program (IEPP). This national leadership position oversees a geographically dispersed team and in-community staff to improve electoral participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

You will establish partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Indigenous corporations and government agencies, harness evidence and stories of change, and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities central to design and delivery of AEC work.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the IEPP, including in-community staff and dispersed workforce.
• Establish, maintain and strengthen partnerships with Aboriginal organisations, Indigenous corporations, land councils and government agencies.
• Drive evidence-based decision making, including stories of change and place-based indicators.
• Contribute to governance, policy development and evaluation within the agency.
• Lead the branch and AEC Leadership Teams, fostering a proactive culture and professional development.

Skills

Relationship building with Indigenous/

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Policy development & evaluation

Effective communication

Change management

Negotiation

Team leadership

Education

Indigenous studies or community engagement/education qualifications

Job description

About the Team

The AEC's Indigenous Electoral Participation Program includes engagement and governance personnel as well as in-community staff. It is a large team delivering meaningful outcomes. The team is innovative, collaborative both internally and externally, and works in close alignment with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The team delivers real benefits through a community-led approach. Taking an innovative approach to community-level partnerships, they and their partners are integrating enrolment and electoral conversations into normal service delivery, education, employment programs, youth activities and community gatherings. IEPP partnerships are one of the primary mechanisms through which the IEPP achieves its outcomes as they provide the reach, trust, cultural authority and local knowledge required to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to participate in Australia’s elections.

The Opportunity

This role is an affirmative measures position, specifically designated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, therefore this vacancy is only open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the AEC and contribute to work that has a direct impact on Australia's democratic processes.

As Director of the AEC's Indigenous Electoral Participation Program (IEPP), you will have the opportunity to build on the AEC's success in supporting electoral participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As the national Director of the IEPP, you will also oversee a geographically dispersed workforce and the work of in-community staff. Your knowledge and expertise will help the AEC make Australian elections more accessible and inclusive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

You will use the significant insights provided by our partners and staff to drive the program’s long-term vision and identify opportunities to further remove barriers to participation. You will establish, maintain and strengthen strategic partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Indigenous corporations, land councils, peak bodies, service providers and government agencies. Further, you will drive the use of quantitative and qualitative evidence, including stories of change, place-based indicators and data, ensuring alignment with relevant governance principles.

In this role, you will contribute as a member of the Branch and AEC Leadership Teams, ensuring the branch maintains a strong strategic focus, fostering a proactive and inquisitive culture, and championing service design and human-centred outcomes.

To excel you’ll have:

We are seeking a motivated and capable professional who can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience required to perform successfully in this role, including:

• Extensive experience in building and sustaining relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, ensuring their insights and perspectives are central to the design and delivery of AEC work with communities.
• An ability to communicate genuinely and intently with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and to build trust and rapport through consistent leadership behaviours, authenticity and openness in communication.
• Ability to provide high-quality and timely advice, guidance and reporting to the Senior Executive cohort and the Electoral Commissioner in relation to section responsibilities.
• Proven ability to develop and manage key strategic internal and external relationships. This includes promoting, representing and negotiating on behalf of the AEC in various forums.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of agency policy.
• Ability to progress activities where ambiguity exists, proactively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to achieve strategic outcomes.
• Proven ability to successfully manage and deliver results within tight timeframes and competing priorities.
• Proven ability to communicate with influence, negotiate outcomes and manage complex stakeholder relationships, including across a geographically dispersed network.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage staff when change is a constant, while proactively supporting a positive team culture and developing capabilities, encouraging career development, and embedding professionalism.

Desirable

• You have relevant qualifications in Indigenous studies or community engagement/education.
• Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, relevant legislation, programs and policies.

Eligibility

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.

Contact: Holly Castro, 02 5137 2049, [e-mail]

Due Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026, 11:59pm AEDT