Project Director, Auction

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action VIC; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action VIC – East Melbourne VIC invites a seasoned Project Director, Auction to lead Victoria’s offshore wind procurement. You will oversee tender design, bid evaluation, and contract negotiations, guiding a multidisciplinary team and collaborating with senior government leaders to secure value for money and a robust process.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, stakeholder engagement, and a proven track record in complex government

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading major tenders, procurements, and evaluations.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills for high-stakes environments.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams and advisers.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement with senior executives and industry partners.
• Analytical and problem-solving capability with risk management.
• Experience with major infrastructure or energy sector procurement and knowledge of the Victorian energy sector; NEM knowledge desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end offshore wind auction process from tender design to contract execution.
• Manage a multidisciplinary team and engage with government leaders, industry participants and advisers.
• Deliver strong commercial outcomes and value for money.

Skills

Tender leadership

Procurement

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Team leadership

Risk management

Analytical thinking

Energy sector knowledge

Job description

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action VIC – East Melbourne VIC

Shape Victoria's Renewable Energy Future

As Project Director, Auction, reporting to the Director, Investment and Sector Development, you will play a pivotal role in delivering one of the State's most significant renewable energy initiatives, leading the competitive process to select offshore wind proponents and helping drive Victoria's clean energy transition.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for managing the end-to-end auction process, from tender design and bid evaluation through to commercial negotiations and contract execution. You will work closely with the Project Director, Transaction and work with senior government leaders, industry participants and specialist advisors to ensure the auction delivers strong commercial outcomes, value for money and a robust, transparent process.

This is a unique opportunity to lead on a first of a kind energy infrastructure investment, shape government decision-making and leave a lasting legacy on Victoria's energy future.

About you

You are a commercially astute leader with experience delivering complex procurement, transaction or major infrastructure projects. You thrive in high-profile environments, balancing strategic thinking, stakeholder management and commercial negotiation to achieve successful outcomes. As an experienced people leader, you foster collaboration, build capability and maintain a strong focus on outcomes.

You will bring:

• Significant experience leading major tenders, procurements, evaluations, on commercial projects within government or industry.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with the ability to navigate complex issues and drive outcomes in a high-stakes environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and specialist advisors to deliver complex programs.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including experience working with senior executives, government decision-makers and industry partners.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with a track record of proactively managing risk and resolving complex issues.
• Experience delivering major infrastructure or energy sector procurement processes and knowledge of the Victorian energy sector and National Electricity Market will be highly regarded.

About the organisation

We employ approximately 6,300 staff, including around 600 seasonal staff, across more than 86 locations throughout Victoria, across energy, environment, climate action, water, agriculture, and resources portfolios.

Our challenge is to maintain Victoria's liveability, with a population expected to almost double by 2050, while responding to climate change and protecting our natural environment, infrastructure and heritage for future generations. We take a community-centred approach and involve communities and key stakeholders in decisions and policies that affect them and we collaborate across our portfolios to design and deliver services and programs.

This is a fixed term position available until 30 June 2030. The work location for this position is 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements available.

Applications close at midnight on Thursday, 29 October 2026.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to:

• undertake pre-employment screening, including completion of a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check
• have their misconduct declarations validated, irrespective of whether misconduct has been declared or not
• provide at least two appropriate referees, including their current direct line manager or where relevant (i.e. because they are not employed) most recent direct line manager in accordance with the requirements set out inexecutive reference checks.
• provide evidence of their right to work in Australia

For more information about the pre-screening requirements for this position, please refer to the position description.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants must be an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace. If you need support to participate, please contact ***************@deeca.vic.gov.au.

We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing. For more information about our recruitment processes, visit applying for a role with us.

For further information including the position description, key selection criteria and to apply visit www.careers.vic.gov.au