Director, Innovation and AI Transformation

Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; Waverley; On-site; AUD 152,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Bondi NSW, is seeking an EL2 Director for Innovation and AI Transformation. The role focuses on driving adoption of AI and emerging technologies to improve services and outcomes, reporting to the Assistant Secretary of Innovation, Design and Delivery.

The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams across policy, service delivery and technology, align with the DEWR AI Strategy, and advance responsible AI, governance and risk

Responsibilities

• 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.

Job description

Director, Innovation and AI Transformation

Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations – Bondi NSW

$152,362 - $182,891 a year

1d ago , from Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations

• $152,362 - $182,891

About the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as 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 re-training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the department of great jobs where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

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.

• Executive Level 2
• Brisbane, QLD; Canberra, ACT; Melbourne, VIC; Sydney, NSW
• $152,362 - $182,891

About the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as 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 re‑training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the department of great jobs where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

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.

• Executive Level 2
• Brisbane, QLD; Canberra, ACT; Melbourne, VIC; Sydney, NSW
• $152,362 - $182,891

Eligibility

Don’t meet all the role requirements?

At DEWR we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and seek to recruit staff with a wide range of backgrounds, skill levels, disciplines and working styles. If this role resonates with you and you are excited about making an impact, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance - our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role.