Executive Manager - Capital Works

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

CSIRO seeks an experienced Executive Manager – Capital Works to lead CSIRO's national capital works portfolio and delivery program. You will guide governance, investment prioritisation and delivery readiness across a diverse infrastructure portfolio, directing Program Managers and the Project Management Office.

You will drive strategic financial performance, risk management and assurance, while strengthening governance frameworks and building a high-performing, customer-focused culture across

Qualifications

• Significant experience in complex infrastructure programme/portfolio management.
• Accountability for budget and delivery outcomes at programme level.
• Strong governance and assurance capabilities for capital works.

Responsibilities

• Lead CSIRO's national capital works portfolio and governance.
• Provide strategic direction on planning, investment prioritisation and delivery readiness.
• Drive financial performance, risk management and reporting.
• Build and lead a high-performing, dispersed team with accountability.
• Embed health, safety and environment standards across delivery.

Skills

Infrastructure portfolio management

Budget and delivery outcomes

PRINCE2 governance

Financial and commercial acumen

Leadership of dispersed teams

Stakeholder influencing

Governance and assurance

Risk management

Tools

PRINCE2 Programme Management

Job description

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Company: CSIRO

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation .

Role highlights

• Lead CSIRO's national capital works portfolio and infrastructure investment program
• Drive strategic delivery, governance and transformation across a complex property portfolio
• Partner with senior leaders to deliver infrastructure solutions that enable world-class science

About CSIRO

As Australia's national science agency, CSIRO is solving the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. Many of our iconic innovations were once considered impossible until someone, just like you, joined us and took on the challenge.

The opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join CSIRO’s Business & Infrastructure Services (CBIS) team as Executive Manager – Capital Works.

In this senior leadership role, you will lead CSIRO's national capital works portfolio, ensuring the successful planning and delivery of infrastructure investments across the organisation. Through leadership of Program Managers and the Project Management Office, you will provide strategic direction, governance, financial oversight and delivery assurance across a diverse portfolio of capital projects.

You will play a key role in driving organisational capability, strengthening governance frameworks and embedding a high-performing, customer-focused culture. Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders across CSIRO, you will ensure capital investments are effectively prioritised, governed and delivered in line with organisational objectives.

Your high-level duties will include:

• Leading the delivery, governance and performance of CSIRO's national capital works portfolio, ensuring successful outcomes across a diverse infrastructure program.
• Providing strategic oversight of capital planning, investment prioritisation and project delivery readiness to support organisational objectives and long-term infrastructure needs.
• Driving portfolio-wide financial performance, risk management, reporting and assurance activities to enable informed decision-making and delivery confidence.
• Building and leading a high-performing, geographically dispersed team while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and customer-focused service delivery.
• Strengthening governance frameworks, systems and delivery practices to enhance organisational capability, consistency and capital works performance

Location: Canberra (Black Mountain) or Melbourne (Clayton)

Reference: 104214

As the successful candidate, you will bring:

• Significant experience in complex infrastructure programme/portfolio management and delivery and managing large, geographically dispersed property or infrastructure portfolios.
• Demonstrated accountability for overall budget and delivery outcomes at programme/portfolio level.
• Strong working knowledge of PRINCE2 ‑ aligned governance.
• Demonstrated financial and commercial acumen as it relates to capital works project management.
• A history of establishing and leading high-performing teams through trust, empowerment, coaching and accountability, creating an environment where individuals are encouraged to exercise judgement, take ownership of outcomes and contribute to continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to foster effective relationships, using complex influencing strategies to ensure alignment between client or stakeholder needs and CSIRO’s objectives.
• Demonstrated history of anticipating and successfully managing complex problems in ambiguous situations.
• Experience in Department of Finance Property Framework.
• Demonstrated leadership in embedding health, safety and environment standards across complex capital works delivery, governance and assurance activities.
• Project certification or equivalent demonstrated mastery.
• Programme or portfolio management certification (for example PRINCE2 Programme Management).
• Demonstrated experience lifting delivery maturity across a programme or portfolio.

Support and workplace adjustments

We offer a range of reasonable supports and workplace adjustments. Please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description if we can help you to equitably participate in our recruitment process or the role itself.

Not sure if you meet all the criteria?

While it is CSIRO policy that the successful candidate must meet all the essential criteria, there are many ways to demonstrate this. Don’t let the list discourage you. If you are unsure about applying, please reach out to the contact person in the Position Description.

Setting you up for success

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible to everyone. We recognise that it may be helpful for us to adjust our process to make it equitable for your individual situation. Please reach out to the contact on page 1 of the position description, to let us know how we can support you.

Life at CSIRO and flexible work arrangements

Solving Australia's greatest challenges takes a diversity of minds and lived experiences. We know diverse teams are more effective and deliver more innovative outcomes. As an equal employment opportunity organisation, we are committed to creating diverse and inclusive teams where people feel they belong. We recognise true diversity encompasses all ages, abilities, cultures, faiths, levels of education, genders, sexualities, diversity of thought and much more. We focus on hiring people who share our values of People First, Further Together, Making it Real and Trusted.

CSIRO holds Platinum Status for the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a Science in Australia Gender Equity Bronze Award.

Applications for this position are open to Australian Citizens only.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the NV1 level.

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy .