PAO3 Events Manager – National Memorial Dedication

HorizonOne; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 117,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

HorizonOne Recruitment Pty seeks an experienced Events Manager to plan and lead the delivery of a nationally significant public event in Canberra in 2027. The role combines detailed planning, supplier management and ministerial liaison across policy, communication and media teams.

You will manage event run sheets, briefs and budgets, engage external suppliers, and act as the central contact for the Minister's Office. The position offers hybrid work arrangements within a Canberra-based contract.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in events management, including planning and on‑the‑day delivery.
• Government experience with governance, risk, and approvals processes.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and external suppliers, including ministerial offices.

Responsibilities

• Undertake groundwork and detailed planning for the event with senior stakeholders.
• Engage and manage external suppliers (AV, staging) to tight timeframes and high standards.
• Develop and manage event run sheets, briefs, budgets and contracts.

Skills

Events management

Vendor management

Ministerial liaison

Budget management

Contract management

Governance & risk

Stakeholder coordination

Project management

Written communication

Tools

MS Office

Job description

This Commonwealth department is responsible for national policy and programs that support individuals, families and communities across Australia.

This role sits within a section leading a nationally significant project, working alongside the department's policy and communication teams and the relevant ministerial offices.

The Opportunity

The department is seeking an experienced Events Manager to plan and lead the delivery of a nationally significant public event in Canberra in 2027.

The event will include a formal ceremony and reception for up to 250 guests, with ministerial attendance, and will need to be handled with genuine care given its sensitive nature.

This contract covers the critical groundwork and detailed planning phase.

You will report to the Section Director and work closely with the policy team.

You'll have the chance to:

• Shape a large-scale event from the early planning stages
• Act as the central point of contact for the Minister's Office on logistics, run sheets and attendance
• Have real ownership of your work under limited direction, across policy, communication and media teams

The Role

This is a hands-on event delivery role, combining detailed planning, supplier management and ministerial liaison.

You'll be responsible for:

• Undertaking the groundwork and detailed planning for the event, working closely with the Section Director, policy area and project stakeholders
• Engaging and managing external suppliers, including AV and staging, to tight timeframes and a high standard
• Developing and managing event run sheets, briefs, budgets and contracts
• Tracking event expenditure with the policy team to keep it aligned with allocated funding
• Acting as the central point of contact for the Minister's Office and liaise with ministerial offices on logistics, run sheets and ministerial attendance
• Drafting event briefings and documentation for the Minister's Office
• Coordinating speaker arrangements and addresses
• Managing media requirements and event imagery in line with the media approach advised by the Minister's Office
• Providing event and communication advice to the policy team and stakeholders to inform planning and engagement activities
• Supporting other section projects and Communication Branch priorities as required

The Ideal Person

You are an experienced government events professional who has taken large events from early planning through to delivery, and you know how approvals, risk and governance work inside the APS.

You stay organised and calm with many stakeholders in the mix, and you bring care and judgement to an event of a sensitive nature.

You will bring the following skills and experience:

• Demonstrated experience in events management, including planning, coordination and on-the-day delivery
• Government experience, with a sound understanding of governance, risk management and approval processes
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and external suppliers, including senior stakeholders and ministerial offices
• Project management skills, including managing budgets, contracts and competing priorities to deadlines
• Strong written communication, including drafting event briefings, run sheets and supporting documentation

Australian citizenship and a Baseline security clearance

Salary / Rate

• $85/hr - $95/hr + Super
• 7-month labour hire contract, commencing ASAP
• Canberra-based with flexible work from home arrangements
• Australian citizenship and a Baseline security clearance are required