Program Manager - Automation and AI

Effective People; Canberra; On-site; AUD 220,000 - 248,000; Full time

Job summary

Effective People in Canberra is seeking a senior Program Manager to lead Automation and AI assurance for a Federal Government program. You will coordinate connected initiatives, oversee risk and governance, and report to executives in a complex digital environment.

The role requires SFIA-levelled leadership across delivery teams, strong stakeholder management, and knowledge of AI, data, and transformation programs.

Qualifications

• Led people and performance at SFIA Level 5
• Delivered portfolio, programme or project support at SFIA Level 4
• Led medium-scale projects and delivery teams at SFIA Level 5
• Led quality management, compliance and process improvement at SFIA Level 6
• Managed strategic senior stakeholder relationships at SFIA Level 6
• Understand AI, data and digital transformation programs
• Australian citizen
• Must hold a current Baseline clearance or above

Responsibilities

• Lead program planning, prioritisation, monitoring and reporting across connected initiatives
• Guide initiative owners and technical leads through automation and AI assurance requirements
• Coordinate input across Cyber, Legal, Data, Fraud, Privacy, Ethics, CX, Procurement and Enterprise Architecture
• Track risks, issues, dependencies and decisions
• Maintain assurance registers, status reports and governance documentation
• Provide independent oversight and advice to executives and governance committees
• Support post-implementation assurance, audit readiness and remediation
• Lead staff, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement of assurance processes

Skills

People leadership

Program management

Stakeholder management

Risk governance

AI & data familiarity

Digital transformation

Job description

Program Manager - Automation and AI Assurance

Location: Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, or Hobart
Contract: Up to 8 months, ending 30 June 2027, with one 12-month extension option
Pay: $160 - $180 p/h including super (negotiable)
Work type: Full-time; RFQ maximum of 50 hours per week
Work arrangement: Initially onsite, then hybrid may be considered on a case-by-case basis
Start: 1 November 2026 - subject to candidate availability, onboarding and any applicable notice period
Clearance: Must hold a current Baseline clearance or above

About the Role

This is a senior program management and assurance role with our Federal Government client. You will coordinate connected Automation and AI initiatives while giving executives clear oversight of risks, assurance activity and key decisions.

You will work across technical, governance and specialist teams. The role combines program delivery, quality management, people leadership and senior stakeholder coordination in a complex digital environment.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead program planning, prioritisation, monitoring and reporting across connected initiatives
• Guide initiative owners and technical leads through automation and AI assurance requirements
• Coordinate input across Cyber, Legal, Data, Fraud, Privacy, Ethics, CX, Procurement and Enterprise Architecture
• Track risks, issues, dependencies and decisions
• Maintain assurance registers, status reports and governance documentation
• Provide independent oversight and advice to executives and governance committees
• Support post-implementation assurance, audit readiness and remediation
• Lead staff, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement of assurance processes

What You Bring (Essential Criteria)

• You've led people and performance management at a level comparable to SFIA Level 5
• You've delivered portfolio, programme or project support comparable to SFIA Level 4
• You've led medium-scale projects and delivery teams at a level comparable to SFIA Level 5
• You've led quality management, compliance and process improvement comparable to SFIA Level 6
• You've managed strategic senior stakeholder relationships comparable to SFIA Level 6
• You understand AI, data and digital transformation programs
• You're an Australian citizen
• You must hold a current Baseline clearance or above

Nice to Have (Desirable Criteria)

• Financial planning, budgeting and forecasting experience comparable to SFIA Level 5
• Experience monitoring expenditure, analysing variances and maintaining financial controls
• Experience advising leaders on budget use and financial decisions