Director, Workforce

Australian Energy Regulator; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) invites applications for the Director - Workforce role to lead the evolution of operational HR functions and set contemporary workforce strategies. You will guide capability, recruitment, payroll and reporting, translating data into strategic advice for senior leaders.

As a trusted advisor, you will shape governance, policy, and reporting, while building a high-performing, inclusive team across the agency.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience developing and leading multidisciplinary HR teams and building a high-performing culture.
• Experience developing better practice services, systems and procedures across HR disciplines including payroll and recruitment.
• Experience delivering strategic workforce plans aligned to agency priorities and future needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams to define and embed better practice services, systems and practices across Capability, Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Reporting.
• Establish governance, policies and reporting frameworks; develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
• Oversee Capability, Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Reporting to ensure effectiveness and compliance.
• Lead agency-wide workforce planning and capability initiatives, including the AER Workforce Plan.
• Oversee development of the AER’s capability framework and leadership development initiatives.

Skills

Multidisciplinary HR teams

Payroll experience

Recruitment experience

Strategic workforce planning

Policy and governance

Education

Tertiary qualifications in psychology or human resources

AHRI accreditation or equivalent experience

Job description

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) works to make energy consumers better off, now and in the future. We focus on ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable energy future for Australia as it transitions to net zero emissions.

We regulate electricity networks and covered gas pipelines, in all jurisdictions except Western Australia. We set the amount of revenue that network businesses can recover from customers for using these networks.

From 1 July 2026, the AER structurally separated from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and transitioned into a standalone non-corporate Commonwealth entity with its own accountable authority, staff and budgetary control.

The separation of the AER from the ACCC is a significant regulatory reform aimed at improving the governance and operational autonomy of the AER, and is an exciting time to join us and help shape our new agency.

THE OPPORTUNITY

On 1 July 2026, the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission legally separated. The AER has established and is operating foundational human resources services, systems, processes and practices. Initially, the Director - Workforce’s priority will be to lead the evolution of operational human resources functions from foundational services, systems, practices and procedures to a high performing human resources operation.

As better practice services, systems, process and practices are embedded, the Director - Workforce will lead the design and delivery of contemporary workforce strategies that ensure the AER can attract, develop and retain the skills and capability required to deliver its strategic priorities. This will require the Director - Workforce to work collaboratively across the AER and provide strategic advice to senior leaders on workforce trends, requirements, risks and strategies.

Working under broad guidance and exercising discretion the Director - Workforce will:

• lead teams to define and embed better practice services, systems, process and practices across the Capability, Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Reporting functions.
• establish governance, policies, processes and reporting frameworks across the portfolio, while leading and developing a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
• oversee the Capability, Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Reporting functions to ensure these functions are effective, efficient and adhere to all applicable legislative, industrial instrument and policy requirements.
• lead agency-wide workforce planning and capability initiatives, including the design and delivery of the AER Workforce Plan, to support strategic priorities and future workforce needs
• oversee the development and delivery of the AER’s capability framework, leadership development and professional development initiatives
• lead APS Census, workforce reporting and analytics, translating data and insights into actionable advice for senior leaders
• provide high-level strategic advice to the Executive General Manager, General Manager Corporate and Senior Leadership Team and senior stakeholders on workforce strategy, capability, resourcing and emerging people risk.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We invite applications from people with the following experience, skills and attributes:

• Demonstrated experience developing and leading multidisciplinary HR teams, building capability and creating a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing better practice services, systems, practices and procedures across multiple human resource disciplines. Preferably including payroll and recruitment.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic workforce, recruitment, capability and talent strategies aligned to agency priorities and future workforce needs
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in psychology, human resources, AHRI accreditation and/or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ability to deliver discrete projects through defined project methodologies including workforce restructures, strategic workforce plans, briefing papers and packs for Boards and Senior Executives.
• Australian Citizenship – our successful candidate must be an Australian Citizen
• Security clearance – our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the required level
• Employment check – your suitability for employment will be assessed through a screening process.

CONTACT OFFICER AND CLOSING DATE

For further information about the role, please contact Matthew Defaweux on [phone]. Applications close at 11.30pm AEST Sunday 27 September 2026.

To learn more about working at the AER, please visit Working at the AER | Australian Energy Regulator (AER)