EL2 Director, National Security

Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 4 weeks + Christmas close

Parental leave

Study assistance

Salary progression

Competitive APS salaries

Job summary

AUSTRAC is seeking a Director, National Security to provide strategic leadership across the collection, collation and analysis of financial data in a highly classified environment. You will oversee high-quality intelligence assessments to support investigations, joint task forces and disrupt national security threats.

The role requires leading a high-performing team, advising on terrorism financing and related matters, and coordinating with domestic and international partners.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in national security/intelligence
• Ability to set strategic direction and priorities
• Strong advisory and analytical capabilities

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for national security financial intelligence capability
• Provide authoritative advice on terrorism financing and related matters
• Lead and manage a high-performing team and allocate resources
• Identify innovative analytic methods and capability uplift
• Engage with NIC agencies and intelligence customers
• Anticipate and manage strategic, operational, information and reputational risks

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

National security & intelligence

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualifications in intelligence/national security or related field

Job description

Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre - Sydney CBD NSW

The Director, National Security is a senior member of the National Security and Insights Branch within AUSTRAC's Intelligence Division. The Branch works closely with a wide range of domestic government partner agencies across national security, law enforcement, revenue, and regulatory functions, as well as international counterparts and key private sector partners.

In this role, you will provide strategic leadership across the collection, collation and analysis of financial data and other information, and oversee the delivery of high-quality intelligence assessments in a highly classified environment. You will help ensure AUSTRAC provides highly relevant, actionable tactical, operational, and strategic financial intelligence to support investigations, joint agency task forces, and efforts to disrupt national security threats.

• Setting the strategic direction for AUSTRAC's national security financial intelligence capability, ensuring work priorities align with agency objectives, whole of government priorities and partner requirements.
• Providing authoritative advice on national security financial intelligence matters, including terrorism financing, foreign interference and espionage financing, counter proliferation financing, and financial cybercrime-related matters.
• Leading and managing a high-performing team, including setting expectations, allocating resources, developing capability, managing performance, and coaching and mentoring staff.
• Identifying and leading innovative analytic methods and business improvement and capability uplift, across national security intelligence functions.
• Negotiating and leading AUSTRAC's contribution to a range of intelligence missions, including engaging with National Intelligence Community (NIC) agencies and intelligence customers.
• Anticipating and managing strategic, operational, information and reputational risks associated with highly sensitive intelligence work, escalating issues and implementing appropriate controls.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a highly motivated national security professional, who can lead a high-performing team in a diverse and challenging national security and intelligence focused role.

Highly Desirable

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or substantial equivalent experience in intelligence, national security, law enforcement, cybercrime, financial crime, counter terrorism, international relations or a related field.

For more information about the capabilities we are looking for, please refer to the Candidate Pack in the AUSTRAC Job Listing.

• Must be an Australian citizen at the time you apply.
• Will need to undertake AUSTRAC’s pre-engagement checks.
• Will need to obtain and maintain an ongoing Positive Vetting (PV) or Top Secret-Privileged Access (TS-PA) Security Clearance

Closing Date and Notes

Applications close at 11:30 pm AEDT on Tuesday 6 October 2026.

For enquiries, please contact: Melissa Vile on - 0491222***

Notes

This recruitment process will initially be used to fill a current vacancy and in future, may be used to fill similar positions in the event positions become vacant. The merit pools established from this recruitment process will be valid for 18 months from the date of advertising.

We offer competitive remuneration and great conditions, including:

• Annual leave of 4 weeks (20 days) per year + additional paid Christmas close down.
• Cultural, Ceremonial and NAIDOC leave.
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year.
• 15.4% superannuation, which continues through paid parental leave.
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Competitive APS salaries with access to annual salary progression.
• Study assistance - up to $6,000 per annum and up to 120 hours of study leave.

View the AUSTRAC Enterprise Agreement for more information about current salaries and other conditions of employment.

About Us

AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence agency and anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regulator, is undergoing a significant transformation to enhance its role in combating money laundering and terrorism financing. This includes proposed expansion of its regulatory regime and a broader digital transformation to support our growing agency. As we embrace these changes and grow, our focus is on fostering innovation, collaboration, and effective problem-solving within an inclusive and supportive work environment. At AUSTRAC, you’ll be part of a team dedicated to maintaining the integrity of Australia’s financial system and making a real impact in preventing financial crime.