EL1 - Assistant Directors, Regional Development, Northern Australia and Local Government

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Cairns QLD is seeking EL1 Assistant Directors to provide strategic leadership across policy development, governance, and infrastructure project advice. You will lead a dedicated team and shape policies delivering regional and cultural outcomes.

In this role you will manage governance frameworks, drive strategic policy advice, and coordinate high‑level ministerial and Cabinet

Qualifications

• Experience leading governance frameworks and ministerial/stakeholder engagements.
• Proven ability to develop strategic policy advice and coordinate cross‑jurisdictional work.
• Experience managing small teams delivering complex, concurrent projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead governance frameworks with NAIF Board and ministerial appointments per Cabinet rules.
• Direct legislative reviews and investment policy alignment under the Northern Australia Action Plan.
• Coordinate ministerial, parliamentary and Cabinet requests at a high level.
• Oversee Secretariat functions for NAMF and external engagement activities.

Skills

Governance frameworks

Strategic policy advice

Stakeholder relations

Team leadership

Education

EL1 Work level standards

Job description

EL1 - Assistant Directors, Regional Development, Northern Australia and Local Government

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Cairns QLD

The Office of Northern Australia is a multi-disciplinary branch driving the economic and social advancement of Northern Australia. We oversee the Government’s $7 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) special investment vehicle, coordinate cross-jurisdictional frameworks, and deliver the Northern Australia Action Plan. We are seeking agile, collaborative Assistant Directors to provide strategic leadership across policy development, governance, infrastructure project advice, and high-level stakeholder relations. In this role, you will lead a dedicated team and shape policies that deliver lasting regional and cultural outcomes.

The opportunity we have available

The Office of Northern Australia is a multi-disciplinary branch driving the economic and social advancement of Northern Australia. We oversee the Government’s $7 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) special investment vehicle, coordinate cross-jurisdictional frameworks, and deliver the Northern Australia Action Plan. We are seeking agile, collaborative Assistant Directors to provide strategic leadership across policy development, governance, infrastructure project advice, and high-level stakeholder relations. In this role, you will lead a dedicated team and shape policies that deliver lasting regional and cultural outcomes.

What you will do

As an EL1 Assistant Director, you will lead a small team or manage complex work streams to achieve the strategic objectives of your section. Typical duties include:

• Leading governance frameworks: Managing the Department’s interaction with the NAIF Board, overseeing ministerial appointments in line with the Cabinet Handbook, and updating the shared Risk Appetite Statement (RAS).
• Driving strategic policy advice: Directing legislative reviews of the NAIF Act, establishing investment policy alignment, and leading economic or social initiatives under the Northern Australia Action Plan.
• High‑level coordination: Overseeing central triage and delivery of complex Ministerial, Parliamentary, and Cabinet requests.
• Stakeholder & event leadership: Managing secretariat functions for the Northern Australia Ministerial Forum (NAMF) and directing major external engagement activities like the Annual Statement to Parliament.

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 Executive level 1 Work level standards.
• 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.
• Proven capability to evaluate complex information, make sound decisions, and apply work level standards under pressure.
• Demonstrated experience leading and fostering growth mindsets within a small team delivering concurrent, tight‑deadline projects.
• Ability to deliver persuasive written briefs and engage confidently with senior executives and cross‑portfolio jurisdictions.

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

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. 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.