EL1 - Assistant Director, Web Services, ICT Operations

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Canberra; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is seeking an experienced Assistant Director to lead the Web Services Section. You will oversee governance, platform administration and service delivery for GovCMS and related web technologies, ensuring security, accessibility and alignment with departmental objectives.

You will build and lead a team of specialists, provide expert advice to stakeholders, and drive continual improvement across

Qualifications

• Experience leading web services, content management or enterprise platforms in a complex environment.
• Proven capability in governance, lifecycle management and service delivery for enterprise platforms.
• Strong understanding of accessibility (WCAG), information management, records management and cyber security requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Web Services Section, including workforce planning, staff leadership and performance management.
• Oversee delivery, governance and continual improvement of web services and content management capabilities.
• Manage GovCMS platform and associated technologies to ensure security, accessibility and operational sustainability.
• Lead governance and delivery activities for platform upgrades, integrations and changes affecting web services and publishing platforms.
• Build standards, policies and operating practices for web publishing and information publishing across the department.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

People management

Platform management

Service delivery

Cyber security awareness

Education

ICT or related field

Tools

GovCMS

Drupal

Job description

The opportunity we have available Organised within the Corporate and Territories Group, the Information Technology and Data Division’s purpose is to connect people and technology, empowering the department to excel. The division is responsible for the provision and support of stable and secure ICT systems, applications and services across the department, supporting staff across Australia, ministerial offices and portfolio entities. The division delivers the digital tools, services and infrastructure required to support departmental operations, collaboration and service delivery. The Web Services Section is responsible for the management, governance and delivery of the department's web services, content management and digital publishing capability. The section supports the department's online presence through the whole-of-government GovCMS platform and associated technologies, providing web publishing, content management, accessibility, platform administration, technical support and digital governance services. The section works closely with business areas, ICT teams, corporate functions, vendors and whole-of-government stakeholders to ensure web and content management services remain secure, accessible, compliant, sustainable and aligned with departmental objectives. We are seeking an experienced and motivated Assistant Director to lead the Web Services Section. This role combines operational leadership, people management, platform management, governance oversight and service delivery. You will be responsible for ensuring the department's web services and content management capability continue to meet organisational needs while supporting the department’s public-facing digital web presence. As the leader of the section, you will oversee the delivery, governance and continual improvement of the department's web services and content management capability, ensuring services remain effective, compliant and aligned with departmental requirements. You will oversee the GovCMS platform and associated services, manage a team of specialists, provide expert advice to stakeholders and ensure services remain secure, accessible, supportable and aligned with departmental and whole-of-government requirements. While the role supports the department's web publishing and content management capability, it is primarily a platform management, governance and service delivery role. The position focuses on governance, platform administration, service delivery, operational support, technology change, compliance and continual improvement of the department's GovCMS and associated web technologies. It is not primarily responsible for creating website content or communications products. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and improve the department's web services and content management capability, support digital governance outcomes, and deliver services that support both departmental operations and the Australian public.

What you will do

• Lead and manage the Web Services Section, including responsibility for workforce planning, staff leadership, performance management, capability development, financial management and resource allocation.
• Lead the delivery and ongoing improvement of the department's web services, content management and digital publishing capability, ensuring services support departmental priorities and business outcomes.
• Manage and govern the department's GovCMS platform and associated web and publishing technologies, ensuring services remain secure, accessible, supportable, compliant and operationally sustainable.
• Lead the delivery of web support, content management, digital publishing, developer services, advisory services and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Develop, maintain and promote standards, policies, procedures and operational practices supporting web publishing, content management and information publishing activities across the department.
• Ensure web and publishing services comply with accessibility requirements, information management obligations, records management requirements, cyber security controls, publishing standards and departmental governance frameworks.
• Provide expert advice regarding web services governance, digital publishing, GovCMS service management, platform capabilities, accessibility obligations and operational sustainability.
• Lead governance and approval activities associated with platform upgrades, service enhancements, integrations, content management initiatives and technology changes affecting web services and publishing platforms.
• Ensure proposed solutions comply with departmental architecture, change management, funding, security and operational support requirements.
• Evaluate operational, technical, security and support implications of technology initiatives and platform changes, providing recommendations that minimise risk and maximise long-term supportability and value.
• Oversee platform administration activities including upgrades, patching, access management, release coordination, service transition and service assurance activities.
• Coordinate major upgrades, migrations, service transitions and improvement initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Evaluate emerging digital publishing technologies, platform capabilities and automation opportunities, identifying practical improvements that enhance service delivery, user experience, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.
• Lead continual improvement activities that enhance user experience, service quality, platform stability, operational sustainability and publishing outcomes.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with business stakeholders, ICT teams, service providers, whole-of-government partners and senior executives.
• Represent the department on whole-of-government and inter-agency forums relating to GovCMS, web services, content management, accessibility and publishing governance.
• Manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes within agreed timeframes, including during periods of heightened operational demand, machinery-of-government changes, ministerial priorities and legislative deadlines.

Inherent requirements for the role

• The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their capability against the Executive Level 1 Work Level Standards .
• Experience leading and managing web services, content management, digital publishing or comparable enterprise platforms in a complex environment.
• Leadership and people management capability, including delivering outcomes through effective workforce management, collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience governing and managing enterprise platforms, including service ownership, lifecycle management, operational support, technology change and continual service improvement.
• A strong understanding of the governance, accessibility, information management, records management, cyber security and operational requirements relevant to web and digital publishing services.
• The ability to assess technical, operational, security and supportability impacts, manage competing priorities, and provide clear advice to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Desirable requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in ICT, digital technologies, web technologies, content management or a related discipline.
• Experience working within Australian Government or large enterprise ICT environments.
• Experience with accessibility (WCAG), information architecture and digital publishing standards.
• Experience overseeing publicly accessible websites or digital publishing environments.
• Experience managing, administering or supporting GovCMS, Drupal or a comparable enterprise content management and publishing platform.
• Experience working with cross-government digital services and GovCMS communities.
• ITIL, Agile or service management qualifications.

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 . As an EL1 you will be expected to:

• 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.