EL1 - Assistant Director / Program Manager, Land Transport Infrastructure Division, Affirmative Measures, First Nations

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Sydney is recruiting an EL1 Assistant Director / Program Manager in the Land Transport Infrastructure Division, with a focus on affirmative measures and First Nations engagement.

The role covers leadership of major programs, policy development and governance across national infrastructure investments.

Qualifications

• Proven strategic leadership and program management skills.
• Ability to engage, influence and negotiate with senior executives.
• Experience embedding First Nations perspectives into policy and delivery.
• Strong governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Leadership of cross-branch policy development and reform initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financials, risk and delivery of nationally significant projects across a state or territory.
• Assess, prepare advice and report on existing and future infrastructure investments.
• Lead program reviews and governance meetings with key partners.
• Maintain relationships with state, territory and local government counterparts.
• Embed First Nations perspectives into infrastructure policy and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide high-level secretariat support and input to program meetings.
• Draft briefings for Ministers and Central agencies; support media products.
• Oversee quality assurance and fact-checking of official communications.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Risk management

People management

Executive engagement

Cultural capability

Job description

EL1 - Assistant Director / Program Manager, Land Transport Infrastructure Division, affirmative measures, First Nations

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Sydney NSW

We have a range of roles available at the heart of infrastructure investment delivery and policy, where your ideas and energy can truly make a difference. LTID is full of diverse and meaningful opportunities where no two days are the same:

• The State Infrastructure Investment Branches (NSW/ACT, VIC/TAS/SA, WA/NT) are turning big ideas into bridges, roads and future-proof projects in cooperation with our delivery partners in states and territory governments. We juggle the dollars, tame the risks and keep projects on track across the country. We help guide the Australian Government on what should be built next to keep the nation moving forward.
• The Budget, Policy & Assurance Branch is where strategy meets action. You'll be part of a high-impact team that shapes national land transport investments and works closely with Ministers, Infrastructure Australia, and key stakeholders. It’s a fast-paced and politically significant environment that’s perfect for people who thrive under pressure and want to be part of something big. * Note: Because of the nature of the work, this branch is primarily based in our Canberra office, right at the heart of decision-making. *
• The Infrastructure Investment Reform Branch is all about improving our frameworks and shaping the future. If you enjoy working collaboratively with stakeholders to turn big-picture ideas into practical reform, this is where you’ll thrive. You’ll help implement the government’s reform agenda, support strategic policy development and provide critical analysis that informs national infrastructure planning.
• The QLD Infrastructure Investment and Brisbane 2032 Games Venues Branch is where you will shape the land transport future of Queensland and support delivery of venues for a landmark global event. From keeping key regional connections like the Bruce Highway moving to delivering major regional and urban rail projects, we handle a massive pipeline of critical works. This team is at the forefront of the historic Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The opportunity we have available

We have a range of roles available at the heart of infrastructure investment delivery and policy, where your ideas and energy can truly make a difference. LTID is full of diverse and meaningful opportunities where no two days are the same:

• The State Infrastructure Investment Branches (NSW/ACT, VIC/TAS/SA, WA/NT) are turning big ideas into bridges, roads and future-proof projects in cooperation with our delivery partners in states and territory governments. We juggle the dollars, tame the risks and keep projects on track across the country. We help guide the Australian Government on what should be built next to keep the nation moving forward.
• The Budget, Policy & Assurance Branch is where strategy meets action. You'll be part of a high-impact team that shapes national land transport investments and works closely with Ministers, Infrastructure Australia, and key stakeholders. It’s a fast-paced and politically significant environment that’s perfect for people who thrive under pressure and want to be part of something big. * Note: Because of the nature of the work, this branch is primarily based in our Canberra office, right at the heart of decision-making. *
• The Infrastructure Investment Reform Branch is all about improving our frameworks and shaping the future. If you enjoy working collaboratively with stakeholders to turn big-picture ideas into practical reform, this is where you’ll thrive. You’ll help implement the government’s reform agenda, support strategic policy development and provide critical analysis that informs national infrastructure planning.
• The QLD Infrastructure Investment and Brisbane 2032 Games Venues Branch is where you will shape the land transport future of Queensland and support delivery of venues for a landmark global event. From keeping key regional connections like the Bruce Highway moving to delivering major regional and urban rail projects, we handle a massive pipeline of critical works. This team is at the forefront of the historic Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The key duties of the position include:

What you will do

This is a bulk recruitment round to support a variety of opportunities at the EL1 Assistant Director level across the division.

Within the VIC, TAS & SA, WA & NT, NSW & ACT Infrastructure Investment and QLD & Brisbane 2032 Games Venues Infrastructure branches, you will:

• Lead and manage the financials, risk and delivery of nationally significant infrastructure projects across a particular state or territory, including projects such as:
  • Coffs Harbour Bypass (NSW)
  • Bruce Highway Upgrade Program (QLD)
  • Melbourne Airport Rail (VIC)
  • North-South Corridor (SA)
  • Tonkin Highway Corridor (WA)
  • Canberra Light Rail Stage 2A (ACT)
  • New Bridgewater Bridge (TAS)
  • Outback Way (NT)
• Assess, prepare advice and report on Australian Government existing and future infrastructure investments
• Lead and undertake reviews of programs, and project governance meetings
• Maintain and leverage productive working relationships with state, territory, and local government counterparts
• Support the department’s commitments to the National Closing the Gap Agreement and the Our Stories on Country Agreement by embedding First Nations perspectives into infrastructure policy, program delivery, and stakeholder engagement
• Provide high-level secretariat support and input to State and Territory program meetings
• Provide key program governance functions to LTID to support the delivery of the IIP
• Draft and clear complex briefings to support Ministers, Departmental Executive and Central agencies, including for Senate Estimates, Question Time Briefs and Question on Notice
• Oversee the quality assurance, fact checking and preparation of media products such as media releases, talking points and event briefings.

Within the Budget Policy & Assurance and Infrastructure Reform branches you will:

• Lead the management and reporting on the overall financials for the Australian Government’s Investments within the Infrastructure Investment pipeline
• Provide key advice to government and executives to enable decision making on the government’s Infrastructure investments to develop Australia’s land transport network
• Administer the National Land Transport Act 2014 and Federation Funding Agreement Schedule
• Drive the strategic management and development of the First Nations Participation policy, including processing of Participation Plans and stakeholder engagement
• Provide advice on whole-of-government policy
• Provide policy advice and formulate strategy for land transport infrastructure investments and the Government’s Infrastructure Policy Statement
• Coordinate and develop biannual infrastructure Investment Cabinet submissions at the Federal Budget and MYEFO periods
• Manage robust governance and risk frameworks for land transport infrastructure investments.

Inherent requirements for the role

The inherent requirements for this role include:

• The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the EL1 Work level standards.
• Proven strategic leadership and program management skills, including a clear ability to develop, interpret, and embed complex public policies and operational frameworks.
• Effective people management and leadership skills, with a track record of building positive team culture, managing performance, and mitigating project risk.
• Demonstrated high-level capability to engage, influence, and negotiate officially with senior level executives, state jurisdictions, and corporate delivery partners.

Desirable requirements

Qualifications or extensive practical experience in public policy, project management, financial/data analysis, commerce, legal frameworks, or engineering/infrastructure delivery is highly desirable but not mandatory.

Cultural capability requirement

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community.Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

• Lead the integration of cultural considerations into work area outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.
• Champion cultural capability within teams and challenges culturally unsafe practices.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements

• Be an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person
• Identify as an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person, and
• Be accepted by their community as being an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person

For more information please visit - Affinitive measure for recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A guide for applicants.

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
• Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline level. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances.More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
• Police check: The successful candidate must complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
• Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.

Getting to know the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Our work connects and enriches every Australian community, underpins our economy and society, and empowers our regions. We provide policy advice and deliver programs, projects and services in the infrastructure, transport, communications, sport and arts sectors, supporting our regions, cities and territories. Our staff have the opportunity to work on high profile and diverse national projects that have a meaningful impact on the lives of all Australians. We seek people with a wide range of skills and competencies. Whether you write policy, deliver programs, projects or corporate services, or have experience in research, data or technology, we look for employees who are innovative, respectful and professional. We are an inclusive employer and promote, value and support diversity among our employees with the aim of ensuring our workforce reflects, respects and benefits from diverse communities including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, people with disability and LGBTQI+ people. We are committed to achieving gender equality and, in particular, supporting women’s progression into senior leadership.