El1 Assistant Director Strategic Policy

HOBAN Recruitment; Canberra; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HOBAN Recruitment is seeking an EL1 Assistant Director Policy based in Deakin, ACT. This leadership role supports major reform programs and strategic initiatives within a federal government team.

You will lead policy analysis, influence stakeholders, and drive high-quality outcomes in a dynamic government environment. Australian citizenship and police check suitability are assumed. Applicants with disability and diverse backgrounds are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Experience leading strategic policy development and implementation.
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for government audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery and implementation of complex reform projects and policy initiatives.
• Provide strategic policy analysis and evidence-based recommendations.
• Prepare and review policy papers, reports, briefings, and correspondence.
• Engage with stakeholders to support policy implementation.
• Collect and analyse data to inform advice and decisions.
• Build stakeholder relationships across diverse environments.
• Lead engagement activities and consultation processes.
• Exercise sound judgement and manage risks in changing environments.
• Contribute to branch leadership and foster a high-performing team culture.

Skills

Policy development

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Communication

Governance

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

HOBAN Recruitment is seeking an experienced EL1 Assistant Director Policy to join a Federal Government team based in Deakin, ACT.

This leadership opportunity is ideal for a strategic policy professional with experience driving reform initiatives, leading high-performing teams, and managing complex stakeholder relationships in a government environment.

About the Role

As an EL1 Assistant Director Policy, you will provide leadership across policy development and implementation activities, supporting major reform programs and strategic initiatives. You will lead policy analysis, influence key stakeholders, and drive the delivery of high-quality outcomes in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and implementation of complex reform projects and policy initiatives.
• Provide strategic policy analysis and deliver evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead the preparation and review of policy papers, reports, briefings, presentations, and correspondence.
• Engage, influence, and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders to support policy implementation.
• Collect and analyse data to inform advice, decision-making, and strategic outcomes.
• Build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships across a broad range of environments.
• Lead engagement activities and consultation processes.
• Exercise sound judgement and manage risks in complex and changing environments.
• Contribute to branch leadership and foster a positive, high-performing team culture.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Experience leading strategic policy development and implementation.
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, particularly for government audiences.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Sound judgement, governance, and decision-making abilities.
• The ability to adapt to changing priorities and lead teams through complexity.
• Strategic policy and implementation experience.
• Experience leading public sector reform programs, projects, or initiatives.
• Knowledge of legislation, governance frameworks, or procurement processes.
• Experience within disability, social policy, or related sectors will be highly regarded.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience.
• Australian Citizenship is mandatory.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a National Police Check.

At HOBAN we encourage applications from people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people of all genders, LGBTI people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.