EL2 – Director, First Nations Programs, Inclusion, News and Media Diversity, Affirmative Measures, First Nations

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Canberra; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is seeking an Executive Level 2 Director to lead the First Nations Programs team within the Consumer Safeguards, Media and Connectivity Division.

You will guide delivery of First Nations digital inclusion measures and coordinate with the Advisory Group and national partners to advance Closing the Gap objectives.

Qualifications

• Strategic capability: lead policy reform and program delivery for First Nations initiatives.
• Negotiation and collaboration: partner with internal/external stakeholders to implement programs.
• Reporting and governance: coordinate reporting and ensure data governance.
• Communication and influence: produce high-level briefings and influence senior stakeholders.
• People and culture leadership: lead teams, build capability and manage workflows.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to embed cultural capability across programs and policies.
• Lead policy reform and program delivery to support First Nations digital inclusion and Closing the Gap outcomes.
• Coordinate with other branch sections and the Advisory Group to maximise funded initiatives.
• Conduct research and analysis on priority issues affecting First Nations communities.
• Develop persuasive communications materials such as reports, briefing papers and submissions.
• Support project strategy, planning, implementation and coordination.
• Engage with stakeholders across public service, governments, industry and communities.
• Work with the Advisory Group and communities to maximise outcomes for First Nations people.

Job description

The Consumer Safeguards, Media and Connectivity Division (CSMCD) is at the centre of developing policy and programs to ensure all Australians have access to safe and reliable connectivity and communications services, as well as ensuring the diversity of Australia’s media landscape. We also focus on digital inclusion for Australia’s First Nations communities.

The Inclusion, News and Media Diversity Branch in CSMCD is looking for a high-performing Director to lead our First Nations Programs team responsible for the delivery of First Nations digital inclusion measures, recommended by the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (the Advisory Group) and funded in the 2024-25 Budget, and coordination of departmental work related to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap – Target 17, Outcome 17 and Priority Reforms.

The First Nations Programs team has been established to take forward delivery of the First Nations digital inclusion Budget measures, including $20 million to deliver free community Wi-Fi in remote communities through a contestable program, $6 million towards improving the national collection of data on First Nations digital inclusion, and $22 million to establish a First Nations Digital Support Hub ($4 million) and a Network of Digital Mentors ($18 million).

Our work is supported by the Digital Inclusion team in the branch has primary responsibility for providing policy and secretariat support to the Advisory Group, as well as oversight of digital inclusion policy, and digital inclusion initiatives for First Nations people consistent with achieving Target 17, which aims for equal levels of digital inclusion for First Nations people by 2026.

What you will do

The role is varied and dynamic, as the responsible Director you will:

• provide strong, collaborative and supportive leadership within your section and the branch
• lead in the development, implementation and delivery of policy and programs to support First Nations digital inclusion and Closing the Gap Outcome 17 and Target 17 objectives
• support the work of other sections across the branch on First Nations digital inclusion initiatives, including the team responsible for the secretariat function of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group
• undertake research and analysis on priority issues, particularly those affecting First Nations people, (including general research or economic and data analysis, depending on your skills and experience)
• develop persuasive communications materials, including written reports, briefing papers, speech inputs and discussion papers
• lead on and assist with project strategy, planning, implementation and coordination
• undertake stakeholder engagement, including close collaboration with agencies and colleagues across the public service, state and territory governments, industry and First Nations communities
• work closely with the Advisory Group and communities to maximise the outcomes and benefits of funded initiatives for First Nations people
• develop and assist with formal advice to the Executive and Government, such as Cabinet submissions and proposals for new policies and programs.

Inherent requirements for the role

To be considered for this position, you must demonstrate the following capabilities evaluated against the Executive Level 2 Work level standards:

• Strategic capability: Strong experience in leading policy reform and program delivery, with the ability to drive the development and implementation of improved socio-economic outcomes for First Nations people, thorough effective grant management and procurement processes.
• Negotiation and collaboration: Proven high-level negotiation skills with the capability to partner with internal and external stakeholders (including state and territory officials) to ensure strong, efficient and effective implementation of First Nations programs.
• Reporting and governance: Strong analytical capacity to coordinate reporting across First Nations programs, maintaining framework integrity and Indigenous data sovereignty principles.
• Communication and influence: Superior written and oral communication skills, with a track record of producing high-level executive briefings and successfully influencing diverse senior stakeholder groups.
• People and culture leadership: Proven capacity to lead teams with commitment, taking responsibility for shaping team culture, developing staff capability, steering workflows under tight deadlines, and making an active and positive contribution to the culture and leadership of your work area and the department.

Experience in the telecommunications sector would be considered highly favourable, including an understanding of telecommunications networks and technologies such as community Wi-Fi and broadband network architectures and services.

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 EL2 you will be expected to:

• Provide strategic leadership to embed cultural capability across programs, policies or functions.
• Influence senior leaders on culturally informed approaches.
• Drive partnerships and co-design with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities where applicable or appropriate.

Eligibility requirements

This is an Affirmative Measures vacancy – This vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. To be eligible to apply under the Affirmative Measures initiative, applicants must:

• 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 - Affirmative 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.