Project Director, Australian Government Consulting

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Canberra; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is seeking a Project Director for Australian Government Consulting to lead high-performing teams delivering management consulting projects for APS clients. You will shape strategic direction, coach staff, and ensure outcomes align with public impact and government priorities.

Ideal candidates have substantial consulting leadership experience, ability to engage senior stakeholders, and a deep understanding of government contexts.

Qualifications

• Substantial consulting leadership experience in public or private sector aligned with strategy, policy or organisational performance.
• Ability to apply deep understanding of government context to achieve project goals.
• Experience leading teams to plan, manage and deliver complex consulting projects.
• Strong communication with senior stakeholders and clients, and negotiation of outcomes.
• Comfort in ambiguous, high-pressure environments with resilient leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of high-quality consulting projects for Australian Public Service clients.
• Develop and refine AGC’s service offers and methodologies; build capability and drive sustainable progress.
• Guide teams in applying structured problem-solving techniques, engaging stakeholders, and producing meaningful insights.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector knowledge

Problem solving

Communication

Team building

Job description

Who We Are

Situated within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Australian Government Consulting (AGC) was established to help the Australian Public Service (APS) confidently meet current and future challenges in-house, and selectively engage external consultants in a way that maximises value-for-money.

We do this by delivering high-quality consulting projects that reflect our distinctive character as government consultants working for public impact (and nothing else).

Working In Partnership With APS Agencies On a Wide Range Of High-profile Issues That Make a Real Difference To The Wellbeing Of Australians, We Use Consulting Methods And Deep Knowledge Of Government To Deliver

• Strategy and policy
• Organisational performance
• Buying better from external consultants.

We support APS clients to advise the government of the day, implement policies and deliver services to the community.

Our team is committed to the public service and dedicated to maximising our impact by working collaboratively and pursuing excellence. Our project teams also help to shape AGC – and reshape the APS.

We are pioneering a different way of working – a unique APS style of strategic management consulting.

For more information on AGC including information on our service lines please visit the AGC Website .

What You Will Do

We are looking for talented professionals to join our high-performing workforce and contribute complementary skills that will help us continue to deliver impactful outcomes.

We Are Seeking Talented Candidates With a Track Record Of Solving Complex Strategic Challenges And a Passion For Delivering Public Impact, With a Focus On Consulting Capability Areas

• Strategy
• Operating Model and Organisational Design
• Evaluation and Impact Analysis.

You will lead high-performing teams to deliver management consultancy projects for Australian Public Service clients.

As part of your application, you will be asked to nominate the capability area that most closely aligns with your experience and interests. You may also indicate whether you would like to be considered for the other capability areas.

Your nomination will help us understand your experience and interests. AGC works through multidisciplinary project teams, and successful candidates may work across different types of projects according to client and business needs.

As a Project Director At AGC, You Will

• Form part of the AGC Leadership Team to guide the strategic direction of AGC and offer coaching, mentoring and support to build a positive and inclusive work environment
• Lead the delivery of high-quality consulting projects that meet client needs, with a focus on providing strategic advice or building high-performing government agencies
• Develop and refine AGC’s service offers and methodologies, build AGC’s capability and contribute innovative ideas to drive AGC forward sustainably
• Guide your team in applying structured problem-solving techniques, skilfully engaging stakeholders, and analysing data and producing meaningful advice.

What You Will Bring

Our ideal candidate will perform at the EL2 level in accordance with the PM&C Performance Model and will bring:

• Substantial experience in a consulting services environment (private or public sector) that aligns with strategy, policy and/or organisational performance service offerings
• The ability to apply a deep understanding of government context to achieve project or strategic goals
• Experience leading teams to plan, manage and successfully deliver complex consulting projects underpinned by consulting / problem solving methodologies
• The ability to communicate compellingly and convincingly including with senior stakeholders and clients, and negotiate outcomes effectively
• Demonstrated ability to apply insight to anticipate client and stakeholder needs and influence solutions and action
• Flexibility and resilience to deliver results, maintain team morale and manage expectations in ambiguous and sometimes high-pressure work environments.

Flexible Work

At PM&C we recognise the broad benefits of offering flexibility in how, when and where work is performed. We consider flexibility first from a starting position of ‘how can we make this work?’ and consider individual circumstances and operational requirements in making genuine attempts to establish mutually beneficial arrangements. Please reach out to the contact officer if you would like to explore what flexibility might look like for you, such as part time work, variable start and finish times or working from home.

Eligibility

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999 , employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing. At PM&C to be eligible for this position you should be an Australian Citizen by the completion of the recruitment process , except under exceptional circumstances.
• The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance, or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level.
• The successful candidate will be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check, and will normally be subject to a six-month probation period if new to the APS or has not yet completed their probation period elsewhere in the APS.

Security Clearance Required

Baseline Vetting (Protected)