Project Director, Area Package (1 & 3)

High Speed Rail Authority; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The High Speed Rail Authority in Sydney/Newcastle is seeking a Project Director to lead Area Packages 1 and 3, guiding procurement, design, construction and handover to an award-ready contract.

You will manage multi-agency programs, drive ECI processes, and ensure safety, quality and value for money. This is a senior, visible role across Sydney, Canberra and Newcastle.

Qualifications

• More than 10 years in senior leadership roles delivering major infrastructure or transport projects.
• Deep understanding of infrastructure delivery models, including ECI, D&C and alliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of rail corridor planning, civil construction and systems integration.
• Proven success managing complex, multi-agency programs with high public visibility, and resolving interface challenges.
• Experience negotiating and managing large scale contracts and delivery partnerships.
• Strength in program planning, sequencing and project controls with executive monitoring.
• Experience with WHS, environmental and quality management systems in high-risk settings.
• Familiarity with Commonwealth procurement, governance and assurance frameworks is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of Area Packages 1 & 3, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and national infrastructure priorities.
• Oversee procurement, design, construction and handover of civil works to deliver award-ready packages.
• Lead ECI processes and contract negotiations to achieve award-ready packages and manage Delivery Partner relationships.
• Provide executive guidance on delivery strategy, risk posture and commercial readiness.
• Build strategic relationships with government agencies, utilities and industry partners; resolve interface conflicts.
• Embed proactive risk management and ensure WHS, environmental and quality standards across all packages.
• Oversee financial governance, forecasting and cost planning across all delivery phases.

Skills

Senior leadership

Procurement

Civil design

Construction management

Delivery governance

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Handover process

WH&S compliance

Multi-site leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Tools

ECI framework

Contract negotiation

Job description

High Speed Rail Authority | SES Band 1 | Sydney or Newcastle

Lead the civil packages for Australia's first high speed rail network.

• Senior executive role leading the procurement, design, construction and handover of the civil packages Area 1 and 3.
• Drive the ECI process to an award ready contract package, meeting Development Phase milestones and deliverables.
• Multi-site role across Sydney, Canberra and Newcastle.

About the High Speed Rail Authority

The Australian Government is planning a future high speed rail network to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast of Australia.

The High Speed Rail Authority (the Authority) is an independent corporate Commonwealth entity governed by an independent board, established to lead the development and delivery of high speed rail.

The Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail project will connect the two cities in around one hour on a dedicated high speed railway. From the Central Coast it will take around 30 minutes to get to Newcastle or to Sydney. With the project now in the Development Phase, the Authority is building the leadership team to develop and deliver this generational program.

High speed rail will contribute to key Australian Government priorities, including increased economic productivity, new housing options, and regional economic and tourism development zero.

Project Director, Area Package (1 & 3)

About the role

The Project Director provides strategic leadership and direction for the procurement, design, construction and handover of the civil packages, Area Package 1 and Area Package 3. The initial two year focus is supporting the ECI process to achieve an award ready AP1 contract package that meets all Development Phase milestones and deliverables.

The role oversees all aspects of project governance, project integration through a Delivery Partner, stakeholder management and delivery, ensuring the area package works achieve commercial, quality, safety and sustainability objectives.

What you'll lead

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of Area Packages 1 & 3, ensuring alignment with the Authority's strategic objectives and national infrastructure priorities, and translate strategic goals into integrated delivery plans.
• Oversee procurement, design, construction and handover of civil works, ensuring quality, safety and sustainability outcomes.
• Lead ECI processes and contract negotiations to achieve award ready packages, and manage the Delivery Partner relationship to integrate workstreams and resolve delivery bottlenecks.
• Provide executive level guidance on delivery strategy, risk posture and commercial readiness, and represent the Authority in high level government, industry and board level forums.
• Build strategic relationships with government agencies, utilities, adjoining property stakeholders, industry partners and workforce representatives, resolving interface conflicts and inter agency dependencies.
• Embed proactive risk management across program operations and ensure compliance with WHS, environmental and quality standards across all packages.
• Oversee financial governance, forecasting and cost planning across all delivery phases, embedding value for money in procurement, contracts and delivery oversight, and driving cost efficiencies.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across Sydney, Canberra and Newcastle, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability and safety first leadership.

About you

We are seeking a senior infrastructure delivery executive with a track record of leading complex civil packages in a high visibility environment. Specifically, you bring:

• More than 10 years in senior leadership roles delivering major infrastructure or transport projects.
• A deep understanding of infrastructure delivery models, including ECI, D&C and alliance frameworks.
• Knowledge of rail corridor planning, civil construction and systems integration.
• Proven success managing complex, multi-agency programs with high public visibility, and a track record of resolving interface and regulatory challenges across jurisdictions.
• Experience negotiating and managing large scale contracts and delivery partnerships.
• Strength in program planning, sequencing and integration, supported by project controls, assurance reporting and executive level performance monitoring.
• Applied experience of WHS, environmental and quality management systems in high-risk settings.
• Familiarity with Commonwealth procurement, governance and assurance frameworks will be considered an advantage.

Eligibility

Employment with the Authority is subject to the conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999. To be eligible, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen & hold a degree or equivalent working experience.
• Hold or be able to obtain a Baseline security clearance & satisfy a National Police check (mandatory pre-employment screening).

RecruitAbility

The High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and supporting the employment of people with disability.

As a participating agency in the APS RecruitAbility Scheme, HSRA will progress applicants with disability to a further stage of the recruitment process where they choose to opt into RecruitAbility and demonstrate that they meet the minimum requirements of the role.

If you would like to participate in RecruitAbility, please indicate this when submitting your application.

HSRA is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates have an equitable opportunity to participate. Adjustments may include modifications to the recruitment process, accessible formats, specialist equipment, or other practical supports. If you require any adjustments, please include this information in your application or contact the nominated contact officer to discuss your needs.

For further information about the RecruitAbility Scheme, please visit the APS RecruitAbility Scheme Guide for Applicants.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Before preparing your application for the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), please read APSC’s Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.

These principles are designed to support the responsible use of AI throughout the recruitment process, while ensuring fairness, transparency and the integrity of merit-based selection. They provide clear guidance on how AI may be used to assist with your application, as well as outlining the types of AI use that are not appropriate in APS recruitment processes.

Candidates are expected to comply with these principles and maintain the authenticity and integrity of their application at all stages of the recruitment process.

Next Steps

Applications close on Tuesday 6th Oct 11.59pm AEST.