Energy Activity Lead

Geoscience Australia; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Geoscience Australia seeks an Energy Activity Lead to provide expert technical advice on Australia’s energy resources. You will lead a team, shape the energy advice capability, and contribute to strategic direction across the division.

You will prepare briefings and publications for senior leaders, government and industry, influencing policy and energy strategy while collaborating across programs and with partners.

Qualifications

• Recognised tertiary qualifications in geoscience or resource management.
• Expert knowledge of energy resources, their technologies, markets and the regulatory environments.
• Strong research and data analysis capability.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a small team of geoscientists and plan the strategic direction for the energy advice capability.
• Ensure outputs are delivered within agreed timeframes with high quality advice on energy resources.
• Provide leadership to improve procedures for energy resource assessments and reporting.
• Develop expert technical advice on energy commodities for Commonwealth agencies and state surveys.
• Maintain knowledge across energy sectors including legislation, taxation regimes and environmental factors.
• Oversee the AECR assessment and ensure accuracy with partners.
• Prepare energy commodity briefings and publications for Senior Executive, government and industry.
• Represent GA at external events to promote work and publications.
• Act as Acting Director when needed.

Job description

Geoscience Australia values the lands, water and sky as we work to deepen a shared understanding of Country and Earth. We respect First Nations peoples and their enduring connection, contribution and obligations to Country. Reflecting on our shared history, we are committed to listen and learn.

About us

Geoscience Australia is Australia's pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation. We are the nation's trusted advisor on the geology and geography of Australia. We apply science and technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia. We apply our diverse professional expertise, our deep and trusted knowledge, our national-scale Earth observation infrastructure and our strong partnerships, to the opportunities and challenges that face our nation.

Our culture

Our strength lies in our people, including our diversity in backgrounds, skills and experiences, and the way we work together to respond to the emerging needs of our work. We value diversity in gender, backgrounds, culture, and experiences of our employees and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture that ensures everyone has equal opportunity to contribute, participate and progress. Applications from people who reflect this diversity are encouraged.

Our workplace is committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and offers a variety of flexible working arrangements to enhance flexibility, including remote working arrangements.

What we can offer you

When you work at Geoscience Australia you will have access to a range of benefits and the opportunity to experience a workplace culture that truly values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. To learn more about our competitive salary, free onsite parking, generous flexible working arrangements and the role you can play in growing our culture click here.

Our team

Australia’s minerals, energy and groundwater resources are major contributors to the nation’s economic and social wellbeing and make a significant contribution to the Australian economy. Over the coming decade, Geoscience Australia will support the responsible development of a diverse resources sector that underpinsAustralia’s domestic security, resilience and growth. The Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division provides geoscience information and strategic advice to government and is also responsible for the delivery of the Australian Government’s generational Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity Initiative.

The key duties of the position include:

As the Energy Activity Lead in the Energy Intelligence and Strategic Analysis Team, you will be responsible for providing unbiased technical advice to inform government and industry on Australia’s various subsurface energy commodities. The technical geoscientific and resources-based advice provided by this role supports the Australian Government to make informed decisions on strategic energy policies which directly influence our nation’s energy security, economic growth and social wellbeing.

In this role you will:

• Managing a small team of geoscientists, plan and provide input to the strategic direction for the section’s energy advice capability.
• Ensure outputs are delivered within agreed timeframes and achieve the key organisational outcomes of quality and timely advice on energy resources to stakeholders.
• Provide strategic leadership to improve procedures and workflows for undertaking energy resource assessments and capturing, aggregating and reporting petroleum reserves and resources data.
• Apply knowledge about energy resources related legislation to develop and provide expert technical advice and interpretation on a range of energy commodities in support of Commonwealth agencies’ and State/Territory geological surveys’ energy policies.
• Maintain expert knowledge across energy sectors, including exploration, taxation regimes, legislation, market configurations and environmental factors.
• Manage and undertake resource assessments and compile geological information to identify the distribution and value of existing and yet-to-find energy resources.
• Oversee the Australian Energy Commodity Resources (AECR) assessment as a key annual publication, and – in liaison and negotiation with the publication partners – ensure it is accurate and regularly updated.
• Prepare energy commodity briefings, reports and publications to inform the agency's Senior Executive, government and industry.
• Represent the agency at external events, including conferences, forums and meetings, to publicise and promote Geoscience Australia’s work and publications.
• Undertake the responsibilities of Acting Director to manage activities when the Director is unavailable.

To be successful in the role you will:

• Contribute own expertise and collaborate across Geoscience Australia, bringing your knowledge of Australia’s energy resources into relevant areas of the enterprise’s priority work program under the ‘Shaping our Future: Geoscience Australia Strategy 2026-2036’.
• Maintain focus on quality to achieve key outcomes; take the initiative and progress work; check and confirm the accuracy of information prior to release.
• Operate as an effective member of the team; work collaboratively and cooperatively; draw on team strengths; consult and share information and seek input from others.
• Make time for people despite competing priorities; provide guidance and offer full support when required; consult other team members prior to making decisions that affect them; ensure people are kept informed of progress and issues.
• Maintain an optimistic outlook and focus on the positives in difficult situations; demonstrate diligence and drive to achieve objectives; deal positively and cope effectively with uncertainty and change.
• Structure messages clearly and succinctly, both verbally and in writing.
• Adhere to the APS Values, Code of Conduct, Geoscience Australia’s ‘Values and Behaviours’and consistently behave in an honest, ethical and professional way.
• Be part of a multidisciplinary team that works across a variety of disciplines.

Required skills, knowledge, experience and/or qualifications

• Recognised tertiary qualifications in geoscience or resource management and/or demonstrated operational experience in energy resources and sedimentary basin systems.
• Expert knowledge of energy resources, their technologies, markets and the commercial and regulatory environments within which energy industries operate, including familiarity with the Society of Petroleum Engineers Petroleum Resources Management System.
• A strong research and data analysis capability, including the ability to provide technical advice based on objective judgement and the consideration of evidence.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Use of AI in Recruitment

Geoscience Australia may use Microsoft Copilot to support limited administrative and preparatory aspects of the recruitment process. Artificial Intelligence is not used to assess or select candidates, and all decisions are human-led and based on merit.

Candidates must ensure their application reflects their own skills, experience and capabilities. Any use of AI must be responsible, transparent where required, and must not misrepresent their suitability for the role.

Candidates will be asked to disclose their use of AI when submitting an application and may also be asked to do so at various stages throughout the recruitment process.

Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment, as well as the Principles for agency use of AI in recruitment which outline expectations for the responsible, ethical and transparent use of AI when applying for APS roles.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this position you must meet the below eligibility criteria.

• Must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.
• Satisfy pre-employment screening, including a police history check.

Notes

Technical Assistance

If you require technical assistance, call our Recruitment team on (02) 6249 9*** or email ***********@ga.gov.au.

A merit list/pool may be created from this process. If you are successful for the merit pool, your details may be shared with other Australian Public Service agencies unless you choose not to have your details disclosed.

Getting to know the Geoscience Australia

Geoscience Australia is an Australian Government listed entity within the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio.Geoscience Australia is Australia's pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation. We are the nation's trusted advisor on the geology and geography of Australia. We apply science and technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia. We apply our diverse professional expertise, our deep and trusted knowledge, our national-scale Earth observation infrastructure and our strong partnerships, to the opportunities and challenges that face our nation.We value diversity in gender, backgrounds, culture, and experiences of our employees and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture that ensures everyone has equal opportunity to contribute, participate and progress. Applications from people who reflect this diversity are encouraged.We are committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and offer a flexible and diverse workplace.