Director, Innovation and AI Transformation

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR); Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) in Sydney seeks a Director, Innovation and AI Transformation to drive the department's adoption of emerging technologies, AI and innovative delivery approaches to improve services and organisational capability.

You will work with senior leaders to set direction and lead high-visibility initiatives, building practical knowledge of generative AI and responsible AI across policy, technology and service delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience leading AI-enabled transformation and innovation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to translate ideas into scalable, impactful outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of AI, innovation and emerging technology initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI to improve policy delivery and operations.
• Embed governance for safe, ethical, and responsible use of AI and tech.
• Lead experiments, proofs-of-concept and innovation programs into scalable outcomes.
• Provide strategic advice on technology trends, risks and opportunities.
• Foster innovation capability across the Department through partnerships and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and prioritise opportunities and investments.
• Provide leadership and advisory support to senior executives on digital transformation.

Job description

Director, Innovation and AI Transformation

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) – Sydney NSW

Reporting to the Assistant Secretary, Innovation, Design and Delivery, the Director, Innovation and AI Transformation is responsible for driving the Department's adoption of emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and innovative delivery approaches to improve services, business outcomes and organisational capability.

Our Innovation and AI Transformation team leads the department’s exploration and adoption of AI and other emerging technologies. The team identifies opportunities where new technology can deliver meaningful value, support experimentation and rapid prototyping, and help translate successful ideas into sustainable changes to services, processes and ways of working. The team also helps build the capabilities, partnerships and approaches needed for the department to innovate safely and effectively.

The successful candidate will work directly with senior leaders to set direction, and progress high visibility work that delivers on the outcomes of the DEWR AI Strategy. This role will give you experience leading AI-enabled transformation and innovation, including identifying opportunities, testing ideas and helping successful initiatives move towards implementation. You will also build practical knowledge of generative AI and emerging technologies, responsible AI, governance and risk, while developing stronger skills in product thinking, experimentation and human-centred design.

The role will provide experience leading multidisciplinary teams and working across technology, policy, service delivery and corporate functions to solve complex problems. It will also strengthen SES communication and engagement, as you work with your team to influence decisions and provide visibility of the enterprise AI transformation work program to the AI Transformation Committee and Secretary.

Reporting to the Assistant Secretary, Innovation, Design and Delivery, the Director, Innovation and AI Transformation is responsible for driving the Department's adoption of emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and innovative delivery approaches to improve services, business outcomes and organisational capability.

Our Innovation and AI Transformation team leads the department’s exploration and adoption of AI and other emerging technologies. The team identifies opportunities where new technology can deliver meaningful value, support experimentation and rapid prototyping, and help translate successful ideas into sustainable changes to services, processes and ways of working. The team also helps build the capabilities, partnerships and approaches needed for the department to innovate safely and effectively.

The successful candidate will work directly with senior leaders to set direction, and progress high visibility work that delivers on the outcomes of the DEWR AI Strategy. This role will give you experience leading AI-enabled transformation and innovation, including identifying opportunities, testing ideas and helping successful initiatives move towards implementation. You will also build practical knowledge of generative AI and emerging technologies, responsible AI, governance and risk, while developing stronger skills in product thinking, experimentation and human-centred design.

The role will provide experience leading multidisciplinary teams and working across technology, policy, service delivery and corporate functions to solve complex problems. It will also strengthen SES communication and engagement, as you work with your team to influence decisions and provide visibility of the enterprise AI transformation work program to the AI Transformation Committee and Secretary.

The key duties of the position include:

Responsibilities of the EL2, Innovation and AI Transformation role may include:

• Lead the development and implementation of the Department's AI, innovation and emerging technology initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI and digital innovation to improve policy delivery, operational performance and service delivery outcomes.
• Embed governance approaches that support the safe, ethical and responsible use of AI and emerging technologies.
• Lead experimentation, proof-of-concepts and innovation programs, translating successful initiatives into scalable business outcomes.
• Provide strategic advice on emerging technology trends, risks and opportunities.
• Foster innovation capability across the Department through thought leadership, partnerships and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to identify and prioritise innovation opportunities and investment decisions.
• Provide strategic leadership and authoritative advice to senior executives on complex digital, technology and business transformation matters.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to achieve high-quality outcomes in a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing environment.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and organisational capability uplift.

Eligibility

Please note, under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency delegate has agreed, in writing.

This is a designated security assessed position. The successful candidate will have the ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

This selection process may be used to establish a merit pool. The pool might be accessed to fill ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies for similar roles in the Department over the next 18 months.

Getting to know the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

We are the department that helps job seeking Australians find safe, secure, and well-paid work while we ourselves strive to be a model employer. We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or retraining to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.Secure jobs are vital—driving future economic growth and providing people with the certainty. We focus on connecting Australians who are starting, advancing or changing their career with the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to gain or regain employment.Our work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. It is our unique purpose to help people realise their potential and we want you to be part of it.Underpinning our important work is our focus on culture. We recognise that how we do things is equally important as what we achieve. Our workplace is one where different perspective are encouraged, people feel a sense of belonging and draw on the expertise of their peers. Our people demonstrate the APS Values, which includes being open, thoughtful, curious and candid. We also value employee wellbeing and developing leadership through investment in capability.

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