Principal Project Manager

Department: Srs Pmp; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Challenging career

Flexible work environment

Competitive pay

Training & development

Health & wellbeing programs

Job summary

The Department of Communities and Justice seeks a Principal Project Manager to lead complex digital, technology-enabled and business transformation initiatives across Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery. You will guide planning, procurement, design, implementation, transition and benefits realisation with multidisciplinary teams in a demanding public sector environment.

This senior role emphasizes governance, evidence-based decision making and strategic collaboration with diverse stakeholders

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading complex and strategic projects.
• Strong governance and risk management capabilities.
• Credible communication and influencing skills across audiences.
• Experience in procurement and vendor management.
• Ability to translate complex information for varied stakeholders.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams for public value.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end planning and delivery of complex digital and business transformation projects.
• Establish governance, reporting, assurance, risk, issue and benefits arrangements.
• Manage scope, schedules, budgets, resources, procurement and interdependencies.
• Build relationships and negotiate outcomes with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide clear, data-driven advice on issues and options.
• Coach multidisciplinary teams to deliver quality outcomes and embed change.
• Monitor delivery performance and apply lessons learned to improve results.

Skills

Project leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Procurement

Vendor management

Decision making

Education

Tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience

Job description

Employment Type – Temporary Fulltime – 2 years, possible ongoing

Salary & Grade – Clerk grade 11/12 - $149,739 - $173,174 plus employers’ contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading

Your role

The Department of Communities and Justice is seeking an accomplished Principal Project Manager to lead complex digital, technology-enabled and business transformation initiatives across Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery.

This senior delivery role offers the opportunity to shape contemporary services that improve access to justice and operational efficiency. You will lead multidisciplinary teams and work across operational, policy, technology and vendor environments to take initiatives from planning and procurement through design, implementation, transition and benefits realisation.

What you’ll do

• Lead the end-to-end planning and delivery of complex digital and business transformation projects.
• Establish fit-for-purpose governance, reporting, assurance, risk, issue and benefits management arrangements.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budgets, resources, procurement, vendors and interdependencies.
• Build trusted relationships and negotiate outcomes with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide clear, evidence-based advice on emerging issues, options and recommendations.
• Lead, coach and support multidisciplinary teams to deliver quality outcomes and embed change.
• Monitor project performance and use data, evaluation and lessons learned to improve delivery.

What we’re looking for

• Extensive experience leading complex and strategic projects, preferably involving digital, technology-enabled or service transformation.
• Demonstrated command of contemporary project methodologies, governance, risk, financial, procurement and benefits practices.
• Advanced judgement and problem‑solving skills in uncertain, high‑pressure and multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Credible communication and influencing skills, including the ability to translate complex information for different audiences.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and optimising people and resources to achieve public value.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Are you ready to join us?

Applications close 9th November 2026 at 11:59pm.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

Other Information

Appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment screening checks, including:

• A National Criminal History Check
• Reference checks
• A Right to Work in Australia check

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and will be valid for a period of up to 18 months.